HPI Nitro RS4-2 resto build #1

[Defiant]

I dug up this old HPI muffler can and decided to use this on the RS4-2 instead of a tuned pipe. I like the classic look and I felt it deserved restoring

And so I got to work wire brushing, hit it with a large wire wheel, then small, then steel wool from coarse to fine, and then finally buffed it with a felt pad and jewelers polish

 

[dasrcparts]

Oh yea thats gonna look nice!

 

[Defiant]

Scored a Z speed mid tensioner and gpm front tensioner. Also got some new washers for the upper deck

 

[Defiant]

I removed the z speed tensioner to prepare it for some light polishing

And here is the final product, just made it reflective, I don’t go through the full process of removing all scratches.

I don’t mind a few blemishes, it doesn’t bother me despite people trying to pick me apart for that..

 

[WickedFog]

I dug up this old HPI muffler can and decided to use this on the RS4-2 instead of a tuned pipe. I like the classic look and I felt it deserved restoring
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And so I got to work wire brushing, hit it with a large wire wheel, then small, then steel wool from coarse to fine, and then finally buffed it with a felt pad and jewelers polish
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It's hard to polish cast aluminum, but that muffler turned out pretty good! The tensioner looks great too.

 

[Defiant]

It's hard to polish cast aluminum, but that muffler turned out pretty good! The tensioner looks great too.

Thank you. Yes polishing cast aluminum was super tough to do, especially with all the corrosion that had formed. The result in the pic was from hours of work, it’s not perfect by any means but for an old RC it’s right at home imo

 

[WickedFog]

Thank you. Yes polishing cast aluminum was super tough to do, especially with all the corrosion that had formed. The result in the pic was from hours of work, it’s not perfect by any means but for an old RC it’s right at home imo

Yeah, it looks great. Much better than it did!

I used to polish cast aluminum Mustang Cobra brake components. Master cylinders, brake calipers, etc. It takes a lot of sanding at first, and it has to be a pretty good casting to start out with. I always started with a 3m red Scotchbrite pad in a right angle grinder, just to get past the textured surface. Then I went to 180, 220, 320, 400, 600, 800, 1000, and finally 1500 grit 3m wetsand paper, sanding by hand. Then I used white rouge and finished with jewelers rouge. After that I used Mother's aluminum polish. It was pretty cool to see the finished piece. I used to sell those brake sets on ebay for a huge profit, but the work made it feel like I wasn't getting enough for my time. It is a ton of work. One of the engines in my Mustangs looked about like this (not mine)...

 

[Defiant]

Yeah, it looks great. Much better than it did!

I used to polish cast aluminum Mustang Cobra brake components. Master cylinders, brake calipers, etc. It takes a lot of sanding at first, and it has to be a pretty good casting to start out with. I always started with a 3m red Scotchbrite pad in a right angle grinder, just to get past the textured surface. Then I went to 180, 220, 320, 400, 600, 800, 1000, and finally 1500 grit 3m wetsand paper, sanding by hand. Then I used white rouge and finished with jewelers rouge. After that I used Mother's aluminum polish. It was pretty cool to see the finished piece. I used to sell those brake sets on ebay for a huge profit, but the work made it feel like I wasn't getting enough for my time. It is a ton of work. One of the engines in my Mustangs looked about like this (not mine)...
View attachment 164536

That’s cool! I can understand why you felt that the money wasn’t worth it, I used to have a sheet metal intake manifold for my car that came with dull finish that I polished into a semi-satin-chrome finish. Not mirror-like, but shiny. That was a ton of work!! And it was a much smaller piece with much fewer ridges and valleys than the mustang parts you’ve showed. You couldn’t pay me to do that again! I’ll stick to small RC parts that I can hammer out in a day

 

[WickedFog]

That’s cool! I can understand why you felt that the money wasn’t worth it, I used to have a sheet metal intake manifold for my car that came with dull finish that I polished into a semi-satin-chrome finish. Not mirror-like, but shiny. That was a ton of work!! And it was a much smaller piece with much fewer ridges and valleys than the mustang parts you’ve showed. You couldn’t pay me to do that again! I’ll stick to small RC parts that I can hammer out in a day

I worked in a machine shop, running huge CNC machines that ran for hours before you had to do anything. I had a lot of free time, and a lot if nice tools at my disposal. But I also developed arthritis in my knuckles ftom all the hand work. It's why I appreciate your builds so much. You put a lot of work into them

 

[Defiant]

I worked in a machine shop, running huge CNC machines that ran for hours before you had to do anything. I had a lot if free time, and a lot if nice yools at my disposal. But I also developed arthritis in my knuckles ftom all the hand work. It's why I appreciate your builds so much. You put a lot if work into them

Ah that explains it! I know a couple machinists, they’re super smart fellas. And the tools they have always impress me. I learned how to operate a lathe and even years later I still remember, I’d like to get a small one some day to keep at home just to mess around with. And thank you, I try to put effort in everything I do

 

[WickedFog]

Ah that explains it! I know a couple machinists, they’re super smart fellas. And the tools they have always impress me. I learned how to operate a lathe and even years later I still remember, I’d like to get a small one some day to keep at home just to mess around with. And thank you, I try to put effort in everything I do

I just got an email the other day from Amain saying they were now selling some of the new HPI vehicles. It's great to see HPI making a comeback. I wish I was into nitro. These look like a blast to build and hopup.

Just curious. Can one of the electric cars be hopped up to this level? Are there parts like this for them as well? I know you're not into electric, but I'd love to see what you would do with one like this.

https://www.absolutehobbyz.com/hpi-...ford-mustang-vaughn-gittin-jr-body-sedan.html

 

[Defiant]

I just got an email the other day from Amain saying they were now selling some of the new HPI vehicles. It's great to see HPI making a comeback. I wish I was into nitro. These look like a blast to build and hopup.

Just curious. Can one of the electric cars be hopped up to this level? Are there parts like this for them as well? I know you're not into electric, but I'd love to see what you would do with one like this.

https://www.absolutehobbyz.com/hpi-...ford-mustang-vaughn-gittin-jr-body-sedan.html

Yes they definitely can! That’s why I love HPI, they made heaps of upgrade parts for all their models, and then aftermarket brands made even more because of how popular they are.

I’m in a few HPI and nitro groups and many of the members have electric models as well with some insanely trick builds. If anything it’s easier/cheaper to build the electric ones with hop ups, you won’t have to polish an old cast aluminum can all day

 

[WickedFog]

Yes they definitely can! That’s why I love HPI, they made heaps of upgrade parts for all their models, and then aftermarket brands made even more because of how popular they are.

I’m in a few HPI and nitro groups and many of the members have electric models as well with some insanely trick builds. If anything it’s easier/cheaper to build the electric ones with hop ups, you won’t have to polish an old cast aluminum can all day

That's good to know. I am not at all a fan of driving on-road or drift stuff, but my kid seems to be. But they just look so darned cool. I think it's the scaler in me, and why I like the vintage stuff. They look more like a real car, as opposed to some insane bashing beast. So maybe I'll look into building one of these.

 

[Defiant]

That's good to know. I am not at all a fan of driving on-road or drift stuff, but my kid seems to be. But they just look so darned cool. I think it's the scaler in me, and why I like the vintage stuff. They look more like a real car, as opposed to some insane bashing beast. So maybe I'll look into building one of these.

The onroad stuff isn’t for everybody, but all the cool replica bodies with real liveries and wheels just does it for me. Plus they’re a lot more fragile than the off-road bashers so I can see why some don’t like that.

 

[evenflow]

Welcome, I initially didn’t think I’d post this car at all because relatively little progress has been made and I actually don’t have any photos of the car before I restored it.

So anyway this was a slider I had bought that didn’t have a transmission, engine, wheels, fuel tank, or any electronics.

I added a new original RS4 (1) chassis plate, carbon fiber upper deck, carbon front and rear shock towers, wheels, bumper foam, a fresh transmission (2speed), belt tensioner and some temporary new hardware to replace the rusty old screws.

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And it sat on my shelf… i basically put it on the back burner but I had some free time today and some new parts for it so I thought why not

I got a new Japanese Pure Racing upper deck, new matching washers, new mid belt tensioner and swapped out all the Phillips screws for hex.
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I do have a body on it but it’s not painted and I don’t want to reveal it just yet. In the future I will be changing the chassis for the purple RS4-2 version as well as some more upgrades. But for now, this is the current status

Hi love your builds. Are you on facebook for further advice on my build
Kind regards

 

[Defiant]

Hi love your builds. Are you on facebook for further advice on my build
Kind regards

Yes I am, I’m also in a bunch of rs4 groups that I’m pretty active in

 

[Defiant]

I bought an old OS Max 12CV for the RS4-2 build. Not in the best shape but it was cheap!

Of course I disassembled it, inspected it and cleaned it

First problem is the crank was cut short, so I ordered a new one

Here’s the length difference, but problem is the new crank is for pull start engines and I want to run a bump start setup

So I had to file down the crank pin on the new shaft

Next I grabbed a flywheel off an old HPI 15FE and polished it up to shine like new

Installed it and used the clutch off the HPI engine

For pinion gear I had bought a GPM 15T clutch bell a while ago, it was blue so I had to strip the anodizing, and gave it a bit of a once-over with some steel wool to bring out the shine

Next, I threw on the exhaust can that I restored recently, then put in some new screws and exhaust gasket and some temporary motor mounts (will be using HPI mounts later)

Installed it in the car

And here is the current condition

 

[Defiant]

I have some aluminum suspension arms to install, silver of course (does anyone see a theme here?)

Kind of tricky to get to the lower hinge pins without removing everything

Came out great!

 

[Defiant]

I found another 12cv for cheap and couldn’t help but grab it

I tore it open and it turns out it has good compression and quite aggressive port work done to it

Here’s the crank compared to a stock one

So I decided to use this engine in the rs4, and my plan was to just swap the carb and flywheel over.
But then I picked up this m speed backplate and Form cooling head

I didn’t end up using those nice hpi motor mounts they’re just a bit too small. You’ll notice the C hubs are also alloy now

 

[johnnydmd]

What a beautiful build!