Hot Bodies Lightning Pro

[RobH]

Racing Lines Magazine sent me a copy of Issue No 90 (June 2003). The "Sacker Pro", as the Lightning Pro is officially called down under, got nothing but compliments and praise from the mag. It also had several nice tid bits of information I didn't know. The most surprising were the improvements the Sacker Pro has over the "K" design. The article wraps it up by mentioning what we've already heard. The buggy took 2nd and 3rd in the New Zealand Nationals (their season is getting over because they are south of the equator). I also read the 20 races part. If I read correctly, this was part of an endurance race. The Lightning Pro went through 20 heats one after another without breaking a single part.

I'm leaving out the juicy stuff on purpose. If you're a Lightning Pro owner, you can't get information on your buggy anywhere -- you NEED this magazine! Go buy it. $15-$20 is cheap bragging rights. Your friends will also flip that you have a mag from Australia.

send an email here to buy the mag:

[email protected]

-Rob

 

[hotbodydude]

I have a hot body lightning pro and I took it to the track. it performed great. I took it off of a big jump and it landed great. it took the turns like a pro all perfect. the flaw that I see is it is a little nose heavy so if you go off a jump wrong it will flip. I had this happen a couple times. but nothing broke I was very impressed. this is definitly a car for the person that crashes quite a bit. it will take a beating and keep on ticking. the best buggy I have driven in a long time. very cool car well worth the money. :fro: :jet: :yes:

 

[CRSMP5]

i just got some new stuff on mine...

some gs springs, some blue V spoke ofna wheels mounted with proline road rage tires, picco 26

some kyosho wheels, proline knuckles mounted

I've tried a 8 port, picco in it, the picco allows a 18t cb to fit with no loss to bottom end..

 

[RobH]

break any chassis pieces yet CRSMP5? i heard of one guy breaking an upper arm but I haven't had any luck breaking it yet.

i think it looks much better silver instead of purple:

gotta love EZ Off.

 

[Smokey]

I didn't break the upper arm, but I did stripp out the turnbuckle. I also just installed the new XTM .21 pro. I have only broke it in so far, but it seems to have very nice power, plus it is only $99!!

Rob- I like the silver look, may have to look into doing that.

 

[RobH]

my turnbuckle on the left side got a little messed up when one of the screws vibrated out of it. i lost like 2 threads off the top. you gotta check those loose screws and loclite the places you can.

also, did you see rcscrewz.com has a screw set fot the Lightning Pro?

http://www.rcscrewz.com/offroad.htm

-Rob

 

[Smokey]

I got the 500 screw kit.....much cheaper in the long run :thumbsup:

 

[RobH]

do you have a link to that? i didn't purchase a screw set yet, but i surely need one.

 

[Smokey]

http://www.rcscrewz.com/bulk_screws_kits.htm

Nice Kit, has everything you need in bulk!!

 

[CRSMP5]

i broke the rear wing stay a few weeks ago.. 4$ parts.. 1st thing i broke.. picco 26 and 18t cb will do that though... front turnbuckle.. again sad to say, gs storm parts will fit..

 

[RobH]

i think both the kyosho, gs storm steering knuckles fit it. i think a lot of people loose the threads on the steering knuckles because the don't break it the buggy down and loctie the metal-metal screws. then the screw vibrates out and strips the knuckle.

i think if i were to do it over again, i would take the whole thing apart and put it back together with loctite before break in. I'd replace the diff gears right off the bat. I'd sell the stocker engine on ebay and buy new tires, wing and body right away. i know my next engine will be given the heat cycle treatment for sure. live and learn right?

 

[hotbodydude]

hi I have a lightning pro and i have the stock engine in it and I broke it in but I can't seem to get that much performance from it. it goes fast but not as fast as my neighbors went with the stock engine. it would be great if I could get some easy ways of increasing power. weather it be tuning or buying some hop up parts. I lean it out and everything but I might be doing it wrong I am a little new at this but some pointers would be great. thanks alot

 

[RobH]

you may have some tuning issues, but the stock engine in general has some performance issues. a lot of people like the hyper .21 8-port engine (race legal) while others like the picco .26 (not race legal). you can find either of these engines on ebay for $110-$120ish. This is very cheap for a buggy engine. The top notch racing engines will cost you $300 easy.

you could try leaning out the stock engine, but you may run into a heat issue.

 

[hotbodydude]

could you tell me some sites to go to to help or get pricing for a new engine
thanks alot
kyle

 

[1meathead]

try this http://www.hotbodiesonline.net/engines/breakin.htm
and this http://www.nitrohouse.com/engine_breakin.htm
they also have the 8port race engine I got it for like 145.00 they matched a price I found on the net.

Nice to see the HB lightning post back up top:devil:

 

[CRSMP5]

i run both picco and 8 port race in mine.. track does not care.. sounds to me as if its a tuning issue though.. mine was .8 sec behind the os powered one on the track adn we have simmilar drivign style anbd mine had a cracked block...

also.. i did take mine apart before break in to check oil/fluid levels and loctite issues..

the problem with teh front steering hub is cause it was taken apart, to much loctite used, the bolt gets loctited to the steel piece it goes thru on the plactic C hub and when you turn the wheel it makes it come loose..

 

[Smokey]

I put an XTM .21 pro in mine, ran a few more tanks through it last night. It has plenty of power, especailly for a $99 engine!! :smoke:

I also just installed a Fioroni 4-point sliding clutch. Very nice! Smooth acceleration and once that thing grabs :jet: it don't let go!!

 

[RobH]

do you have a link to that clutch it sounds sweet (hard to resist the hopups )

 

[Smokey]

check out dusty attic on Ebay

 

[RobH]

did you guys every take a good look at the bottom of your gas tank? is that a filter at the bottom of the pickup?