What Nitro engines are still available?

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bryan1984

bryan1984

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38
Location
Northern MO
Hey guys, new to this forum and fairly new to Nitro RC but I am hooked! I'm getting ready to build a custom XL using the FLM extended chassis or I may build my own TVP plates, haven't decided yet. I was trying to decide what engine to go with, I would like I real power house for it. I have 3 of HPI's engines and so far they seem pretty good for power and reliability F4.6, K4.6 and K5.9. I have 1 Axial 28 Spec-2 and it seems perform a little better then the HPI engines it seems. I have not been around any other engines. No one that I know of where I'm at in northern MO is into Nitro RC so hard to compare to anything other then what I already have or read about. There is not a track here but I would like to get one built next spring. I have done some reading and it seems a lot of people push the Picco 28 and the LRP 30. Do they still sell these? I cant find anything on the Picco and LRP I don't find a whole lot but what I do find seems pretty pricey compared to a Axial engine. I wanted some more power and RPM then what I have already so I was looking at the Axial 32rr-1. I found one on ebay but that's the only one I can find. On there website its discontinued. What I'm wanting to know is what is still out there and being made? The threads I read about the picco and lrp are 3 to 4 years or more old. I was wanting a real powerhouse for the XL build and would like to try the picco 28 or its equivalent being most everyone says it is the best far as power and rpm goes. There is probably more then I have ever heard of far as brands and who makes what. Is there a place I am not looking? Mostly I shop around on Ebay and tower hobbies but really there doesn't seem to be that many nitro engines to choose from?

So what all is still out there and available? Picco, Axial, LRP, Ofna, dynamite????
 
Welcome to the site!

What is your price range? How do you intend to drive it? Bashing, racing? If you want more RPM range, it's best to stay with a .28. However since you are building a bigger savage, with extended TVPs, you will likely want more torque. So you would be looking at a .30 or .32. Some of this can be helped with proper gearing.

The brands you've listed all have options available, just have to look.
 
Welcome to :hpisf: all those :ercm: you listed are still around and of those I have the OFNA.32 and the Axial .32rr in 2 of my trucks, they are both about comparable to each other in terms of performance and reliability so going with either one will be a good choice
 
Thanks for the reply. price range is some what open, depending on amount will depend how quickly I can get it. It will be used for mainly bashing but if I can ever get a track built I would like to race it as well but would only be on our track. So out of curiosity where would I find a Picco 28 or does it go by another name? I was thinking I would need a larger engine for the TQ but didn't want to sacrifice the rpm. What I have read on the Axial 32rr-1 it still turns 37500 and has 4.1 hp if I remember correctly. But a lot of people claim the Picco 28 would out perform about any .28 to .32 engine you compared it to?
 
Good luck finding a Picco .28 while I am sure there are some out there for the price I would get the LRP .28 as it has good performance and quite a few members here are using that :ercm: with good results
 
I have a picco 28 that I never ran in a drawer still waiting for one of my LRP's to die. I run 3 LRP28 S3's. One in my savage, revo and a buggy. Great little engine with a lot of usable power.

On my savage, I run traxxas 3.8" chevron tires (long wear, not a lot of side bite to avoid rolling in grass) and running 47/17 gearing with the 2 speed trans and BP diffs. It still wheelies easily and is fast. I had to go with a steel spur so I could tighten the nut down as with taller gearing, the plastic spur would slip and melt the center out of it in very short order.

I've seen an LRP30 run in an LST2 next to my aftershock which had an LRP28 in it. It had more low end and the guy ran stock tires on it. I ran similar tires to the above on mine with +2 gearing and a gear flip mod that added +1 over stock, so I still pretty easily out ran him, but the 30 definitely had more low end.

The only axial I had was one of their first 28's and it was abysmal. Was fine for about a gallon, ok power (compared to an OS21RG I ran at the time), but the more fuel I ran through it, the worse the tuning got. No matter what I sealed or tuned, that thing ran hot with awful power output. I gave up and sold it for parts after fussing with it for an entire month.

For what it's worth, HP and RPM ratings that manufactures put on the box are rarely anything useful. Your best bet is to check youtube for the engine your aiming at in the vehicle you want to see it in for comparison. The only HP ratings that are worth their salt are ones that come from a dyno, and even then, unless the same dyno is used for both engines, they are still meaningless.


This is an old list from the XRC X-Dyno that may be more helpful for you:
[B]Thanks to Derek at Xtreme RC Magazine.[/B] said:
Company Engine HP TQ Peak RPM Part # Price

Associated MGT 4.6cc 1.10 @ 19,500 rpm 57.60 oz-in @ 17,750 rpm 34,250 rpm w/ kit n/a
Associated AE.15 .44 @ 22,100 rpm 21.87 oz-in @ 20,100 rpm 33,100 w/kit

Axial Racing .28 Spec I S 1.43 @ 22,800 rpm 75.61 oz-in @ 18,000 rpm 35,000 rpm AX001 $160
Axial Racing .32 same as the Racers Edge Sure Fire .32 with in a 10th in the Sure Fires favor

CEN NX-26 1.02 @ 23,200 rpm 53.00 oz-in. @ 18,000 rpm 33,200 rpm w/ kit n/a
CEN X-76 .46 1.58 @ 21,250 rpm 74.88 oz-in @ 16,500 rpm 36,000 rpm w/ kit $299
CEN OPS .21 speedster 1.27 @ 27,000 rpm 57.53 oz-in @ 19,200 39,800 rpm w/kit n/a

GS GS-R25MT 1.20 @ 24,000 rpm 55.68 oz-in @ 17,000 rpm 35,500 rpm w/ kit $230

HPI 18 SS 0.63 @ 29,500 rpm 24.96 oz-in @ 22,250 rpm 32,500 rpm w/ kit $170
HPI Nitro Star F4.1 0.94 @ 20,250 rpm 48.60 oz-in @ 18,000 rpm 33,500 rpm w/ kit n/a
HPI K4.6HO 1.28 @ 19,500 rpm 64.76 oz-in @ 19,500 rpm 32,000 rpm w/ kit n/a
HPI Nitro Star K4.6 1.32 @ 22,250 rpm 59.52 oz-in @ 19,750 rpm 35,000 rpm w/ kit $200
HPI Nitro Star GS 3.0 .56 @ 25,700 rpm 21.83 oz-in @ 25,500 rpm 36,300 rpm w/ kit

Kyosho GSR-26 0.94 @ 31,500 rpm 46.08 oz-in @ 14,300 rpm 34,250 rpm w/ kit n/a
Kyosho GSR-28 1.16 @ 21,800 rpm 56.32 oz-in @ 19,600 rpm 32,800 rpm w/kit n/a

LRP Z .12R Team Spec.2 1.11 @ 34,500 rpm 32.46 oz-in @ 34,250 rpm 41,250 rpm LRP31201 $240
LRP Z .28R Spec.3 Truggy 1.87 @ 27,200 rpm 70.77 oz-in @ 25,600 rpm 42,800 rpm

Mach .15 Rear Exhaust 0.65 @ 21,500 rpm 30.72 oz-in @ 11,000 rpm 29,500 rpm w/ kit $120

Max Power .12 S-3MF 0.91 @ 34,750 rpm 28.80 oz-in @ 30,250 rpm 43,000 rpm MX12MAXS2MF $349
Max Power MX21M5 1.35 @ 24,500 rpm 55.68 oz-in @ 21,000 rpm 38,250 rpm MX21M5 $350

Mugen X12 SE 0.88 @ 21,500 rpm 28.80 oz-in @ 30,000 rpm 42,500 rpm X12S3 $290

Novarossi N21B 1.33 @ 22,750 rpm 59.52 oz-in @ 20,750 rpm 35,750 rpm N21B $199
Novarossi N528XR Hott Mod 2.02 @ 26,250 rpm 80.64 oz-in @ 22,000 rpm 38,500 rpm N528XR $319
Novarossi P5 1.46 @ 25,250 rpm 59.52 oz-in @ 22,000 rpm 37,750 rpm A2C201 $300

Novarossi 12-3CT 1.03 @ 33,500 rpm 31.32 oz-in @ 32,800rpm 42,000 rpm $395

O.S. .12TZ(S) T3 0.80 @ 34,000 rpm 24.96 oz-in @ 21,750 rpm 38,500 rpm 11371 $230
O.S. 12 TR 0.65 @ 30,000 rpm 25.00 oz-in @ 23,250 rpm 39,350 rpm 11362 $130
O.S. 12 TR-T Outlaw 0.73 @ 31,500 rpm 25.96 oz-in @ 27,250 rpm 41,000 rpm 11365 $160
O.S. .18 TZ-T 1.18 @ 29,400 rpm 44.16 oz-in @ 21,750 rpm 42,050 rpm OSMG2114 $180
O.S. VZ-B V-Spec 1.47 @ 24,250 rpm 61.20 oz-in @ 22,500 rpm 41,500 rpm 13890 $320
O.S. 30VG 1.80 @ 26,500 rpm 74.88 oz-in @ 18,750 rpm 35,500 rpm 13960 $250

Ofna Hyper 21 8-Port 0.98 @ 20,750 rpm 49.92 oz-in @ 14,750 rpm 33,000 rpm w/ kit $150
Ofna Force .26 1.02 @ 24,000 rpm 48.00 oz-in @ 19,500 rpm 38,500 rpm w/ kit $140
Ofna/Picco P7-R Evo .21 1.47 @ 25,200 rpm 59.01 oz-in. @ 24,800 rpm 39,400 rpm 51218 $309
Ofna Force .32 1.23 @ 23,000 rpm 66.07 oz-in @ 17,400 rpm 33,200 rpm w/kit
Ofna Hyper MacStar 2.8 6 port 1.03 @ 23,400 rpm 44.82 oz-in @ 23,400 rpm 34,200 rpm w/ kit

Peak Diablo .12 Type-R 0.51 @ 25,550 rpm 21.10 oz-in @ 19,000 rpm 33,000 rpm PEK6006 $150
Peak Diablo .28 1.33 @ 27,500 rpm 48.00 oz-in @ 22,000 rpm 40,800 rpm PEK6081 $170

Racers Edge Sure Fire .32 1.65 @ 21,750 rpm 74.80 oz-in @ 21,000 rpm 34,500 rpm RCESF10000 $200

Radical 621P 1.27 @ 26,150 rpm 52.06 oz-in @ 19,400 rpm 39,400 rpm kit n/a

RB Concepts V12 Rody 3T 0.95 @ 34,250 rpm 28.80 oz-in @ 28,750 rpm 44,750 rpm 1700-000445 $375

Rex R12S5 Outlaw 0.84 @ 34,750 rpm 26.88 oz-in @ 26,750 rpm 41,250 rpm RER12S5 $385
Rex ReR5 5-port turbo 0.84 @ 34,750 rpm 27.00 oz-in @ 26,750 rpm 41,250 rpm ReR5S3 $320

Rossi Cobra .21 1.32 @ 25,600 rpm 52.45 oz-in @ 25,200 rpm 41,200 rpm 190AR21 $350

SH PT2002XB .21 1.21 @ 22,100 rpm 55.68 oz-in @ 19,750 rpm 39,000 rpm 147009 $229
SH 0.28 1.22 @ 20,500 rpm 61.40 oz-in @ 14,750 rpm 38,450 rpm w/ kit $150

Sirio S12T3 EvoIII 0.79 @ 35,050 rpm 23.04 oz-in @ 22,000 rpm 40,750 rpm S12-TRP1 $200
Sirio P21 PR Pro 1.46 @ 27,750 RPM 53.76 oz-in @ 26,250 RPM 41,000 rpm S12-TRP1 $200

Sportwerks 0.26 1.30 @ 26,750 rpm 53.76 oz-in @ 19,000 rpm 42,750 rpm w/ kit n/a

STS D30M 1.6 @ 25,000rpm 67.99 oz-in @35,000rpm 35,000rpm $130
STS28 is the same peak HP is at a lower rpm band than the STS D30M

Super Tiger G-27CX 0.86 @ 17,250 rpm 50.70 oz-in @ 16,250 rpm 30,250 rpm w/ kit n/a

Tamiya FR-15S 0.48 @ 30,250 rpm 21.12 oz-in @ 13,000 rpm 36,500 rpm S21 PR Pro $350

Team Losi Mach 427 1.31 @ 26,750 rpm 53.80 oz-in @18,750 rpm 43,250 rpm w/ kit n/a

Thunder Tiger Pro .21 0.92 @ 21,750 rpm 57.60 oz-in @ 16,750 rpm 37,750 rpm w/ kit n/a
Thunder Tiger Pro 28 BXR 1.10 @ 19,500 rpm 57.60 oz-in @ 17,750 rpm 34,250 rpm w/ kit n/a

Top TS12S3 0.77 @ 31,000 rpm 26.88 oz-in @ 20,250 rpm 41,750 rpm TSR12S3 $299

Traxxas TRX 2.5 Rear Exhaust 0.69 @ 29,750 rpm 30.72 oz-in @ 18,750 rpm 38,500 rpm w/ kit $120
Traxxas TRX 3.3 Pullstart 1.06 @ 31,250 rpm 37.49 oz-in @ 19,500 rpm 37,750 rpm w/ kit $152

Trinity 427 Monster Horsepower 1.02 @ 24,250 rpm 48.00 oz-in @ 19,250 rpm 38,100 rpm w/ kit n/a
Trinity .30 Adam Drake 1.44 @ 21,750 rpm 55.68 oz-in @ 27,000 rpm 36,250 rpm TRI40006 $215
Trinity .21 Adam Drake 1.48 @ 25,400 rpm 57.72 oz-in @25,400 rpm 41,000 rpm TRI40012 $465
Trinity .21 Platinum Drake 1.58 @ 26,200 rpm 61.03 oz-in @25,800 rpm 40,600 rpm w/ kit

Werks Racing Collari B7 1.54 @ 26,000 rpm 59.52 oz-in @ 23,750 rpm 36,650 rpm WRXLC21B7 $250

Xray NT18 w/ kit n/a

XTM XTM 24.7 1.27 @ 23,000 rpm 61.44 oz-in @ 16,750 rpm 37,250 rpm w/ kit $140
Click to expand...

After having and running LRP28S3's for so long, I'd have a hard time not telling someone to get one. If you do, take time with your break in and heat it up to at least 80F (hotter is better) before trying to start the first 6+ tanks and break it in properly. It's a tough break-in and takes about 1/2 gallon before it settles down with tune, but power will continue to increase until you get at least a gallon through it. All 3 of mine were tough break-ins, but well worth the effort. They would start fine and run fine, but a lot of compression/pinch to work through until they got easy to tune.
 
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Personally I think most of those :ercm: are just too high priced, you can find much better deals on E Bay than buying from some shop who thinks they know everything and anything to do with Nitro engines.....
 
I put an lrp.32 in my savage x. It has crazy torque, geared 17/47, and with trencer x's. I could gear it faster if I want, that engine could easily handle it
 
Well made up my mind and ordered a LRP 30x today. Any advice breakin and on what pipe and header would be best for good low/ mid range without sacrificing the top end hp an rpm? Plan on running VP master basher 20. That's what I run in the rest of them an been good so far.
 
On my .32, 8 just put on a ths pipe. Things a beast. As for break in, I've always prefered the heat cycle method. Always better f9r me than the short and sweet methods recomemded from the manufacturers
 
I found a guy that has a ofna 086 pipe and header, have heard they were good for mid an top power? Also Just curious, the rear dual outlet pipes on ebay. Are they worth a hoot for power? I like the looks of them but not enough to sacrifice power an rpm.
 
bryan1984 said:
Well made up my mind and ordered a LRP 30x today. Any advice breakin and on what pipe and header would be best for good low/ mid range without sacrificing the top end hp an rpm? Plan on running VP master basher 20. That's what I run in the rest of them an been good so far.
Click to expand...

I find that my LRP28's really like 25% nitro fuel. They don't seem to run well on 20%. Higher temps, less power. I typically use 25% byrons race fuel when I can get it. 25% nitro, 8% oil. However, my LHS usually doesn't carry the 25% so I buy a gallon of 20 and 30, then mix them 50/50. I know it's not exactly 25%, but their 20% runs 12% oil vs 8%, so I end up with a bit higher oil content and close to 25% nitro after mixing.

The last batch I bought was odonnels 20 and 30 since my LHS was out of byrons completely... seems to burn ok, but is definitely more oily than the byrons I've been running for the past 5+ years.

As for the LRP 30X, isn't that a non-pull start engine? The LRP 30 Spec 2 is a pull-start.

I know the guy who had the 30 in his LST2 bought the X, then bought the spec2 crank, backplate and starter... still not sure why he spent the extra money vs just ordering the Spec2 version that came with a pull-start...
 
I'm planning on converting to pullstart. The 30 spec 2 an the 30x use the same crank just different piston an sleeve. Just swap out the back plate for either pullstart or roto start. I would love to make a bump start system that would work on a savage but that would take a lot of modifying. Maybe I'll try it one of these days
 
Honestly, for the cost, why did you bother going with the 30X? I guess you'd get a few more RPM's out of it and have a carb that uses inserts to adjust fuel consumption, just not sure it's worth the hassle/expense if your not racing. I suppose if the crank is the same, then it's $60 or so for the pull-start parts, but then the OWB is going to rob some of those RPMS anyway.

Your doing the same thing the guy I know did.
 
olds97_lss said:
Honestly, for the cost, why did you bother going with the 30X? I guess you'd get a few more RPM's out of it and have a carb that uses inserts to adjust fuel consumption, just not sure it's worth the hassle/expense if your not racing. I suppose if the crank is the same, then it's $60 or so for the pull-start parts, but then the OWB is going to rob some of those RPMS anyway.

Your doing the same thing the guy I know did.
Click to expand...

I actually got the 30x for a discount price and found the stuff on ebay(back plate and pull start) for a total of $26 bucks so I'm into the 30x for just a few bucks more than a LRP 32. Thought I would try it. My be a mistake but hey that's how you learn what works and what don't. Still trying to decide on a pipe and header. Only pipes I have laying around are HPI ribbed pipes and a no name pipe with a 4.6 header that came on my X with the axial 28 in it. I would really like that rear dual exhaust setup but I haven't been able to find any reviews on it yet.
 
bryan1984 said:
I would really like that rear dual exhaust setup but I haven't been able to find any reviews on it yet.
Click to expand...


Performance wise I have never heard anything special about the setup. Mechanically though, people seem to break it alot. Due to its position, when people land on the back of the truck or flip their truck, it's not too hard to hit the pipe.
 
bryan1984 said:
I actually got the 30x for a discount price and found the stuff on ebay(back plate and pull start) for a total of $26 bucks so I'm into the 30x for just a few bucks more than a LRP 32. Thought I would try it. My be a mistake but hey that's how you learn what works and what don't. Still trying to decide on a pipe and header. Only pipes I have laying around are HPI ribbed pipes and a no name pipe with a 4.6 header that came on my X with the axial 28 in it. I would really like that rear dual exhaust setup but I haven't been able to find any reviews on it yet.
Click to expand...

Good choice on the 30X. I have tried quite a few different engines in my two Savages. Ended up with LRP .30X and Wasp .26.
The .30X is the nastiest sounding of all the ones that I have tried using the same stock exhaust.
I had the HPI ribbed pipe on the .30X for a short while. It was crazy loud even at idle. My neighbors couldn't appreciate it. You will love it.
You will love it.
Enjoy
 
Well as I stated above I went with the LRP 30X with a dynamite 086 pipe and header. Installed a pull start and got it broke in. I will have to say it puts the rest of the trucks I have to shame for power and speed. No comparison to the 3 HPI powered trucks or the axial powered trucks. I would suggest the engine for power and tune ability. Ill just have to see how long its life span is now. Thanks all for the help and suggestions.
 
Pay attention to the slipper. I smoked a few single disc ceramic slipper until I went with the dual disc set up.
 
Dual disk slipper? I didn't know anyone offered it. I have a Robinson Racing 47 tooth spur and slipper unit on it now. It was fresh when I put the engine in and it is pretty well locked down. Running a HPI hardened 17 tooth bell with BP diffs and Losi 420 Road Rash tires. It hauls azz pretty good.
 
bryan1984 said:
Dual disk slipper? I didn't know anyone offered it. I have a Robinson Racing 47 tooth spur and slipper unit on it now. It was fresh when I put the engine in and it is pretty well locked down. Running a HPI hardened 17 tooth bell with BP diffs and Losi 420 Road Rash tires. It hauls azz pretty good.
Click to expand...


The old Savage X, I believe, had a dual slipper setup. Also Robinson Racing used to sell one for the Savage as well.
 
HPI had a dual disk slipper set up once upon a time. Took me a bit to find it. Robinson Racing was my next option if the dual disk didn't work.
I love the 30X. Aside from making good power, it sounds nasty.
 
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