Rebuilding my old Nitro Hawk

[blmptek]

Well I dusted off my old Nitro Hawk last week and fired her up. To my surprise it started after a few tugs on the pull starter.

Of coarse after not running it since 2003 and being rusty at the controls, i ran head on into the front tire of a Van. Luckly it was parked :D I broke the front bumper, arm mount, & bent the shock shaft. All while applying breaks. That little O.S. motor has some power left in it.

So I hit the web and found a parts list and started looking for parts. Found out that Tower Hobbies still carried alot of old Nitro Hawk parts. I ordered all big bore shocks and any possible items i would break in the future.

The only thing that I could not find, was the front A-Arms. From reading these forum I take that the Nitro Rustler front and rear A-Arms fit the Nitro Hawk. If I order Rustler parts for my Hawk, will i have to modify anything so that they fit properly?

What springs should i use for the big bore shocks?
What oil weight should i use? I'm hoping that the new big bore shocks help ou tthe rear end of the truck since it seems to just drag the whole time im on teh gas.


Well since i cant link pictures today. Ill try to link before and after pictures after im done.

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh30/blmptek/NitroHawktop.jpg?t=1204251375
http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh30/blmptek/NitroHawkside2.jpg
http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh30/blmptek/NitroHawkside.jpg

[rusty&maxx]

Well I dusted off my old Nitro Hawk last week and fired her up. To my surprise it started after a few tugs on the pull starter.

Of coarse after not running it since 2003 and being rusty at the controls, i ran head on into the front tire of a Van. Luckly it was parked :D I broke the front bumper, arm mount, & bent the shock shaft. All while applying breaks. That little O.S. motor has some power left in it.

So I hit the web and found a parts list and started looking for parts. Found out that Tower Hobbies still carried alot of old Nitro Hawk parts. I ordered all big bore shocks and any possible items i would break in the future.

The only thing that I could not find, was the front A-Arms. From reading these forum I take that the Nitro Rustler front and rear A-Arms fit the Nitro Hawk. If I order Rustler parts for my Hawk, will i have to modify anything so that they fit properly?

What springs should i use for the big bore shocks?
What oil weight should i use? I'm hoping that the new big bore shocks help ou tthe rear end of the truck since it seems to just drag the whole time im on teh gas.


Well since i cant link pictures today. Ill try to link before and after pictures after im done.

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh30/blmptek/NitroHawktop.jpg?t=1204251375
http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh30/blmptek/NitroHawkside2.jpg
http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh30/blmptek/NitroHawkside.jpg



Nice mouse, Mx 518 FTW!!!!




And nice truck. ;)

[harry697]

I was lucky enough to find a set of 1931 front arms at my LHS.They are black,but they're the correct arms.Can't find anymore of them,but most people seem to use the SRT/Rustler arms.Keep an eye on ebay,sometimes the original whites pop up on there.

[harry697]

Found those front arms in black!

http://cgi.ebay.com/TRAXXAS-PART-1931_W0QQitemZ230198277934QQihZ013QQcategoryZ34063 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

and some white rears! just in case!

http://cgi.ebay.com/TRAXXAS-PART-1955_W0QQitemZ
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-TRAXXAS-1955-RACE-SUSPENSION-ARMS-LS-II_W0QQitemZ250216368686QQihZ015QQcategoryZ34063QQ rdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQ_trksidZp1638.m118.l1247QQc mdZViewItem

[blmptek]

Thanks on the links. I was fortunate enough to find a pair of front arms at a hobby shop that I had not visited in year.

I order more parts from Tower Hobbies. When they arrived, I decided to rebuild it teh right way. I tore it all down to the bare frame. Cleaned all the nylon parts using an ultrasonic cleaner. They look brand new. Im also installing big bore shocks all around. Looking at replacing the gear diff with a ball diff. Replacing all the ball ends & tie rods. The stock ones suck for adjustments. Going to dye all parts black. I will be tracing out both shock towers on a aluminum plate. The rear tower is a hard one to find, since its a MIP 360 tower. I will use them as templates in the future if i ever break them.

Below are some pictures. I will post more as I move forward. I will be carefully inspecting all parts and ordering replacements as needed.

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh30/blmptek/Nhawkparts01.jpg
http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh30/blmptek/DSCF0343.jpg
http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh30/blmptek/DSCF0340.jpg

[blmptek]

More pics here:

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh30/blmptek/DSCF0342.jpg
http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh30/blmptek/DSCF0341.jpg
http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh30/blmptek/DSCF0339.jpg
http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh30/blmptek/DSCF0338.jpg

[harry697]

Sounds like you're gonna have a sweet updated vintage when its all done! Good choice on the big bores and the ball diff.These are two of the best upgrades you can get for a vintage Traxxas,IMO. I did the same thing with my shock towers on my electrics.Now I have cardboard templates for both my LS2 towers and for the rear SRT tower.Didn't bother with the SRT front because they are interchangable with the Rustler and readily available.Aside from having spares,the aluminum towers are much stronger and stiffer than the stock pieces. Can't wait to see build-up pics! :)


You have a PM!

[blmptek]

I've been researching parts online and on the phone. Im buying up what i can as replacements. Been pretty lucky finding parts. Trying to to steer away from Nhawk parts too much unless i have too. I can see in the future having to eventually replace to Nrustler arm. But the advantage of that is that i will be able to use RPM parts.

In the process of separating all my must replace parts and head to Hobby shop to compare and research. Laying out everything to get dyed also.

You have a PM

[Texas Wheelman]

Great to see you getting that restored. Keep at it, I'm looking forward to the "after" pics. :)