Well another Ebay find that I want to share. I found an HPI RS4 MT for a good price. I thought it was just a roller without a body even.
Well I open the box, and see a body, beat up but still usable. I also see the Futaba Magnum Sport Radio, the Tekin TSC 411-G2 esc, the Warlock Cheetah 13 double brushed motor and futaba S148 servo. But the biggest surprise.
It came with the optional 2 speed spur system from the RS4's. I'm very excited to see what kind of speeds this will hit. I'm very pleased with the truck. It needs a new rear belt but that's already been ordered. Now it just needs a good cleaning and relubing.
There was one, non-"expandable" picture and all i could make out was the chassis and servo wire. Wasn't a great picture. I got the whole thing for under $50 so even if it was just the chassis, I was happy.
I'm halfway through the clean up process. After that it'll get some new electronics (2.4ghz, better servo, 3000KV brushless) and I'll see how it does. The 2 speed tranny looks very interesting. I have to do some reading up on it. I'm not sure if it can go in reverse.
Well did a full tear down, clean and relube. Rebuilt shocks and new shock oil. Set belt tensions etc.
Threw in a 3000KV brushless system, digital servo and 2.4ghz radio and it's ready to rock and roll. Gonna grab a new body. I don't know if this'll be a keeper or not but I'll have fun with it until the new rear belt arrives. I'll drive the old belt until it breaks and then swap them.
Have to take it outside for a speed run to test the 2 speed tranny. Anyone have experience with a 2 speed tranny? What do I look for in terms of performance etc.
Yep i bought one new and was the first batch. Came with no bearings and non hardened drive axles ( all silver) So they broke on me the first time out. HPI did issue new hardened axles ( Black & silver ) Later kits had bearing as well , so i was told.
I did fit mine with a 2 speed as well. Got it running ok but the ratio jump isn't much and didn't really suit it i feel. I found it hard to hear it change too. I didn't like how it was designed. The clutch hub just has a little paw finger that springs out and snags a prong . Not very smooth. The PB 2 speed is far superior . Has a proper 2 shoe clutch and a wide ratio gap to suit a electric motor.
I ended up pulling it out and putting in a high speed 10X2. Was so much fun in a big car park. Massive drifts with the stock tires.
I want to make sure the 2 speed works so I'm trying to figure that part out. Aside from that, this truck didn't have the issues you spoke of. It has sealed bearing, hardened dog bones etc. If I keep it, it'll be for racing on an indoor carpet off road track. I'm just not sure how good this is going to be at jumping. The jumps are small but still.
With your experience, there should be an audible "click" or something with the 2 speed tranny?
Mad Racer wrote:
They jump really well. I had problems with the rear belt. Stones got in and ruined the belt. Apart from that they go really well.
Didn't these cars come with a really cool inner body (with pilot figure) to prevent that kind of thing?
yes they did. Was sad to see the supply of these dry up. Pretty much have to buy a complete truck to get one now but they did work pretty good keeping the debris out. Usually find them kinda hacked up too and that kinda defeats the purpose of them but go figure.
Todd
Peace and professionlism.....Kabunga signing off!!!
The inner body shell was cool in looks and did seal up the chassis well.
Problem is it toasted your motor and esc. There was no air flow at all. I had to put cooling vents in but still roasted a lot of motors and my esc. Remember its a 4wd with all the drag. Big tires as well. HPI recommended a 15t motor or down in the instructions.
If i remember the chassis has a little hole at the end of the rear diff gear and thats where the stones got in.
This is one that I have been saving for last to get running. I seems pretty cool but old like the rest of my cars/trucks. At least early 90's I imagine. I have been trying to see just how the battery is held in and found a whole car like this on...
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The current prices for HPI RS4 stuff isn't too bad so if you search you can still find parts and cars you can use for parts. just don't fall into the trap I have where I've upgraded and spent way too money on rare parts that far exceed the actual...
This is my new built RS4 Rally. When I received it it had a poorly painted Ford Focus body, so I exchanged it with this Suzuki Escudo I had in my stash. Talk about a decal nightmare! A true test of one's patience! But I love the gaudyness of that...
This is a new never run car. The body I have set aside for is the HPI Nissan 350Z Nismo.
I bought one of these cars new back in '96. It was my first entry into on-road or 4wd for that matter. I ordered it from Tower at the beginning of my first...
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I do as well like the older HPI onroads. Nice Pro you got there! I have a RS4 3 RTR and a Sprint 2 Flux. I wonder if any parts are interchangeable with the Sprints and the Pro's?
I have one. Will post pics.
Wanted to start a post for them.
I need a inner body set (upper).
I am sure there is a good demand for the hpi rs4 rally inner bodyset. They have been discontinued for years. Problem is that you cant run the rally in...
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Picked up a used inner on E-bay. Paid too much :( Has a big hole in it :( :( But it works for now.
It's a runner and super fun (orion 12x2). P1000858.jpg P1000859.jpg
Back in 1999 I bought a Pro2. I used it for years and after buying a couple of X-ray T1's I figured I didn't need it anymore and sold it on to my neighbor. I regretted selling it ever since. I have a ton of HPI bodies and other RS4 chassis and I...
My uncle bought this in 1997 to compete against mine and my Dad’s rs4’s. Unfortunately we sold our rs4’s and started running 1/8 buggies. Fast forward to Christmas 2017 and my uncle gave me his old rs4 that he’s kept for so long. There’s a ton of...
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I remember the days of sugaring the track. :lol: :lol:
The tires nowadays are far better than they use to be. I will probably get some foams and some rubber tires. I might try racing it a couple times, but it won’t be anything serious. I will...
I’ve been working on this chassis sporadically for the last 4 years. This car is very near and dear to me. It was my first ever touring car I bought back in 1996 and I had to really hustle and save my pennies to afford it. It's had a lot of use and...
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whoa #1: RS4 355... they did have some awesome bodies bitd didn't they...
whoa #2: ToS is in da house :mrgreen:
I keep up here, just don't post or log in very often.
I'll start my own thread on my 355 RS4 and let shodog do his thing here,...
Picked this up here from Incredible_Serious. It did not come with a body, so I painted this up today. I was going for the Nascar truck theme without all the stickers. It was really hard to get the right lighting as the paint changes from green, to...
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Had some fun drifting at the office yesterday with a friend on the armory drill floor. We had a great time and I got some video's with my GoPro camera as well. I still need to tinker with the editing software though before they are ready to post....
