HPI Nitro MT...a blast from the past!

[slw2206]

My son's been asking me to dig this out of storage, so today we finally got to it! 20+ years ago this was the bad boy I used to race and design/make parts for.

HPI had their signature purple color so that permeates the design.

The Mugen Novarossi engine put out 1.35hp @ 43,500rpms. Not sure how that compares to today, but back then it meant this thing screamed (of course this was before brushless became a mainstream thing).

Anyway, thought you may enjoy some pictures of what I used to "tinker with".

 

[majin]

very very cool!

 

[Tunedfrog]

Great looking rig.

 

[Chubaka]

You got my pipe you bastard. Lovely truck and all the mods from that era. Nice time capsule.

 

[fstnd]

She's in a good condition for such 20 year old nitro very great looking rig indeed

 

[slw2206]

You got my pipe you bastard. Lovely truck and all the mods from that era. Nice time capsule.

Lol, it's just a pipe. I remember at the time it was known for being the best at low end torque, nice short throaty growl to it.

 

[CertifiedMike]

I love the vintage!!!
The colors on those old rc's were so cool too!
I hope you still fire it up every now and then to terrify the neighbors and such!
Its getting warmer... nitro season is HERE!!!!

 

[slw2206]

I love the vintage!!!
The colors on those old rc's were so cool too!
I hope you still fire it up every now and then to terrify the neighbors and such!
Its getting warmer... nitro season is HERE!!!!

My brother has my starter box and glow plug ignitor. He had a NMT as well, not nearly as decked out. I don't have fuel or good batts to run this thing and I can tell just by spinning the wheels it needs linkage adjustments on the brakes and an engine placement adjustment for the pinion/spur spacing. Not to mention the toe and camber of the wheels is off something awful!

I'd guess I'd need $200 and 4-5 hours worth of "maintenance" to get this thing going good.

I'd also bet money, just looking at how clean the carb is, knowing the build quality of these Mugen engines, and how well I always maintained my gear (it had oil dropped in the glow plug before it was put in storage); this thing would fire up and run!

The gears are turning in my head...

I wonder if this old Novak receiver is parable with my new FlySky NB4 radio!!!

 

[CertifiedMike]

My brother has my starter box and glow plug ignitor. He had a NMT as well, not nearly as decked out. I don't have fuel or good batts to run this thing and I can tell just by spinning the wheels it needs linkage adjustments on the brakes and an engine placement adjustment for the pinion/spur spacing. Not to mention the toe and camber of the wheels is off something awful!

I'd guess I'd need $200 and 4-5 hours worth of "maintenance" to get this thing going good.

I'd also bet money, just looking at how clean the carb is, knowing the build quality of these Mugen engines, and how well I always maintained my gear (it had oil dropped in the glow plug before it was put in storage); this thing would fire up and run!

The gears are turning in my head...

I wonder if this old Novak receiver is parable with my new FlySky NB4 radio!!!

Nitro season IS here.
NITRO SEASON is here too!!!

I think it would make a fun resto project. Not a daily runner but one to drive on Sundays and in parades and such.

I have a couple cars with old electronics. I haven't messed with new radios and old escs etc. Good luck!
(New electronics in old cars are in the works though. )

 

[slw2206]

It definitely would be a walk down memory lane making this run again. It wouldn't be too much work just to run, certainly more to "dial it in", but I just need to keep my Engineering OCD in check.

The funny part is my son is interested and wants to do the project, so if he's willing to learn and do the wrenching, it might be worth a few dollars in parts.

Smelling that sweet nitro again would be a kick! I text my brother and he does have my starter box and ignitor, both with new batteries as he had the same idea with his truck and few mo ths back. He couldn't get his truck to fire, but I bet we could get it going too!

My AirT MX-3 just got a new set of batts and fired up. The Novak receiver is functional, still accepting signal, and both servos move. I feel like it's halfway to running already

We shall see...