Just an idea..

[ShotCobra]

I know I'm busy right now with my rav being a very fancy doorstop.

But sometime in the future I would like to convert my tamiya 'hopper to nitro
it will be alot of work and i plan on putting the smallest nitro engine in it possible, 2 wheel drive only will have to replace most plastic parts with aluminum, custom work all around i would assume

do you think it would be possible to do that?ideas?

it wouldn't be for racing or bashing, mainly for show and easy drivin

 

[RC Addict]

I don't think it do-able but if you figure it out you will be THE man on the block!

 

[ShotCobra]

i "think" it can be done, i have most of the aluminum, i just need to get it milled

the only thing i am having a hard time trying to figure out is the drivetrain
like i said this is a future project but id still like to get ideas i could jot down

 

[RC Addict]

That is/was my point. Getting a nitro mill to mate to that swing-arm solid rear is gonna be a BIG pain in the a$$--unless you do away with the whole rear end. Have you seen some of the Grasshopper vids on YouTube? A lot of guys are putting IRS and bigger motors in them, but I have yet to see a nitro conversion.

I miss my Grasshopper---till I remember how SLOW she was...

 

[Rolex]

I had 2 complete Grasshoppers and enough spare parts for 2 more.
I think RC A is right about switching out the rear with one intended for nitro or independent suspension. You might want to consider going brushless instead.

 

[frickenjoey]

They have tons of them at my LHS here. Consider Tamiya is from here so go figure right? But I think brushless would be the ticket or a good low turn brushed.

 

[RC Addict]

Every time I think about getting a new Grasshopper kit I start to think about how much money it would cost to get it to go half as fast as my Slash...

 

[ThunderTiger]

Are you forgetting about having to get the correct pitch clutch bell if you actually manage to pull this off ? especially should you try and keep the original rear end.

As to how to get the mill to mate to the rear end, surely a "Floating" platform mount would work ? I looked into a similar project a while ago, a "Floating" platform mount was the only option for a "Vertical" engine, but there were "other" options which included "Canting" (leaning) the motor by upto 45 deg.

Just my consider it if you like, but just throwing an idea out there.

 

[ShotCobra]

I think it will be impossible to keep original rearend.
I'm sure i will have to salvage parts off another vehicle
i dunno like i said its still in thought bubble stage