Building a winning nitro buggy...

[RC_HAS-BEEN]

I used to race electric bout 6, 7 years ago. Needless to say much has changed. Some old racers I ran into have all gone nitro. After doing a little searchin on the web I got the RC bug bad!!! Soooo, I'm going to start racing an 1/8th scale buggy. (but unlike wen I was 15, I actualy have a little money to spend this time haha). So I'm just trying to get some of your input on puting together a very fast/pretty reliable car while also having no trouble getting parts. I will be racing mostly @ a very large indoor track with a very hard packed/fast surface.

1. The car. I like the looks of the kyosho or the mugen, but what do you think is the best? What chassis hop-up parts pay off the most?

2. The engine/pipe. I'm pretty sure I need a .21 correct? The OS V-Spec looks and sounds fast, and is in abundance. But it is only rated @ 2.5hp. (which is proly more than I can handle, but I want fast damit!) Should I spring for a Noravossi rated @ 3hp? What mods can I have done? I plan on buying at least 2 rite off the bat, should I but 2 of the same engines, get 2 different ones. What pipes do you use?

3. What throttle/steering servo's are your favorite?

4. What clutch do you swear by? I see alot of guys mix-n-match plastic and metal shoes. What hooks up best for you?

5. What tires should I be running on a very hard fast surface?

6. What other stuff might an old electric racer be forgeting? A starter box? I heard we dont use crystals anymore hahah... what do I need for that?


Anyway, thanks for any input you give. I'm pretty excited bout racing again! Il be sure to post my results!

 

[Lessen]

since you have been out of the game for a while I would suggest the O.S. Then, instead of spending money on two engines, use the extra dough to spring for a couple/few sets of tires,wheels and/or a couple different pipes. That's what I would do.

 

[jetmechG550]

Well, I'm going to say Mugen considering that's what I have been driving for about the last year and a half. The Kyosho is good but they are the most expesive kits/parts out there and parts aren't always easy to come by. They made a few improvements to the kits to make the car better but it's still not a Mugen. With the 5R, you don't need hop ups, the kit comes with everything out of the box with the exception of the lightened pillow balls and titanium screws. I run the BCE chassis just as I find it wears better (it's harder aluminum) and it's stiffer and more consistent. I also run Avid Indios brakes, no fade during longer runs. The V-spec is a great motor, I run it in my truggy but it doesn't seem as smooth in the buggy. I ran it in my buggy but switched back to the Novarossi P5XS, it's a smoother powerband and more bottom end. The V-spec does make great power w/ great fuel mileage. Either motor will give you gallons of use as long as they are tuned properly and taken care of. I run HiTec servo's, 5955TG on the steering and 5996TG on the throttle. I've run JR's (8800T and 8800S) and both failed on me after very little use. JR's just don't seem to be what they used to be. I've never had any luck with Airtronics. Clutch shoes, well Dynamite Maxlife shoes are the best things out there right now, I have a set with about 5 gallons on them and they are just barely showing signs of wear. M2C's are ok too if you want aluminum, and carbon shoes just don't last. Run Mugen or Kyosho 1.0 springs with either of those motors. As far as tires go there's sooooooooo many choices. I'm going to assume you are possibly referring to Dirtburners? If it's hard pack and blue groove, Soft Switch or Soft Gators will be golden there. M2 or M3 Holeshots are another choice. Since the Jconcepts tires are just hitting the market I really haven't had a chance to try them out. Bowties usually work in most cases but I've been running more Panther stuff lately. Werks has some good tires out as well Stubs may work pretty good on hard pack blue groove. What radio? Starter box is a must have especially with the two motors mentions, either the Ofna chrome top or the purple Mugen box but the new one may not be purple anymore, I think they are dark grey now. If you are going to be running at Dirtburners you've got plenty of good, fast guys there to help you out.

 

[RC_HAS-BEEN]

exactly the type of info i'm looking for. thanks jet. looks like I found the right forum... keep your ideas coming guys!

 

[Vsfriedmugan]

I swear by the MBX5R. Iam a club racer down here and I've been running the prospect for a few years. Iam able to get parts no prob. My V-SPEC runs like a scolded dog and the thunder tiger pipe brings out the power all the way through the straights. .I run JR Z8800's witch have great output times. Saturdays I run laps over Losi, XRAY and the RC8.

 

[HeartBreak]

I'll toss in my Mugen vote: I've got a Prospec MBX5, and it's awesome. Slap on a set of micro-pins, and the car just will not come unhooked.

 

[RC_HAS-BEEN]

a little update

I bought a few things over the past few days,

1. MBX5R

2. CEO Power Mods P5XS/ Bullit Racing MSR-1005 Pipe

3. 2 ACE DS1015 servos

4. Werks adjustable clutch

5. a bunch of other crap I'm to lazy to list...

what do you guys think? its a good start i suppose. most of this stuff is yet to arrive. I am starting to wonder if I would have been better off using the stock clutch setup (w/ dynamite shoes) rather than the werks, but i sprung for it anyway. Any reason I should be leery of the werks clutch? Jetmech pretty much sold me on the P5XS. Is the Mod version going to be that much faster or fuel efficient than a stock P5? Did I do good on the pipe? I've heard nothing but good things about ACE servos. the 1015's will work good for throttle and steering correct?

If you can't tell, I'm sort of excited! keep all your thoughts and opinions coming and I will let you know when I get it all strung together. Thx for the help guys

 

[psunitro]

I am not sold on the Werks clutch. What shoes did you get with it? Personally I would go with Jet's set up, you can sell off the Werks, or keep it to mess with. I had one w/carcons, and it was.........OK for the little time I had it. I know others that swear at them more than by them.
Good call on the ACE's, Have had great luck with them.If you do end up with any problems, LMK and I can get the service # and addy. They are great servos for the $$$, and yes that is fine for both th and steering.

Great start!! Are you leaning to any certain radio?

 

[8ight]

For me, my Losi 8ight is a very good buggy. I bought the RTR, and did some upgrades to that. Like shock towers, alum. shock caps, heavier sway bars, and chassis braces. I replaced the stock servos with some HiTech Titanium Gear, and replaced the Dynamite Mach 427 engine with a Novarossi P5X and pipe. It already comes with a Spektrum DX2 2.4 ghz. remote with a built in fail safe. It's a good buggy, hit's the jumps clean, and doesn't nose dive while jumping. I also heard that the Kyosho MP777 WC is a very good buggy also. Might give that one a look at. Good luck with your choice.

 

[jetmechG550]

The modded P5 may get a little better fuel economy and some top end. It will most likely be smoother as well. That's a good pipe for it. I never had luck with the Werks clutch, to be honest, I found it to be a real pain in the ass. Sometimes the good old way is just best. The build is fun, just make sure you build up the difs right (replace the 3x8 screws with 3x10's or 3x12's) also apply a liberal amount of Mobil 1 Sythetic Grease or Bel Ray Waterproof grease to the outdrives where they go into the dif cup. Lemme know if you have questions during the build.

 

[RC_HAS-BEEN]

well I'll guess there'll be a brand new werks clutch on ebay pretty soon haha!!! I got the carbon and the rulon shoes. I was just wanting a 4 shoe setup for some reason. 2 carbon, 2 rulon. Maybe out-thunk myself on that one... So when you recomend the old style, you're talking about the stock mugen 3 shoe setup with the Dynamite shoes? Carbon or aluminum? or a combination of the 2?

As for the car, I got it used so its already put together. It seems to be well kept. I've yet to replace the fluids. Do you recommend the standard 752 setup for the diffs? What about shock oils? Also I got the Airtronics MX-3 for a radio.

Again thx for all the help guys

 

[Vsfriedmugan]

The Mugen Aluminum shoes are very good shoes.. I use those w/o trouble just reliability.. As far as oils it just depends on your track.. I use a 35/40 witch works well.. Our track goes from hard to loomy in about a 7min qual. Dude, as far as your build TAKE YOUR TIME.. Learn the parts. I put a nice amt. of thread lock on all my metel on metel set screws. Some guys even take a dremel to the pins for the set screws to bite on. Youll learn!! Just writting this makes me want to buy another kit.. Good luck bud!!!

 

[jetmechG550]

Dynamite Maxlife shoes only come one way. It's a carbon coated aluminum that will last at least 5 times longer than any other shoe out there. I have one set with over 5 gallons and very minimal wear. 1.0 springs. I run 5-7-4 in my difs. 400F/350R if it's warm or 350F/300R if it's cold.

 

[hrdcoreglf1]

I run a jammin X1-CR, although I see you have chosen a buggy. I have been using nova rc clutch shoes for over a year. They have outlasted any other clutch shoe I have tried x2. They are also highly adjustable. I have tried the mugen clutch springs several times and they keep snapping. I like the kyosho springs.You can check out nova products at www.novarcproducts.com.