things I'm doing to my element ecto

[majin]

I'm going to forget if i don't write it down...
its stock other than the tires and rims. as of 2/23/24

1: switch out od gear, got marine grease a few days ago so this is on my list first probably. 2/29/24 done

2: need to get larger rock sliders so i can move the ESC down onto the sliders.
then i can put my battery next to the servo where esc was with Velcro

3: need to waterproof the receiver need to order either conformal coating or plasti dip from what I've read. on the fence about which to use and not getting into more than a puddle for a little while as it's still not creek weather...yet... 2/27/24 done

4?: i got the ess dual speaker. after hours of doing it wrong i finally hooked it up right.( my brain kept bypassing the word receiver and kept hearing esc...) got it to calibrate. but the Slink still won't connect, luckily one of the sounds is acceptable even if not ideal.

5: get a flatbed and cut off the cab or just get the Power Wagon Pro line one i think i like the most.
id like to get some Rock Pirates rear shock towers as i fancy their look.


i have to have the speaker in the cab as that's the only place with room for it. so the speaker may be considered a useless accessory at some point . it's my toy so i get to be picky in the areas i WANT to be picky in right?
I'm more worried about
performance, then looks, then sounds.
so that could change a lot about this for me.

I'm learning as i go. this was my first crawler. wont be my last lol


i put a set of pro line trenchers and a set of RC4WD beadlock rims.
i moved

the rear shocks to their forward uppermost position, i flipped the shock tower thingy? (shock mounting plate) so it would let it go forward a little
i added wheel weights to the front in the form of wheel weights on the beadlock center ring

 

[Xraycer]

Really liking that all black look!

 

[Doom!]

Be carefull with wider rock sliders, if you are planning on moving electronics to them, make sure the body will fit before you order them, the ecto has a narrow body and may not cover the electronics once repositioned. You might be ok, but worth a check.

 

[majin]

Be carefull with wider rock sliders, if you are planning on moving electronics to them, make sure the body will fit before you order them, the ecto has a narrow body and may not cover the electronics once repositioned. You might be ok, but worth a check.

This is exactly why I love this site
Please help me avoid this mistake @Doom!
What do I need to look for?
This speaker will only fit in the cab unless I put it where the battery tray is
As it is now its just sitting on the transmission case
Not a huge deal for a lap around the yard but I am not trying to bounce it free so need to place it.
Because of the body on the ecto I can't really put it anywhere BUT the cab
No place else has clearance for it
I mean I guess I could place it on the outside on the bed
But I think that will just be tacky as well as I'm sure it would get Hella wetter exposed in the bed Tham it will snugged up in the battery tray.
Which rock sliders did you put on yours?
Cause yours is Hella cool
I'm about.to go reread your thread on it brb

 

[Doom!]

This is exactly why I love this site
Please help me avoid this mistake @Doom!
What do I need to look for?
This speaker will only fit in the cab unless I put it where the battery tray is
As it is now its just sitting on the transmission case
Not a huge deal for a lap around the yard but I am not trying to bounce it free so need to place it.
Because of the body on the ecto I can't really put it anywhere BUT the cab
No place else has clearance for it
I mean I guess I could place it on the outside on the bed
But I think that will just be tacky as well as I'm sure it would get Hella wetter exposed in the bed Tham it will snugged up in the battery tray.
Which rock sliders did you put on yours?
Cause yours is Hella cool
I'm about.to go reread your thread on it brb

I have Rock Pirate rock sliders on mine but if I had it to do again I think I would leave the stock sliders on it. Let me look at mine when I get home tonight, and see how much room is actually there to work with.

 

[majin]

i remembered i have a dumbo rc receiver and transmitter. and the transmitter has 4 channels. That means i can use more sounds lol. nerd. i also want to try my hand at waterproofing
I've taken the receiver apart and painted it with its first layer of liquid tape (electrical) it was recommended to me by the guy at the Hobby Town
giving it like ten mins between coats but am applying 2 coats, hopefully, its not too thick and i can fit it back into its case.

then it got the second coat

thanks to the pics i noticed a few spots i missed and was able to touch them up a bit,
have to take in laws to doctor apointment tomorrow so when we get back the tape will have had its alloted time to dry, swapping them out in the evening as well as the overdrive gears.

i decided (due to lack of funds) to put the battery on the sliders instead of the esc. it will fit on its side nicely on the slider ill velcro it down for the time being see if thats sufficient. then i was able to use the battery tray as my new speaker holder lol.
nerd. i love it

it is at 90 degrees and everything is staying stable.

 

[majin]

got the horn to work progress

 

[majin]

Took the transmission apart and added.the overdrive gears. While I had it apart I added a little marine grease to the gears

 

[majin]

https://www.prolineracing.com/produ...-12.3-313mm-wheelbase-crawlers/PRO360600.html
pro-line power wagon body
https://club5racing.com/blade-runner-stainless-rock-slider-for-enduro-ecto/
"Blade Runner" rock sliders from club5? they have a few decent-looking pieces for the ecto so I'm hopeful they all fit nicely so i can get more.
I wisely got it sent to a friend's house,
not exactly the sliders i want, but it should work till i find a hardline bed to put on it.

 

[Doom!]

Nice, first time I've seen those sliders. All of my Club five stuff has fit perfectly and been excellent quality. You should have no problems.

 

[majin]

awesome @Doom! its a reassurance to know someone has had success with them before.
i took some sandpaper to the ecto. got tired of it looking factory-fresh.
not finished as i think it needs a few more hits with more ..... intent.
hoping as it ages it looks more natural.
regardless this body doesn't have much time left ill be painting a murdered out power wagon cab soon

 

[Chubaka]

Looks great. Love the wheels.

 

[sumguy75]

I saw the Club 5 sliders yesterday for the first time, will be watching to see how you like them.

 

[majin]

Got the power cab in today
Haven't gotten any paint yet and I'm on the fence about what to do.
I'm considering trying to hydro dip it.
But then I'm not sure on color scheme I just really think it looks.cool.
On the other hand
I don't feel like that style of cab running with a flat bed would look very good. It would have a cool marbling effect yes. But I kind of like the murdered out look


I did sand down to make the original body look rusty
But that was mainly because
1 I had already paid for the new cab
2 it's designed to do that
3 I was bored and wanted to see how it would look.
I got lucky. If I didn't like it I'd be stuck with it and their not the cheapest items.
Fortunately I like how rusty looks.
This power cab however is not going to look rusty
I want it to look ....MEAN.
Advise me my senpai's
Suggestions on paint colors, styles, methods, paint schemes
, I'd love the input of youse guys that have coached me this far through this awesome hobby.

Threw in a picture of the dodge just to flex cause I love her and how she looks
But I don't think she'd look good as a CRAWLER so I'm not trying to make the ecto look like the dodge

this was one of the waterfalls. what a hobby...
took her out on her first real trail as well today have like 3 hours of me playing with my truck in the woods and creek. drove up to the waterfall, climbed rocks, and rolled over a few times.
i really need a better servo on her

 

[Doom!]

I think it would look pretty good in rootbeer brown.

 

[sumguy75]

One thing I would say before you choose the color. You mentioned getting Rock Pirate rear towers, might want to check the color options they have. They have black if you go the murdered out look but also have a few other color options if you decide to do something different.

 

[majin]

One thing I would say before you choose the color. You mentioned getting Rock Pirate rear towers, might want to check the color options they have. They have black if you go the murdered out look but also have a few other color options if you decide to do something different.

yeah, i like some of their colors, i just think their rigs all look so wicked, I'm not heart set on much about it, but as its my first it will always be special to me, already planning on getting another shhh dont tell the wife, its not anytime soon but I'm going to get the cen f450 cause i have a guy building me a gooseneck truck hauler, hopefully before beat the creek.
woo i get sidetracked so quickly..
i also like the coil in shocks?, so I'm not dead set on the towers, but rock pirates has been the only place i can find a flatbed. i must be blooping on something, I've googled hardline beds, rc flatbed, this that and a few others and i just can't find much besides a link to forums where someone is mentioning their bed, under the assumption you the reader are already familiar with what they are talking about. great for pros not so much for noobs like me

 

[majin]

Got the cab cut out. I was super nervous ous and didn't do a perfect job
I don't have a reamer for the body posts
So kind of stuck at this point
It looks like I'm going to have to cut out a tab in the back for the driveshaft as it sits now its right against it so when it drops down onto the clips is will be an issue

 

[Doom!]

I don't have a reamer for the body posts
So kind of stuck at this point

Stick something rigid like a block of styrofoam or wood under the body for support and you can just use a power drill or Dremel tool to make the body post holes.

 

[sumguy75]

you can just use a power drill or Dremel tool to make the body post holes.

Agreed, I bought a good reamer and still find I prefer my drill.