DIY Network

Monster-Truck Fever: More Monster Trucks From "Radio Control Hobbies" episode RCH-303

Want to know how to make your RC monster faster and louder? Chris Chianelli has a few ideas, and he demonstrates some of them on this HPI Savage®.

In this episode of DIY's Radio Control Hobbies, host Chris Chianelli talks about one of the most popular topics among viewers -- RC monster trucks. And he shows how to make some custom modifications to make your monster even meaner. Featured in this episode is the HPI Savage® monster truck. In order to get better performance out of the Savage, Chris demonstrates how to change the tires, install high-performance shocks, how to install a tuned pipe and upgraded air filter, and how to change out the truck body.

In this first segment, Chris goes over some of the basics of RC monster trucks and shows a few popular models.

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Monster-Truck Fever: Catch It!

The monster-truck craze really got started in the mid-1980s with the Blackfoot® by Tamiya. And things have only gotten crazier. Nearly every RC manufacturer has gotten in on this trend, and the end is nowhere in sight. Here's a sampling.

• The Traxxas T-Max® has been the model that has essentially dominated the RC monster-truck market. Over the years, the T-Max (figures A and B) has undergone a number of improvements. The current version features electric starting, oil-filled shocks, reverse capability. It runs great, and it's ready to run right out of the box.

  Figure A

  Figure B

  
  

• There is one modification that can make the T-Max even better: conversion from a small-block to big-block engine. By adding a larger engine, like the Megatech Q-Series 21® bolts in place easily (figures C and D) and boosts the power considerably over the stock 16.

  Figure C

  Figure D

  
  

• If money is no object, you can go wild with monster-trucks modifications. Our scale Barracuda (figures E and F) features carbon-fiber chassis components and oversized air-filter as well as other non-standard items.

  Figure E

  Figure F

  
  

  	Figure G
  	Monster trucks come in a wide array of shapes and sizes, and they represent one of the most popular sub-genres of the RC hobby.

• The modifications featured in this episode focus on the HPI Savage HPI Savage® (figure G), a large-scale high-performance model that has a lot of great features standard. However, there are a few things you can do even to this model that can raise the temperature a bit on performance. Among them are upgrading the shocks and installing a tuned pipe for better engine performance.

RESOURCES :

T-Maxx radio-control 4x4 truck by Traxxas
Traxxas®
Website: www.traxxas.com

The T-Maxx was featured on episode 104 and 303 of DIY's Radio Control Hobbies workshop.

Hot Bodies Wheels and Bodies
Website: www.hotbodiesonline.net

HPI Savage® RC Monster Truck
HPI Racing
Website: www.hpiracing.com/