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need recommendations: best smallblock for ~$150

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Krautwagen

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My bro is looking for a new engine for his mk1 Maxx... He saw all the crap I had to go through with my bigblock conversion a while ago (drivetrain destruction and $$$ to beef it up...), so we're looking for a decent mill for it. Pullstart is also out of the question. So far the choices are TMX 2.5 or Fantom .18... Any other options that will accept EZ-Start or Roto-Start? Looking for reliabilty and power (sort of in that order)
Thanks
 
I ran a Sirio .18 and a big bore pipe.Its a few more bucks but worth it.
 
Are the Epic and the Fantome the same? I thought I heard that they were... but I can't find a T-maxx version of the epic (that accepts the EZ-Start)....
 
try a WASP .18, wasp has a great reputation for engines IMHO. i havent gotten a chance to test it though, but i will once i get to florida and i will tell u guys how it is. the engine is only.. $89 on tower hobbies i think.

later
 
The Sirio is just too much $$$, and the Wasp does not accept EZ-Start (?)...
 
Krautwagen, I agree that pull-start sucks. That is why I went with the Picco P2 .21 drop-in mid-block size motor for my 2.5 Maxx. It bolted right in, the complete install took maybe 15 minutes! Plus, it uses the EZ-start with no modifications. There was a clearance issue with the one-way bearing hitting the backplate. That is probably fixed in new versions, but be aware of that.

I have been beating the Hell out of this thing since I put the P2 in, and it's been great. A lot of fun to drive. It had no super power until I added a RD Logics tuned pipe. I had started a thread on the power issue, located here: https://www.rcnitrotalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14516

If you want minimum hassle and maximum power, this is a great way to go.
 
whats so bad about the pull start as long as u tune ur engine right... the wasp will not accept the ez-start.

later
 
Originally posted by Maxx Trooper
whats so bad about the pull start as long as u tune ur engine right... the wasp will not accept the ez-start.

later
Click to expand...

That is true Maxx. A properly tuned engine should startup in the first few tugs. Ez starts and rotostarts will tend to force a poorly tuned engine to start.
 
You guys hit the nail right on the head. I agree 100% that a "properly tuned" engine should fire up easily. It's that "slightly out of tune" engine that pisses me off, LOL. Pull starting is handy, but can be a real pain if anything's less than perfect.
 
But the battery in it doesn't go dead!

I prefer the pull start vs electric. Got tired of trying to keep batteries charged and carrying them around. I don't know how guys with starter boxes do it.
 
The main problem is that we live in MN. Our trucks see anything from 100*F down to around 30*F... I got sick of blistering the crap out of my hands due to slipping one-ways and finiky engines... I know how to tune an engine fairly well, but I've been soured on p/s' forever. Starter boxes are great for racing, but not for bashing. I really like the EZ-Start system better than my roto-starters (easier to carry), but we'll take whatever... The mid-block .21's are out of the picture due to cost and too much power. The drivetrain just can't handle a .21 without major $$$
 
Originally posted by Chevy-SS
You guys hit the nail right on the head. I agree 100% that a "properly tuned" engine should fire up easily. It's that "slightly out of tune" engine that pisses me off, LOL. Pull starting is handy, but can be a real pain if anything's less than perfect.
Click to expand...

Aint that the truth! It's usually that minor adjustment that starts the avalanche of cussing and frustration. I'm guilty of it too. That's when the beer and cigarettes come into play. Gotta calm down somehow, right?
 
Kraut, the drivetrain CAN handle some serious power. I put the Picco P2 .21 in my Maxx and it has been a screamer ever since. I am beatin the hell out of it. All I did was FOC and metal spur gear.

Also, a friend of mine did the complete Dynamite .26 conversion on his Maxx. Of course, that kit included upgraded metal CVD's, but the tranny and diffs he left stock. So far, no problem.

More impressive is another guy I know. He upgraded his stock 2.5 Maxx to the Dynamite Mach .26 engine and then supercharged it to boot. All using stock tranny, diffs and plastic driveshafts. The driveshafts are starting to show signs of stress, but what the heck, that's not too bad. The thing is hanging together pretty good considering the massive power.
 
He's got my old CVD's off my XTM kit... I just don't trust those diffs and the plastic tranny gears... But either way, the only engine that opens up would be the mid-block .21's, which are still ~$200, which is just a bit too much.

So, so far we're still looking at the 2.5 or Fantom .18. Or if he decides to throw another $50 at it, then we're talking M.B. .21 or Sirio .18.

Thanks for all the help guys, this forum is much better than I thought it'd be :thumbup:
 

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