I purchased a Team Losi Mini T back in '03. It'a a 1/18 scale stadium/desert truck. Over the course of the following year, I thrashed it enough to have to replace almost everything at least once, and got it's terminal velocity from 4-7 MPH stock up to over 35 MPH.
Fast forward to 2008. My 3 year old daughter has outgrown her toy RC cars. It's time for something with proportional steering and throttle for her to learn on. So, I dig out my old truck and give it a good looking over. This is what I have replaced today:
-Chassis
-Center steering link
-Ball cups and ball studs (balljoints)
-Threaded rod (control arm links)
-Frequency crystals
-Tires/wheels
-All fasteners
-Battery box
-Connectors
-Drive axles
-Steering servo
-Motor
-Spur gear, top shaft gear
-Wheel/gearbox bearings
So, it seems I should have just bought her a new one, but I am a fan of keeping the old running, so rebuild it, I did. It still needs a new body, slipper clutch, and an upper chassis plate. Parts for this car are not as readily available now as they were in the past. Anything I had to replace, I upgraded where possible. For example:
-Steel thread rod replaced with titanium turnbuckles for fast toe/camber adjustment.
-Machined aluminum steering center link to replace plastic sloppy as hell piece.
-Chrome wheels to replace ugly fluorescent yellow wheels.
-Modified 300 size motor with open end bell and ball bearings to replace throw-away smaller sized sealed stock motor.
-Dean's no-loss electrical to replace cordless-phone style connectors.
-Dogbone driveshafts replaced with constant-velocity driveshaft.
-Oil filled shocks to replace spring-only units with no damping.
-Teflon sealed ball bearings thoughout chassis and gearbox.
She drove it today, in it's slowed-down state (10-15 MPH) and she didn't do too bad. In a few weeks, I'll up the power and she can play with understeer/oversteer and opposite lock driving.
Here are some pics:
I will get some street tires soon, and also a black body, as all my cars are black with chrome highlights, LOL.
I'll post some vids when I go brushless/lipo for 65MPH+ top speed.
Fast forward to 2008. My 3 year old daughter has outgrown her toy RC cars. It's time for something with proportional steering and throttle for her to learn on. So, I dig out my old truck and give it a good looking over. This is what I have replaced today:
-Chassis
-Center steering link
-Ball cups and ball studs (balljoints)
-Threaded rod (control arm links)
-Frequency crystals
-Tires/wheels
-All fasteners
-Battery box
-Connectors
-Drive axles
-Steering servo
-Motor
-Spur gear, top shaft gear
-Wheel/gearbox bearings
So, it seems I should have just bought her a new one, but I am a fan of keeping the old running, so rebuild it, I did. It still needs a new body, slipper clutch, and an upper chassis plate. Parts for this car are not as readily available now as they were in the past. Anything I had to replace, I upgraded where possible. For example:
-Steel thread rod replaced with titanium turnbuckles for fast toe/camber adjustment.
-Machined aluminum steering center link to replace plastic sloppy as hell piece.
-Chrome wheels to replace ugly fluorescent yellow wheels.
-Modified 300 size motor with open end bell and ball bearings to replace throw-away smaller sized sealed stock motor.
-Dean's no-loss electrical to replace cordless-phone style connectors.
-Dogbone driveshafts replaced with constant-velocity driveshaft.
-Oil filled shocks to replace spring-only units with no damping.
-Teflon sealed ball bearings thoughout chassis and gearbox.
She drove it today, in it's slowed-down state (10-15 MPH) and she didn't do too bad. In a few weeks, I'll up the power and she can play with understeer/oversteer and opposite lock driving.
Here are some pics:
I will get some street tires soon, and also a black body, as all my cars are black with chrome highlights, LOL.
I'll post some vids when I go brushless/lipo for 65MPH+ top speed.
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