Fangdango! V8 drag car

[CertifiedMike]

I've been contemplating a rear tire change for a while now. The Primes just seemed too small, and didn't fill out the wheel well that good.
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They are 112mm tall. I had to also raise the rear suspension a notch, otherwise it could bottom out potentially. They were also barely bigger than the front Banditos which are 104mm tall.

When I first started designing this thing, my choice was ProLine Menace, but they seemed a little big at 141mm tall, and 80mm wide vs the 60mm Primes. I just kept on thinking I should try some. So, I finally grabbed a pair.
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I was super impressed with them, but yeah, they did seem a bit huge. I managed to get them on the chassis, but had to move the shocks in as they rubbed. The car looked a little cartoonish. I slipped the body on, and man, it was close. So close. No cigar though. The body rubbed. A few mm's wider and it would have been good. (BTW, those tires and the extra offset RAID pieces are for sale, 65 plus shipping).

I really needed something about halfway between the Primes and Menace. I decided to try searching in a different way on Google and found something that was exactly the dimensions I was looking for (125mm tall, 70mm wide). My LHS had them in stock, so I snagged them right away.
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The only thing is, they are not belted like the other tires - but they claim to not balloon so I figured it's worth a shot. The wheels aren't quite as pretty, but that's ok. I noted that the tire was rather thick, but a very soft, sticky compound, and really smelled like a new tire (Love that smell!). I bolted them up, and it was a tight fit on the chassis, but nothing rubbing. I was able to drop the suspension down a notch too without any bottom out potential.
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Scale wise, much better in relation to the front tires too. So how did it look with the body on?
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Well, that was just about perfect!

So essentially, the car is done until I can test and start playing with gearing, shift points, etc. I do have some new chassis pieces coming (100mm m3 standoffs in matching red) to replace the grey links I stole from one of my Mad Crushers. But that is all. I should probably weigh the thing (best guess is that it's at about 12.5 lbs). I think it's much better balanced now since the last time I weighed it. I also want to paint the mirrors gold like the body.

Maybe I mentioned it, I can't remember, but Cison Engines is dropping a supercharger for this V8 next month. I am certainly going to grab one! I am not sure the extra power is needed, but I cannot resist having a working blower sticking up out of there

Those bigger tires look great!
I can tell just from how they look, they're gonna be awesome!!!
Hopefully taller will take a little off the bottom end and put it up top too!
I keep thinking, "Naw, it can't get better!", then I open the page and here it is!!!

 

[CertifiedMike]

Just thinking, enough clearance so if they do balloon a bit, you won't cut them up or damage the body?

 

[johnnydmd]

Just thinking, enough clearance so if they do balloon a bit, you won't cut them up or damage the body?

Fair point. I was watching videos, and they didn't balloon too bad, but no doubt I should put some gorilla tape on the body to protect it just in case.

 

[CertifiedMike]

Fair point. I was watching videos, and they didn't balloon too bad, but no doubt I should put some gorilla tape on the body to protect it just in case.

Happened to my ex's 68 camaro 1:1. Fortunately it was just a tiny shave and no damage to tire or body!
I'd sure be sad to bang up those shiny parts!!! Good thinking with the tape!

 

[johnnydmd]

Happened to my ex's 68 camaro 1:1. Fortunately it was just a tiny shave and no damage to tire or body!
I'd sure be sad to bang up those shiny parts!!! Good thinking with the tape!

Yeah, to be honest, I'm scared to death of wrecking this thing!

Getting anxious to test and get some driving videos done. It's 27 degrees today. Meh. Next week looks even worse.

 

[CertifiedMike]

Yeah, to be honest, I'm scared to death of wrecking this thing!

Getting anxious to test and get some driving videos done. It's 27 degrees today. Meh. Next week looks even worse.

Nothing wrong with a little time to 'take it all in and go thru it in your head before it hits the track.
I'd give it a few easy shake down runs and look EVERYTHING over.
If no damage or loose parts etc, no red flags... its time for ALL the beans!!!
I've never driven an R/C drag car. I bet its a HUGE RUSH!!!
Maybe even more when its one as so absolutely amazing as yours is!!!

 

[Xraycer]

If that was mine, I would be driving that thing at about 5mph

 

[Brady Matthews]

This thing is turning out amazing

 

[johnnydmd]

Happened to my ex's 68 camaro 1:1. Fortunately it was just a tiny shave and no damage to tire or body!
I'd sure be sad to bang up those shiny parts!!! Good thinking with the tape!

I measured last night, and it's got a good solid inch or so of clearance when the suspension is all the way down (those Vipers got some hips on them). Still gonna tape it anyway, but unless the thing goes full pizza cutter somehow, I don't think it will rub.

 

[DavidB1126]

I will have a booth at Motorama Feb 15-16 in Harrisburg PA. This car, along with Invader II, and several others from our team will be on display at the booth, so if you're going be sure to stop by in the main hall!

I might see you there!

 

[CertifiedMike]

I measured last night, and it's got a good solid inch or so of clearance when the suspension is all the way down (those Vipers got some hips on them). Still gonna tape it anyway, but unless the thing goes full pizza cutter somehow, I don't think it will rub.

Yeah, sounds like they'd really have to get out of shape to hit.
Awesome!!!

 

[johnnydmd]

Contemplating bolting on this scoop I had a few of leftover from a big ProLine pack to create some induction as well as protect the engine some.

Got all my permanent links/braces yesterday, so I'll be replacing a bunch of stuff over the weekend on the frame.

 

[Chubaka]

Between it looking right and protecting the motor i say is it done yet? Truly amazing masterpiece.

 

[johnnydmd]

This came out pretty cool, wish I would have tried this on the hood inside the blue lines when I did the body.

I got all my red links (waiting on two black 130mm ones to replace the long ones on the side that have washers for spacing). I took the opportunity to reinforce the shock tower to the frame as I've already had one instance of a crash that pushed it into the engine pulleys.

Decided it was time to weigh it.

Clocking in at 14.5 lbs! That of course is a far cry from the 11-12 lb goal I initially proposed. But remember, I added about 2lbs of weight to the rear of the car after finding the thing was pretty undriveable with it being far too light in that area, as well as nose heavy. Now the thing is really balanced well.

So, it's roughly 2.5x as heavy as a big block nitro car but has around 7x the amount of torque. Still think I'm really good with the power-to-weight ratio, and I haven't even started on power adders.

Testing is sadly going to have to wait, probably a long time. It was -2 degrees this morning, and we aren't even sniffing 20 degrees until the weekend, and long-term looks pretty bleak for anything over 40. This is the coldest, meanest Winter I can remember since 1977. Figures! Got spoiled the last couple of years, testing nitro cars in middle of Winter.

I did run the engine yesterday (it was 19 outside, so I was in my garage with the door open). My garage was damn cold though. Fired right up, but right away the coldness was a huge factor in how it ran (very lean, idling high). I didn't run it long, just enough to check if the new oil filter foam I made was working correctly (it was). I didn't fool with the mixture needles, just the idle screw. It purred along, warmed up some and settled in. Sounded like all cylinders were firing, timing seems good at 8 deg. For sure these mini V8's are extremely sensitive to temperature when it comes to fuel mixture - feels even more so than a nitro. I kinda like that though, tuning aspects are what drew me to this in the first place. This will be a ton of fun to race.

I don't have much else planned really. I did get some black links to replace the blue ones (I don't know what I was thinking with the blue). Still want to replace the hacked up long braces once the 130mm jobs come in. I guess I could start thinking about power adders. I've ruled out the turbos for now. Cison is supposed to be dropping a supercharger next month. I doubt it will be cheap, and I kinda want to see what others (and not guys getting stuff free) say about them. Then again is it necessary? I still feel like the power to weight ratio is pretty absurd just all-motor. That said, I still have that Tim Allen mentality of moar power. I have been kind of thinking about nitrous the past week, a one-shot setup like I do on my nitro cars. I have a tiny aerosol can maybe I could use for the holding tank, if it can handle 100psi. Or maybe I could make something else if it can't. Probably would want to put in a fuel rail too to make it a wet system. Hmmm.

 

[johnnydmd]

Yesterday would have been an actually ok day to test at 46 degrees out, at least a little. But you know...football.

I just wrapped up the link replacement pieces and painted the side mirrors. Yawn.

Still waiting on the black links to replace the blue ones on the 4-link and steering and a couple CF parts to replace the prototypes I cut myself in a few spots. I did order an 8-channel receiver too so that I can potentially install a nitrous kit.

 

[Doom!]

This is still the most impressive RC build I've ever seen.

 

[johnnydmd]

This is still the most impressive RC build I've ever seen.

There is an RC tank using this same engine that I think another level up. I'm also looking at JQ90's monster truck build with this engine, but the most impressive has GOT to be the 1/4th scale Grave Digger using the Conley V8! That project was/is insane, and the amount of work and money in it blows anything I ever saw out of the water. Too bad he just could never seem to keep it working. 10hp engine pushing around a 90lb truck, things just kept breaking constantly.

 

[islandlife]

Link to these other builds? I must see!

 

[Roog]

Yesterday would have been an actually ok day to test at 46 degrees out, at least a little. But you know...football.

I just wrapped up the link replacement pieces and painted the side mirrors. Yawn.
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Still waiting on the black links to replace the blue ones on the 4-link and steering and a couple CF parts to replace the prototypes I cut myself in a few spots. I did order an 8-channel receiver too so that I can potentially install a nitrous kit.

Amazing, I've not seen an RC car using an engine like that or water cooling in any thing out side of a model boat, beautiful.
Its the sort of engine you normally see bolted to a test stand, its great that you have put it to work in a vehicle.

@johnnydmd Just been looking back through your early posts, Very cool build and nice art work on the body.

 

[johnnydmd]

My 150psi cannister (we'll see if it really is) arrived, so I started on the nitrous kit.

After a few minutes of pondering where and how to mount it, think I found a good spot, and the charging port will clip right on the wheelie bar for easy fill up. The solenoid will get mounted on the throttle servo bar.

I have an 8 channel receiver arriving today so that I can actually use this. (1 channel for steering, 1 throttle, 1 ignition cutoff, 1 transbrake, 1 nitrous shot). The cannister is very lightweight, and if it works, I might some smaller ones on my other cars. The solenoids can only handle 100 psi, so in theory they should work great.