Nitro-Rob's Carbon Fiber E-Firestorm Build
11-21-2010, 10:04 PM
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Nitro-Rob's Carbon Fiber E-Firestorm Build
I have been interested in the firestorm platform since the nitro firestorm was released. For the past year I have been modding an e-firestorm. I decided to try a carbon fiber chassis from Extreme racing and get some new parts from the Blitz ESE and do a rebuild of the truck and come up with the best truck I can.
The goal of this truck is not to build something with every aftermarket part on it that is available and build a heavily alumininized shelf queen. It will be a sensible collection of parts to make the best running and lightest truck possible
I plan on bashing this truck and making it a regular driver. This e-firestorm will get the most driving time of my RC collection.
I am still waiting for various parts and will surely have this project delayed by something I have forgotten. My first installment is showing the chassis and parts that I plan to build it with. The photo shows most of the parts that have arrived already.
- The CF chassis is from Extreme RC. I chose the regular firestorm length in gray. It comes with the two deck chassis and I purchased the matching battery strap and front shock tower.
- Blitz ESE shocks, transmission (with ball differential), CVDs and heat sink motor plate
- Team STRC aluminum parts including: rear shock tower mount, steering knuckles, steering blocks and rear toe links
- RPM A-arms
- Neweramodels chassis brace
Your thoughts on what could make this truck the best it can be are welcome.
The goal of this truck is not to build something with every aftermarket part on it that is available and build a heavily alumininized shelf queen. It will be a sensible collection of parts to make the best running and lightest truck possible
I plan on bashing this truck and making it a regular driver. This e-firestorm will get the most driving time of my RC collection.
I am still waiting for various parts and will surely have this project delayed by something I have forgotten. My first installment is showing the chassis and parts that I plan to build it with. The photo shows most of the parts that have arrived already.
- The CF chassis is from Extreme RC. I chose the regular firestorm length in gray. It comes with the two deck chassis and I purchased the matching battery strap and front shock tower.
- Blitz ESE shocks, transmission (with ball differential), CVDs and heat sink motor plate
- Team STRC aluminum parts including: rear shock tower mount, steering knuckles, steering blocks and rear toe links
- RPM A-arms
- Neweramodels chassis brace
Your thoughts on what could make this truck the best it can be are welcome.
11-22-2010, 08:51 AM
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RE: Nitro-Rob's Carbon Fiber E-Firestorm Build
Thanks. I look forward to seeing this thing come together. It should be a very nice high quality and strong performing machine when done.
I have two concerns right now: fitting the batteries and ESC. Most ESCs won't fit between the two decks. I have an idea to split the top deck and add more bracing to the bottom but I will face that when it comes. I hope to run a mamba max pro on it which is pretty tall. I have a sidewinder coming in and will start with that and a battery that will fit but I would like to put a bigger pack in it eventually.
Whats holding it up now is waiting for stainless steel screws and titanium hinge pins and turnbuckles.
The race is on, Red, I need to redeem myself after this years poor showing. We should get together more than once a year, though, considering how close you live.
I have two concerns right now: fitting the batteries and ESC. Most ESCs won't fit between the two decks. I have an idea to split the top deck and add more bracing to the bottom but I will face that when it comes. I hope to run a mamba max pro on it which is pretty tall. I have a sidewinder coming in and will start with that and a battery that will fit but I would like to put a bigger pack in it eventually.
Whats holding it up now is waiting for stainless steel screws and titanium hinge pins and turnbuckles.
The race is on, Red, I need to redeem myself after this years poor showing. We should get together more than once a year, though, considering how close you live.
11-22-2010, 10:53 AM
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RE: Nitro-Rob's Carbon Fiber E-Firestorm Build
Good call on the titanium pins and turnbuckles...I have bent the turnbuckles but, never the lundsford pins 
Stainless screws too very nice. Can't wait to see how it comes out and how much it weighs. Nice build.
Stainless screws too very nice. Can't wait to see how it comes out and how much it weighs. Nice build.
11-23-2010, 11:17 PM
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RE: Nitro-Rob's Carbon Fiber E-Firestorm Build
A heads up on the Lunsford hingepins.
Have bent four of them in the SC10. Broke one turnbuckle, but that was kind of a strange impact.
Been running their turnbuckles on all 10th scales for years and years, and it's the only one that's broken.
However, their hingepins bend pretty regularly.
Have bent four of them in the SC10. Broke one turnbuckle, but that was kind of a strange impact.
Been running their turnbuckles on all 10th scales for years and years, and it's the only one that's broken.
However, their hingepins bend pretty regularly.
11-24-2010, 10:09 PM
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RE: Nitro-Rob's Carbon Fiber E-Firestorm Build
Thanks for the heads up thunderbirdjunkie. I expect to run the hell out of this thing and to be breaking lots of things on a regular basis.
I will get a final weight on the truck when its complete. The motor (CC CM 36 4600) came today and I am going to see if a mamba max pro will fit without the fan installed. I inquired about the new 540 motor blower castle is selling and it looks like I have to get it through castle directly or Tower Hobbies.
Still waiting for hingepins and bolts....
I will get a final weight on the truck when its complete. The motor (CC CM 36 4600) came today and I am going to see if a mamba max pro will fit without the fan installed. I inquired about the new 540 motor blower castle is selling and it looks like I have to get it through castle directly or Tower Hobbies.
Still waiting for hingepins and bolts....
11-26-2010, 04:16 PM
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RE: Nitro-Rob's Carbon Fiber E-Firestorm Build
The stainless steel bolts came in today and I will get on to building the chassis tonight. I've been thinking about a ceramic bearing kit which got me thinking about ceramic bearing for the motor. Any thoughts?
12-01-2010, 12:55 PM
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RE: Nitro-Rob's Carbon Fiber E-Firestorm Build
The hingepins and turnbuckles came in. I will post a picture tonight.
I figured out the only stock parts on the truck so far are:
- front bulkhead
- steering belcrank posts
- front axles
- hubs
I am waiting for hubs, ball ends, platinum RC kit, ESC and an aluminum camberlink plate. That should finish things up.
I big negative on the integy steering servo saver is that the saver has minimal motion of bout 5mm in each direction. Its not from the spring tension, its mechanically limited.
I figured out the only stock parts on the truck so far are:
- front bulkhead
- steering belcrank posts
- front axles
- hubs
I am waiting for hubs, ball ends, platinum RC kit, ESC and an aluminum camberlink plate. That should finish things up.
I big negative on the integy steering servo saver is that the saver has minimal motion of bout 5mm in each direction. Its not from the spring tension, its mechanically limited.
12-01-2010, 12:59 PM
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RE: Nitro-Rob's Carbon Fiber E-Firestorm Build
Who makes the carbon fiber battery strap that has the cutout for the balance wires on the hardcase lipo's? I have seen then but can't remember where.
12-13-2010, 07:04 PM
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RE: Nitro-Rob's Carbon Fiber E-Firestorm Build
Sorry its been a long time to update this the mail has been slow. I am waiting for ball ends .
I ordered new firestorm hubs and was disappointed they did not come with set screws in them. I swapped with the set on my other firestorm.
A tip on the front axles which are set up kind of loose. I installed a washer, HPI part Z694, 5x10x.5mm on the back side by the e-clip and it removed a lot of slop.
I have run into my first dilemma - the speed controller doesn't fit under the top deck. I am thinking of installing a blitz side bumper on it or even cutting the top deck to accommodate it and make up new posts to secure the two pieces of the deck.
I am open to suggestions....
I ordered new firestorm hubs and was disappointed they did not come with set screws in them. I swapped with the set on my other firestorm.
A tip on the front axles which are set up kind of loose. I installed a washer, HPI part Z694, 5x10x.5mm on the back side by the e-clip and it removed a lot of slop.
I have run into my first dilemma - the speed controller doesn't fit under the top deck. I am thinking of installing a blitz side bumper on it or even cutting the top deck to accommodate it and make up new posts to secure the two pieces of the deck.
I am open to suggestions....
12-13-2010, 07:34 PM
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RE: Nitro-Rob's Carbon Fiber E-Firestorm Build
Thank you. There is one thing else I forgot to mention, the rear hubs need to be drilled out to 5mm to hold the thicker rear axles of the blitz. The blitz hubs don't work with regular 2.2 inch rims, they are a lot thinner and aren't beveled.
I think I will drill out the front hubs too so I can install the titanium axles that are available.
I am compiling a list of whats needed to finish this thing up.
I think I will drill out the front hubs too so I can install the titanium axles that are available.
I am compiling a list of whats needed to finish this thing up.
12-25-2010, 11:31 AM
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RE: Nitro-Rob's Carbon Fiber E-Firestorm Build
ORIGINAL: yoyo5
are you still doing this build [
]
are you still doing this build [
]
ORIGINAL: yoyo5
are you still doing this build []
are you still doing this build [
]
Here is an update. Its a complete roller now i just need to mount the ESC, battery, receiver and the motor. That is the 4600 two-pole castle in the photos.
The main obstacles to driving it are a bracket to protect the ESC and the weather. Then there is painting the body but that will be a little while yet.
Merry Christmas.