Want to upgrade my old Traxxas Rustler

[dstinson41]

I am wanting to go through and upgrade my old Traxxas Rustler that I bought from a kid 10 to 15 years ago. Thinking it would a good project to do. I love that car. Lots of memories with the kids and this car. Pretty much want to gut the electronics and motor, suspension and probably the gears also since I would be changing out the motor. Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated. Hope the picture comes through. Thanks.

 

[9x19]

I would put a current version transmission in it. (Magnum 272R) and then a mild brushless system... Hobbywing 10BL120 ESC plus a 3150kv motor.

The transmission can probably be found as a new take off at Jenny's RC, the Hobbywing combo on Amazon... Jenny's will have the Traxxas VXL-3S / 3500kv motor if you just wanted to go that way.

 

[Chubaka]

I second the magnum 272r. It's $50 more then the current version magnum 272 in the car. You vsn find it for $100 on the bay and in the forest.

Next you'll want the ball bearings instead of bushings. This requires new steering blocks and stub axles carriers. The small bearings in the wheelie bar fit the bell crank and are smother over the supplied bushings. Wheelie bar would be reccomended for motor and rear end protection.

I'd go hobby wing or castle over the vxl. For radio I use a cheaper fly sky fsgt5 snd am happy.

 

[ZaneC]

Step 1: Clean it the car.
Step 2: Go buy a Hobbywing Quicrun brushless combo: https://www.amazon.com/HOBBYWING-Qu...1720295922&sprefix=hobbywing+q,aps,195&sr=8-3
Step 3: As suggested by 9x19, go buy a Traxxas 272R transmission.
Step 4: Replace driveshafts and all bearings.
Step 5: Install everything.
Step 6: Send me all the old electronics.

 

[9x19]

Now that we have your money to spend, by the time we've bought the trans and brushless system, we could almost buy a brand new BL-2S Rustler...

https://traxxas.com/products/landing/rustler-2wd-bl-2s/

 

[luke66]

Yea, @9x19 is right. I'd clean up the old one and keep it retro. And buy a new Rusty BL-2s to bash with. Plus Traxxas will give you a free battery and charger with the new Rusty.

 

[tntpoof]

Pull car apart.
switch out all the old bushing to bearings
Buy a trans kit 272r as said above
shock kit if shocks shafts are in ok condition(rebuild shocks) new bladder new piston
Id go to a 2 cell lipo that will fit battery compartment. a censored brushless system going to have to gear it way higher than a brushed.
new A arm pins

 

[dstinson41]

I'm picking up what you're putting down about keeping it retro. I have a stampede that I wasn't going to touch. Maybe I'll keep the rustler original also. I appreciate the ideas for upgrades. Still might be a fun project car even if it cost more then a new one.

 

[Panko75]

When I restored my own Rustler, I just swapped in a Hobbywing 1060, ball bearings in the hubs, newer metal gear servo, but I kept the old 20t motor. The old tires kind of work but they're due for a replacement.

I wouldn't dump a chunk of change into a new transmission and a brushless setup, it'll handle terrible and break parts. Save up for something with a more modern design if you want to go fast.

 

[ahr43]

Collectors item that MSC (Mechanical Speed Control). That'd be a keeper. Maybe first clean her up for the prom and get a few shelf queen photos.

Upgrades? Yeah, 272R tranny and a 3300 sensorless brushless combo. Probably need a 'shorty' LiPo. Most newer LiPo's are a bit too long for the battery bay without removing the servo well for the MSC. In staying with you wanting to keep her original, perhaps shock rebuild kit all around and TRX AL shock caps.

Looking forward to a build thread. Good luck. Oh! And welcome to the forum. Cheers. -AC

 

[tntpoof]

no need for shorty lipo a standard 6 cell ni fits..so a standard 2 cell lipo will work.Hate the Cog of a censorless motor

 

[Greywolf74]

Aside from teh transmission and brushless system that others suggested, Id put either Traxxas big bore or Proline powerstroke shocks on it, and everything that RPM makes for it.