PIPES
Tune or Torque
Review by: Tony Molhoek
Photography by: Jose Estrada
Introduction
At first glance you might think that all pipes are created equal, but in reality there are some big differences. There are many schools of thought when talking about the performance of nitro RC models and how they should and do perform. We are going to take a look at two different types of pipes, a Tuned RPM pipe (for high end performance) and a Torque pipe (for low end take off)
In this review we have examined real world tests of both types of pipes and will give you as much information as possible so that you will be able to purchase a pipe that suits your needs.
Things you will need
Installing a after market pipe on your nitro rc model is easy, on a scale of 1 to 5, its a 1. The tools needed are Allen wrenches, zip ties, wire cutters and a pair of pliers. So lets get to it.
The vehicles and pipes used
In testing I decided to use three different vehicles. The three are as follows, traxxas Jato 3.3, Redcat Tornado BB and a Redcat Tsunami. All three vehicles are past the break in stage and are tuned to good performance. The pipes used in the test were the Racers Edge (1019P) torque pipe and the Team Associated (FT RPM) tuned pipe. Both have an average street price of around 30-40 U.S. Dollars.
Driving
Let me start off by saying that both pipes performed very well and have their strong and weak points. As with anything, making sure that you are using the proper equipment for your application is important. I used both on street and dirt track tests. All three vehicles were used as well as both pipes.
The first vehicle used in testing was the Jato. I installed the tuned Team Associated RPM pipe first to see if it was any better than the stock resonator pipe. Testing showed no improvement over the stock pipe in top end. However putting the Racers Edge torque pipe to the test was a bit unnerving; the Jato wouldn't keep the front tires on the ground. To purchase a torque pipe like this for a Jato or any other wheelie machine is not necessary. Its fun, but can be costly because of the lack of control. No dirt testing was done with the Jato. Believe it or not the local track in town just isn't big enough for this kind of raw speed.
On the street performance in the Redcats was impressive to say the least. Redcat racing puts very cheap plastic pipes in their vehicles, so any after market pipe is a big improvement. The tornado and the Tsunami saw great improvement in top end performance with the Tuned Team Associated RPM pipe. The Tsunami actually came alive and started to run like it should. While the Tornado saw top speeds approaching 45 mph. Both Jose and myself were very impressed with this fact. The Redcats have been called an entry level RC, and for the most part are, but with these kinds of upgrades they seem to have what it takes to hit the track, and that’s where we ended up.
Our local track
You can see the
triple in the left portion of the picture
On the dirt was a different story for the Redcats. With the triple in the fore front of our minds we set out to try and make it. First the Tsunami with the tuned Team Associated RPM pipe, almost, but fell about two feet short. Then the Tornado with the Racers Edge torque pipe, what a surprise, sailed right over. Thus displaying the good qualities of the Racers Edge torque pipe for dirt applications. The triple on our local track doesn't have a long approach so you need as much low end power and torque as you can get. The Racers Edge torque pipe really stood out in this portion of the testing. Switching the pipes around on the vehicles yielded the same result, the vehicle with the Racers Edge torque pipe would make the triple and the vehicle with the tuned Team Associated RPM pipe would not. Now don't get me wrong, like I said in the beginning, you need proper equipment for your application. That being said, on the track for our application the Racers Edge torque pipe was the clear winner. There are different schools of thought pertaining to pipe applications, so make sure that you understand the differences. Over all for my liking the Racers Edge torque pipe was much better for all around applications; you can’t beat a good hole shot.
The Tornado after a good run with Racers Edge Torque Pipe. Torque Pipes are
typically short and fat.
The Tsunami after good run with Tuned Team Associated RPM Pipe. RPM Pipes are typically long and slender.
Summary
In concluding the tests both Jose and I were pleased with both products. We could see the benefits of having both the tune and torque pipes. If you love the all out speed of road racing, then by all means the tuned RPM pipe is a good choice. If you love the dirt and complete power take offs then there is no other choice than the torque pipe. The Racers Edge Torque Pipe gets my vote in this head to head. I can see its benefits on and off the track. The Team Associated pipe was nice, but left me wanting the hole shots as well. So you decide, I have, go to your local hobby shop or favorite on line shop and pick one up today, in the end you will love it.
Credits
Thanks Wade
Racers Edge and Team Associated.
Redcat Racing.
Grand Woods Park, Our local track