Build Thread Warby's Traxxas Nitro Sport Pro restoration

[CertifiedMike]

I remembered it don't have new bearings for the clutch bell. So I ordered some and a second bearing kit for the second build.

Fun fact, Every bearing in the Nitro Sport is the same size 5x11x4mm. 14 of them.

Apart from engine related bearings.

Old Tamiyas ran that size too. I have a bunch of them for spares.

 

[Warby]

I was up early this morning, so I got a bit done to this build before the nightshift handover kicks in.

Fitted new springs and rod ends to the front standard shocks:

The rear arm anodized mounts arrived:

And are now fitted:

Glad I waited for them. Nice part. They even have a grub screws to lock the pin in place. The bearing carrier has the same.

 

[WickedFog]

Did you get ahold of those shock springs yet?

 

[Warby]

Did you get ahold of those shock springs yet?

They've been ordered

 

[WickedFog]

They've been ordered

Well make sure to let me know how they fit. I'm really curious.

 

[Warby]

Well make sure to let me know how they fit. I'm really curious.

No way. . It's top secret, classifieds Traxxas information. Above your pay grade. Very limited people know the answer.

 

[WickedFog]

No way. . It's top secret, classifieds Traxxas information. Above your pay grade. Very limited people know the answer.

It's not top secret. They just decided to make shocks and not make springs for them, and said "here... these should be close enough"

 

[Warby]

Time to do the front end.

Dirty and rusty like the rest of it was but no play in any of the pins or joints:

Stripped and in the wash:

I broke the tie bar when struggling to remove the bent pins. Don't know why I didn't remove the tie bar first .

Forgot to take more photos.

Assembled with the Fiberglass front shock tower 2518. Standard shocks fitted for now.

I didn't have enough of the correct length screws, so some are fitting just temporarily. I'm also going to order new front body posts and arms as the lower shock screw hole threads have stripped. Screws won't tighten. New steering turnbuckles on order.

Fitted to chassis:

I did buy some blue-anodized caster blocks 3632A but they are the wrong ones. Must be for the 2wd Slash and Stampede.

 

[WickedFog]

She's looking great man. Try putting some shoe goo in those stripped holes with a toothpick. Let it harden up real good before inserting the screws. Never tried it, but I bet it will work. At least you could maybe keep them as backups.

 

[Doom!]

Sounds like a few setbacks but it's looking good.

 

[CertifiedMike]

Sounds like a few setbacks but it's looking good.

Only a few setbacks on a restoration means it went perfectly!
I really do enjoy watching how other ppl going through similar struggles as mine navigate them. Resto is a labor of love.
This resto project is def getting some love!

 

[Warby]

The big bore progressive rate springs, fit the alloy anodised shocks perfectly

Rears:

Part numbers I used for future reference.

Springs:
Front 5860 white, progressive rate, for big bore shocks
Rear 5859 white, progressive rate, for big bore shocks

Shocks:
Front 4760 long (anodized & PTFE-coated T6 aluminum)
Rear 4761 X-long (anodized & PTFE-coated T6 aluminum)

A shout-out to @WickedFog for doing the research on those. Thanks mate

In hindsight, I should have just got the big bore shocks but doesn't matter now. This setup will work just fine.

Still waiting for the front springs to arrive.

 

[WickedFog]

In hindsight, I should have just got the big bore shocks but doesn't matter now. This setup will work just fine.

Nah. Those shocks look WAY better than the big bores! Glad they worked out for ya.

 

[Warby]

Rear shocks installed along with a fiberglass shock tower which travelled here all the way from France.

The shocks mount differently to the fiberglass towers. It needs the stand-off kit 2669 as there's no stand-off and thread on the fiberglass tower. Lucky for my the stand-offs also came in the shock kits.

It even has a location to mount the power switch.

 

[WickedFog]

Rear shocks installed along with a fiberglass shock tower which travelled here all the way from France.
View attachment 231385
View attachment 231386
View attachment 231388

The shocks mount differently to the fiberglass towers. It needs the stand-off kit 2669 as there's no stand-off and thread on the fiberglass tower. Lucky for my the stand-offs also came in the shock kits.
View attachment 231387

It even has a location to mount the power switch.
View attachment 231389

Well that's really cool!

 

[WickedFog]

Since this is just a shelf queen, I wouldn't put the spring retainer screws in very tight at all. Those style spring retainers are known to crack over time. I'd just run the screw in gently flush, and let the spring pre-load stay where it is.

 

[Warby]

Since this is just a shelf queen, I wouldn't put the spring retainer screws in very tight at all. Those style spring retainers are known to crack over time. I'd just run the screw in gently flush, and let the spring pre-load stay where it is.

Funny you mention that. I'm having trouble starting the screw in the retainer/preload. It doesn't have thread which I know is normal but I can't even get it started in the hole. So I just ordered (as you posted your comment) a 2.5mm thread tap to start the thread. Smallest I have is M3. It will be handy to have anyway.

 

[WickedFog]

Funny you mention that. I'm having trouble starting the screw in the retainer/preload. It doesn't have thread which I know is normal but I can't even get it started in the hole. So I just ordered (as you posted your comment) a 2.5mm thread tap to start the thread. Smallest I have is M3. It will be handy to have anyway.

View attachment 231391

Are you sure it's even a metric hole? I mean, look how old those shocks are. Metric wasn't common in RC here back in the day. No idea what Traxxas used back then, but even my Losi XXX-SCT uses SAE fasteners, and it was only discontinued 10 years ago.

 

[Warby]

Are you sure it's even a metric hole? I mean, look how old those shocks are. Metric wasn't common in RC here back in the day. No idea what Traxxas used back then, but even my Losi XXX-SCT uses SAE fasteners, and it was only discontinued 10 years ago.

You could be right. I just measured the screw at 2.5mm with my vernier's. I didn't even considered it was imperial. I'll check soon.

 

[WickedFog]

M2.5 tap drill size is 2.05mm or .0807"
2-56 tap drill size is .070"
3-48 tap drill size is .0785"

Maybe it is molded for one of the last two? Or a plastic self tapping screw.

I am surprised they didn't come with screws.