I think I finally have everything sorted out on this buggy now
 

I found a body with no %#@& nitro holes. It is a JConcepts Illuzion for the mbx5; I had to get the mbx5 mudgaurds so it all fit up nice. I got the mbx5r mudgaurds which have a little strip of velcro on the sides to hold the body closed. I always used to run my old racing 10T that way. The body has a couple of "hood scoops" on the sides (see pics) which I cut out to give air flow to motor, etc. I got the extra heavy one (adds 1 oz) just to help protect things. Not too happy with my paint job either, I just need to invest in a better airbrush (and maybe better color selections. lol).

I used AAngels idea to put the esc up on a deck, thay way I could put my fan back on it. It never thermaled on me, but I like how cool it runs with a little fan. I had a little scrap piece of carbon fiber plate just the right size for the deck and a couple extra radio tray stand offs which worked out great. Now with the mamba in its new location, I finally found a good spot for the switch; right between the wing uprights, no more fishing under body for switch (now harder to do with sides velcroed down).

The Lehner 1930/8 seems to be working out well, I shredded 2 sets of tires in the past 2 weeks. One set was already bald though, so I guess it doesn't count. Been running 12/46 gearing which seems about the best for tire shredding torque and race speed (37mph using BrianG's calculator). I tried running 14/46 gears, but I think it will be way too fast for the small indoor track I run on mostly. And running the 14/46 really started to get the mamba hot without the fan, about 185 (runs about 165 with 12/46 and no fan). The motor only got about 5 degrees hotter with the 14t vs the 12t (from 175 to 180). I am now using a tc3 heatsink on the motor and now it runs around 165 with the 12t pinion.

I got my new Flightpower 3700 battery yesterday and will go run it shortly. It has dropped my weight below 7.5 lbs. I am at 7 lbs 6 oz with race tires. Just hoping I get enough runtime with this battery; looking for 20 min to be safe in 15 min mains. I managed to get about 30 min with the 5000 maxamps battery, so I think it will do it.

Here's a few new pics:

http://www.rc-monster.com/forum/atta...1&d=1182643331

http://www.rc-monster.com/forum/atta...1&d=1182643331

http://www.rc-monster.com/forum/atta...1&d=1182643331

That looks killer. I like the setup and 30 minutes on a 5Ah pack is outrageous. I just got a 1512 for my truggy and I'm hoping that I'll get enough runtime with it to be able to run a 5Ah pack too. They are way lighter.

Looks like a pretty good setup. If you get more than 15 minutes racing off 3700mah thats impressive.
Those battery trays sound like what I need for my truggy.
***RC***, so you can fit 8000mah TrueRc packs in these trays? Those batteries are 145 x 50mm I think, so are they really tight if the tray is only 49mm wide? Or do you stand the pack on it's side?

That does look killer, killer of all things innocent in this world of radio shack insects.

Patrick - The dimensions of the battery are 44mm x 50mm x 145mm so I do have to kind of squish into place (I use the 50mm side down), but it isn't so tight that it will damage the battery.

The buggy is looking awesome BTW. Should rip on the track.

Ok, thanks. So it's a Kyosho Twin Force battery tray from Mike.

Correct.

Thanks guys.

It looks like 15 min is exactly what I get with the 3700 flightpower. I will have to do a little more running to see, it was the first run on the pack. That is cutting it too close for a race, I may have to stick with the maxamps 5000. Still not bad on weight at just over 7.5 lbs with the 5000. Or maybe try the 4000 maxamps packs, but I hear they are not as good as the 5000's (anybody know?). I think all of the higher capacity flightpowers are heavier than the maxamps 5000, maybe not the 4350, but I can't find size/weight on that one. Also, I start to pucker up when I gotta pay $200 for batts, so the maxamps are more my price range.

Bruce, stick with the 5000s. I don't think that the 4Ah packs would be able to keep up.

As for the Feigao, you can toast one of those within 10 minutes. It depends on your setup. I went to great lengths to be able to run mine for a 30 minute race, but it still temped at over 200 when I was done. The Feigaos run hot. No way around it. If you want to get away from the heat, get a better motor. Neu or Lehner.

qbayle, love the pic with the nitro trying to get started,LOL. Good job on the races too. That temp sounds about normal for the XL motors.

I never ran a 9XL in mine, I ran a 7XL and an 8XL. I have seen temps up to 200 on the 7XL and about 185 - 190 with the 8XL. I did however have the 8XL go T.U. after a few runs, brakes dissapeared and all the wires got real hot. The 7XL still runs strong, but pretty hot. I like the lehner 1930/8 I have in there now; it still gets up to 180 at times, but cools right back down with a little more "sane" driving.

AAngel, I think you are right about the 5000's. I talked to Austin at Maxamps and he said the same thing. I guess it's not too heavy, at a little over 7.5 lbs. I just didn't want to carry anymore weight than I have too, it handles so nice with the light batteries.

Well, I guess I could put the 3700 Flightpower up for sale, only a couple runs on it and it already has the Deans plug. PM me if you want to make an offer.

I added a lot of mass to the motor can on mine. I turned a heatsink that completely encapsulates the motor and I made it rather tight, so that I had to press the motor into the heatsink. It still gets hot, it just takes longer.

Very nice car.

Bde Bde, that buggy looks totally awesome with the green body that has no nitro holes, do you know how much your temps went up?

Qbayle, I gotta love that startup picture.

Temps seem to running about the same, maybe a few degrees warmer, but not much. I have the "hood scoops" cut out to give some good air flow over the motor.

what are you guys using for the motor mount??

When it comes to the motor mount, there is more than one way to do it, but all of them include making a custom part. I made mine out of 1/4" think aluminum plate and attached it right to the rear center diff bulk.

how does the xl motor run on the flightpower 3700's? that is 4s correct?

Mine was the same, only 3/16" aluminum.

Actually, 3/16" 7075 is the way to go. It is plenty strong and easier to work.

nice mayhem really clean