Originally Posted by
JAMMINKRAZY
It's certainly not a plus 4. The crankcase doesn't look anything like the plus 4 case. It is most likely based on an older novarossi design. Crankcase looks identical to that of the old p5 engines. You can't go by port count until you actually see a sleeve. Novarossi has labeled their 3 port engines as 4 port engines before. You never know if they are counting the exhaust port or not unless they specifically note it as such. Even if it is actually a 4 port it isn't simply a plus 4. More likely a p5 based engine with 4 port sleeve and turbo head.
External crankcase Name Pad really has no relevancy. It just doesn't have the lettering cast into it. Inside will have 1 of 2 port configurations; basically whether or not the side channel has a division guide or not.
Nova hasn't counted the exhaust port in years. Doubt they're going to go back to it now.
P5 vs. +4 are all based on the same bore/stroke configuration and 1-of 2 internal side feeds in the crankcase. 16.26x16.8 has been the Nova standard for a while (incl. classic P5), current P5XLT and 1st gen +4 both used the 15009 (T-suffix for "tuned"); but same base casting. There's other crank casting p/n's they could use, but the 15009 is their std. baseline.
Based on the position of the Low Speed Needle in the pics, it's the new long-needle design (Same as 367, Toro, +4 series).
Due to production volume and price point, it simply makes economic sense for it to be a "non-tuned" version of the 1st-gen +4. 15009 crank, +4 sleeve, new style carb, turbo chamber, same heatsink as Toro/4...just black w/Losi logo. Obviously non-ceramic bearings.
So, boil that down and what do you have? A non-tuned +4
Granted, they now have the line saying "dome-dish design" on the piston...which leans torward the new "team" engine config. Even so, rotating assembly is still eeerily similar otherwise.
To each his own and we'll see what it is when they get here
