TDR Aluminum Crank Pulley vs ATI Damper
 

I have been doing a bit of research and cannot seem to find the answer to my question. The TDR Crank Pulley seems to be constructed in a solid aluminum design with no dampener whatsoever. They claim that, "These engines are internally balanced and this process has improved even further since the 90s. So the description of a BALANCER does not apply to the Miata motor.". If this is true then why is it that so many people spend the extra $500 to build their engines using an ATI Harmonic Balancer :confused:? Have people cracked their oil pump gear because they were using the TDR Crank Pulley?

Answer: TDR often doesn't know what they're talking about.

Run a Powercard and an aluminum crank pulley! What could possibly go wrong?

lol dis gun be guud

the oil pump gears will balance everything out when they shatter

This is why I am asking this question now; You know, before I spin a couple of bearings from a sudden loss of oil pressure. I'm definitely not siding with Track Dog Racing automatically. They appear to be a reputable vendor and for them to stand firmly by this product I have to wonder if they're correct. Thus, why I came here to see if a solid aluminum structure is equivalent to a death sentence of an engine.

TDR doesn't build race cars/engines.

That may be true, but I highly doubt that they would sell a product without first testing their product. I could be wrong though! And I'm not assuming anything. I'm just looking for people who have tried this pulley themselves and I want to hear their experience. If I don't hear anything maybe I'll test it and report back so other people can learn of my success/failure. For science!!!!

Nobody here has tried it, because we have brains. It would behoove you to trust and not test it yourself.

I've seen firsthand some work that TDR has done. I wouldn't doubt in the slightest they would sell a product they've never truly tested.

What is it exactly that you have seen from TDR that would lessen their reputability?

A 1993 Miata that they did many thousands of dollars "worth" of work on that i owned briefly before i decided they had messed it up too badly to bother resurrecting. They don't know how to wire things properly, how to tune, or how to install a PNP megasquirt without butchering a harness.

Oh, and the motor that they/their farmed out machine shop built lasted less than 1000 miles before breaking a rod. Then they spent a long thread arguing with me that setting up a target AFR map that commanded 14.5:1 under load was perfectly fine and normal.

I'm good, fam.

Think of it this way. Tdr is in how many race cars across the country? now ask the same question about ati. Just a guess but ati is probably going to have a few hundred thousand more units in the market

The product you linked to.

Damn. That was way less work than my posts.

I wouldn't run that pulley on my engine if you paid me. Modern engines not needing a balancer.. had my chuckle for the day.

For some history... search unorthodox racing. Those pulleys destroyed countless miata engines.

They are wrong. Incredibly, hilariously wrong.

Because TDR is stupid and most people are not.

Yes.

14 days ago:
https://www.miataturbo.net/engine-pe...ageable-98282/

Hey @poormxdad , TDR owes you a bottom end.

10 years ago, a common eBay mod was to replace the OEM harmonic damper with a solid aluminum unit to save weight. Oil pump failure was virtually assured within 1000 miles of installation. History repeats itself.

e: ^^Yep, it was Unorthodox. I didn't remember the brand name. Search for "unorthodox racing oil pump failure" for some great reading.

https://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=173225

I'd run it on mine for about $2000. That's what i need to finish my new motor i think. Give or take.

I'm confused, Concealer. If you spent thousands of dollars of work on an engine and decided to run said engine despite knowing it was improperly wired and improperly tuned I have to question your credibility. Please understand that I'm not to talk shit here. It is just that if I spent thousands of dollars building an engine I would make damn sure that everything was wired and built properly to my knowledge despite the information anyone else let me on to believe. I would never blame anyone else for my shortcomings.

I think he bought it used when he was less knowledgeable, that's how I read it.

Could be true. But my point still stands, I would still do the research amongst the Miata community and come to my OWN conclusions. This forum and useful information has been here for over a decade; Definitely long enough to gather reputable information.

...What?

I didn't wire the car. I didn't tune the car. I didn't build the motor.

I have no shortcomings. I am perfect.

I acquired the car after it exploded. I came to my own conclusions after seeing the work that was done. No further research required. I'm not sure what you're trying to teach me, i don't have any questions in this thread. :)