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Jato os .18tz

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buggybuster

RCTalk Qualifier
Messages
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Location
Burlington NC
RC Driving Style
  1. Bashing
  2. Racing
Will the os .18 tz make a difference in my stock 3.3 jato, and the biggest thing is how many problems if any will come with the stock drivetrain, and already suspect tranny? I already run foams mostly in the street but just got the urge to hop it up a lil. What else is necessary to make this compatible with the car.
 
I think you will be ok on tranny. As far as axles go iwould get a set of steel shafts and replace the stocks when they twist. Depending on how you drive it may never be an issue at all. I've worked on several drag racing jatos that are running that mill and some where stock drivetrain and others spent the cash for steel trans gearing and cvds. Unless you go even bigger on the engine the .18 tz should be a safe power plant to replace the 3.3 without any other upgrades for now.
 
This there any other better mills there as far as performance for that jato staying with a small block
 
Last edited:
Not really. Imo the OS.18 is an excellent choice in small mills. Novarossi does make small blocks as well but may be a bit more costly.
 
The 18tz is the way to go, and like Z said, the others cost more. Bigger more powerful engines could also make the truck impossible to drive.
 
Thanks guys tired of looking at the jato sitting on shelf so I figured I would dust her off and give her a lil makeover. I been stuck on my savages and Buggies lately so I figured I would give something else a lil attention.
 
Zdragon could you help me out with where to get those steel shafts trams gearing and cvds for some reason my lhs isn't able to find them. I wanna just upgrade whatever possible right now cause knowing me ill want something bigger next.
 
Here are the Traxxas ones, I haven't run them, but I plan on trying them soon. What did you mean in you original post, "already suspect tranny"? Are you having issues?
 
Yeah the tranny keeps a constant lil roar, I could never figure it out then my lhs informed me that it was a shaft that's inside the tranny which is a common thing on the jato, lhs fixed the first time and same thing happened within 3 tanks of fuel again
 
The steel axles are traxxas parts. Honestly i dont know about the steel trans gearing because the guys had someone else install them before i did the axles. They looked to be custom from what i was looking at.
 
You may not notice much peak power difference between the 3.3 and 18TZ. The TZ edges it out in peak HP, but it does have a much smoother and less "peaky" power curve as you walk up the RPM's. The 3.3 is pretty peaky with a narrow window. The 18TZ is much less so.

Just means you can probably gear the 18TZ a little taller and still have decent low/mid range response. Which suggests you would want to gear a bit taller or you will stress the drive train a bit more than you are now with the 3.3.
 
Yeah the tranny keeps a constant lil roar, I could never figure it out then my lhs informed me that it was a shaft that's inside the tranny which is a common thing on the jato
I don't know about that, I'd check into it some more, did they tell you what shaft? Have you checked the bearings in the trans?
 
No he didn't give a specific name I know he mentioned a clip or pin on it, when we began talking bout doing the os 18 he said he wanted to heat the shaft to strenghten it though, what that has to do wit the pin or clip I have no idea.
 
Thanks to all on the O.S tz info on my jato, all went well and that sucker is a blast. So far far bout a quart and half through the engine and everything is holding together, running around 185 and seems to still be getting faster, on to the next project now. Getting rid of the 4.6 on my trophy truggy for a stock plus nova 28 7t. Wanted to stay wit the bump start the o.s 18 tz was my first and liked it.
 
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