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HPI E-Firestorm tuning and hop up guide.
The HPI E-Firestorm comes out the box as a very accomplished stadium truck. The most essential upgrades and tuning options are listed here to help you turn your E-Firestorm into a racer or super-strong basher.
Most of the option parts are available from HPI but more aftermarket support from other companies, especially RPM, is starting to appear.
Adding strength to your E-Firestorm....
The E-Firestorm comes out the box to a very high level with a stiff chassis and good
suspension. However to start hoping up your model for racing eliminating the last
of the flex out of the chassis and suspension is a good place to start. Luckily
now this truck has been on the market for some time a good range of aftermarket parts
are available.
HPI and now other companies offer aluminium front bulkheads and braces (pictures)
these help stiffen up the chassis allowing the suspension to do it job properly.
For bashers the aluminium parts add strength to the truck allowing you to dish out
the abuse with a little more confidence.
HPI and RPM offer stronger A-arms for the E-Firestorm, these help eliminate more
flex out of the suspension for better damping. These parts are also stronger than
stock, although for purely bashing a weak link can sometimes not be such a problem,
and A-arms are cheap to replace.
Shocks, springs and transmission.
The stock shocks that come with the E-Firestorm are actually very good, offering
controlled damping and good adjustability. However for that last bit of performance,
or more likely just because they look great, HPI offer these great looking aftermarket
shocks.
The all aluminium shocks are gold anodised and fully adjustable. A full range of
springs and shock oils are also available to fine tune the handling of your truck
to the track conditions. Ideally you want to being running as soft as possible on
the rear to improve traction, tuning the front for you preferred steering set up.
The E-Firestorms transmission is very strong as stock being built to take a brushless
motor and LiPo power. However the drive train itself can become a week point. HPI
supply a set of steal drive shafts that are worth considering if you have issues
with the stock components.
And finally...
The E-Firestorm can only handle 2s LiPo power (this is enough in a light truck!)
a good set of batteries will see massive run time. Should you wish to run 3s you
will need to make a motor upgrade on this kit.
For street racing HPI and others offer these great street tyres (pictured) these
are worthwhile upgrades as they balloon less during high speed runs giving better
control over your vehicle as well as giving improved grip on asphalt.
As always there are a host of option parts out there but the real bonus with the
E-Firestorm is that the stock kit comes at higher level of quality compared to some
of its closest rivals.
