The 18SS is a great kit. Why would you convert it to 2WD? It will handle better as a 4WD truck.
It should run about the same as the firestorm with some stronger parts.

Hi guys. I ran up against a problem yesterday, and I was wondering if someone here could help me. I have an MT2 (not G3.0), that I bought off of someone about a month ago. The guy I bought if from said he'd been having problems with the motor ever since he ran through a puddle. I took the truck home, set the needles to factory, and the truck started, and has been running like a champ since then. I leaned out the high speed needle and low speed a bit, maybe a quarter turn or less, and it's been running great.

The last couple times I ran it though, I noticed it would hiccup if I pegged the throttle from a stand still start. It wouldn't do it if I increased my speed gradually. Then yesterday, the engine would keep dieing out on me after a few runs in the street. Finally, it stopped completely, and wouldn't start again. I noticed the flywheel is really hard to turn now. I haven't taken the engine out yet, but I was wondering if you all might give me a few suggestions on what to look for. Is it time for a new engine maybe? I'd rather not, but if I have to spend over 20 bucks to fix it, I may just take advantage of the engine trade in program HPI has, and get the G3.0. Let me know what you all think. Thanks, and happy 4th of July!

Rody, how old is the glow plug?
What fuel are you using?
When you say the flywheel is hard to turn over, is that with the glow plug in?
Which engine is it that you have?

Hi Keith. I put in a brand new OS 8 glow plug, and double checked to see that it was burning brightly on the glow igniter. I'm using 20% Trinity Monster fuel. It was running fine on it for about a month. I forgot to ask the previous owner what fuel he was using though. The flywheel is hard to turnover with and without the plug in. It seems to stick at almost TDC. The motor is a stock Nitro Star T-15 with roto start.

ok, does it just get tight at the top of the stroke and then loosen up again as it goes back down or do you feel clicking at all? It could be that the pinch is still very good or something could be broken. Are you using a pull start or a roto start?
When you look in the engine through the glow plug or the exhaust port do you see any rust or dirt?

Hi guys, can anyone wheelie their mt2. i cant.[] can anyone give me tips on how to wheelie my mt2 plz

HOLY CRAP!! I started this thread at the start of 2004!! WOAH, i just pulled my baby out of its box for the first time in years, thought id check if these things are even popular any more. Woah am i shocked! [X(] Thank god i can still talk about it.

I got so fed up with my mt2 not working i just left it alone. But now that i had the time i opened the whole engine up cleaned it all and put it to factory settings. Just going out now to buy new fuel, glow plugs and a new glow starter. It starts but it cuts out, needs serious tuning. I hope i have the patience to get it working to the best spec becuase this thing is a blast!! just found a new rc track in slough in england UK so can't wait to get it working.

oh and im in the money now, well ive got a part time job with university lol, so i can afford hop-ups, can any one suggest anything?

Yours Sincerely,
NITRO NAPALM [8D]

The MT2 has a very low COG so its very difficult to get the front wheels up. I have the TZ in my one truck and if I catch a bump just right while on the gas it will keep the front end up for a decent distance. It still doesnt have the power to wheelie on its own though. Outside of a BB engine and some tires with excellent traction I dont see it happening.

Welcome back Napalm. I would say the 18SS diffs gears along with some alloy knuckles and blocks are probably you best upgrades. Maybe some GPM shocks too. Lets see some pictures of your old truck when you get a chance

Okay thanks aniway, you give out great info Keith

Thanks I try. This is a great thread with a lot of knowledgeable people. Its great that everyone tries to help each other without any of the bashing that goes on in other threads

I know what your saying man I have been reading some other threads and it seems like thats all thats going on is bashing other peoples ideas and trucks. I just picked up a picco jl reddot for my revo today im scared to use it after what happened to my tz........

Ive read those red dots are supposed to be very fast, cant wait to see a video.
Just make sure you use the ARO regardless of what the fuel container says.

OK, I took off the engine head, and I think I must have broken the connecting rod, because the piston won't move when I turn the flywheel. It's stuck at TDC, but I can move the flywheel pretty freely, and I hear a clunk, when I turn it (sounds like the con rod hitting the piston). When I looked at the top of the piston there were some metal shavings or something on the top of the piston, so something must have happened. I guess I'll use the hpi trade in to upgrade to a G3.0, unless you guys have suggestions for a different engine.

Sorry to hear about your engine man. I have never seen a nitro blow up like that and I have had mine hit some insane rpm's when my batterie back got unplugged and my mt2 flipped upside down at full throttle. I was about 80 yards away from it. The tires were so ballooned I was afraid that they were going to blow up.

Keith my engine didnt come with a glow plug so the lhs gave me one but it was the wrong one..... its all installed ready to go but I need a medium/hot plug and they gave me a cold plug. I better got posting your catching up to me keith lol

You could use some 25 or 30% nitro in the meantime.
And Im all over you, you can run but you cant hide....[8D]

The lhs stole my picco sticker and for some reason the sticker that was ontop of the head was not there..... I hope they didnt do anything to it. I ordered the engine and it sat at the store for about 2 weeks till I picked it up.

Is it advertised as coming with the plug?

It just said to use the picco whatever plug it doesnt have a list of parts that it comes with but im going to look on the towerhobbies side and see if they give a list of parts.

No plug with it, it falls under the required list. Hows your tz running man? Are you going to get some vids of it soon? I havent been bashing for over a month.......... summer is half way over already im itching to go out.

Got some wheels from a buddy super cheap. So the dirt tires are now off and the PVC tires have been installed. This thing has officially become my nitro drifter.

What do you think?




BTW - I still hate the G3.0 motor. I am moving to an O.S. .12TZ as soon as this one explodes. This is my third engine in this car, and out of the 5 nitro cars I own it has by far been the worst motor. I love the truck, I just hate the power plant

Why are you going to put the 12 tz in it man? You should get the 18 tz unless you already had the engine kicking around. I know the 12 is insane for hight rpms so you would make a good onroad mt2 out of it.

Drifting does not require too much power, but high RPMs are important. The PVC tires slip really easily so bogging down is not even an issue. And I can get a 12tz for next to nothing.

Next to nothing is always good. I put the 18 tz in my mt2 and with the dirt hawgs I can drift it really well. You just have to be careful with those pvc tires that you dont over rev your engine.

No over rev.
I run rich and have adjusted my throttle linkage to make sure nothing gets out of hand.

This is the car that I hand over to my buddies when we are out at car meets so it has to be idiot proof. It is going 2.4ghz to make sure interference is not an issue either. It is nice to have a truck rather than a car for its ground clearance and durability. Even if someone crashes in to a barrier, it just drives away as if nothing happened.

OK, I just pulled the motor, and looked inside. It's definately a broken connecting rod. I'm gonna be trading it in, although I have my eye on .18 HPI outlaw engine. Are these pretty good?

Quick question, the stock T-15 engine mounted directly on the chassis plate. If I get the G3.0, or the Outlaw engine from an MT2 SS, will I need to get motor mounts, or do they bolt up to the chassis too? Thanks for your help.