Originally Posted by
FLHX1550
The orange head (z852) is a damn good truggy mill.7 port with mid range port timing. They do make a 7 port with a high rpm powerband, which is the green head (z862), you can pick them up for around $220 or so.
There is a guy on rctech (22 racer) who does engine modding, his company is TQ mode. He's a alpha dealer, and his son won the J Concepts nationals on Omaha with a stock green head alpha by over a lap.
Pm me and I can give u his contact info.
The orange head is the S852. The green head is the Z852.
The orange head S852 will walk down most 28's without breaking a sweat. LOTS of bottom, very smooth linear power curve. (At the RC Pro Finals I yanked 4 trucks at once on the straight... passed them like they had the brakes on!) I'm getting 11 minutes on a fast, open track and 15 (yes,
15!) minutes on a tight technical track. That's with the 8mm restrictor. And it isn't exactly a true 7-port, it is a 5+2. A little different.
The green head Z852 doesn't have the bottom of the S852, but one of my buds runs it in truggy, and likes it. Similar runtimes... and he's a trigger happy fool!
Both of those are $209 from RC Pro Products. If you MUST have a .23 or .28 they are available also... but I don't have any personal experience with them. If they're anything like the S852 they're beasts though.
Note that these engines are VERY tight initially, be patient with break in. Mine took nearly 2 gallons to lose the metal pinch and really "wake up." Once they do you'd better be ready to deal with it... they're stupid fast.
The other "budget" engine I'd consider is the Werks B5. A top quality engine at a budget price. I chose the Alpha and couldn't be happier, but I have friends with similar results from the Werks B5. I think the Alpha might make just a touch more power, but it is hard to say.
Anything else comparable will cost you a significant amount more.
Oops... my mistake... didn't realize the Novarossi that Monty (Houston) listed was that close to the same cost. Also a good choice. Novarossi is quality stuff!