Monster GT Conversion With A Center Diff
 

Decided to start a new project, a Monster GT conversion running a center diff and 6S. This thing will be a great conversion project as it is a great MT platform to convert and should hold up alot better than my E-maxx.

So, after having my E-Maxx for a couple years now and after upgrading it constantly and it still breaks, I decided it was time to retire the Maxx and convert a new MT. I have an old, original Monster GT, and after some thinking, I decided to go search for it in my garage. I found it and noticed it was missing some parts (Damn garage gremlin... :lol:) but after some searching on ebay, I realized just how cheap it would be to convert this truck.

Anyway, it currently needs....

Rear bulkhead, front and rear turnbuckles, rear diff, rear skidplate, front shock tower and new rear shock tower, shocks, rear bumper mounts, radio tray, and there is probably a couple other things that I am forgetting. I can get all of this for under $75 on Ebay (ordering now).


Electronics going in it will be -

Tekin 1550Kv truggy motor
Castle MMM ESC
Turnigy 3S 4000mAh 40C/50C (2x, wired in series for 6S)


I will be using the center diff setup out of my Maxx (I made my own version of RCM's Maxx center diff motor mount).


Here are some pictures I took of it a few minutes ago, I haven't cleaned it up yet, but I will in a bit and get some more pictures of it when it's clean.

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...n/DSCN1175.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...n/DSCN1176.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...n/DSCN1177.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...n/DSCN1178.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...n/DSCN1179.jpg


Also, does anyone know the ring gear tooth count for the Monster GT diffs? I can't find that info anywhere....


More pictures and updates soon!

An update already.....

I just ordered a bunch of stuff off of ebay for this truck, total was $79.93, $102.33 with shipping. Here is what I got -

• New rear bulkhead with complete differential, pinion, and mounting blocks $14.99
• New front and rear turnbuckles w/ rod ends $10.99
• New set of hinge pins with upper arm mounts/hinge pin holders $9.99
• New set of 8 shocks $22.99
• New front and rear skidplates $5.99
• New screw and hardware kit $7.99
• New front and rear shock towers with body mount posts $6.99

EDIT: Forgot the radio box, had to go back and order that, but it was only $1 :lol: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=330393321670


And for all of that on Amain probably would have been well over $150, so I think I got a pretty good deal. :great:

Alright folks, here are some rough mock up pictures. I will have the clearance the chassis for the spur but not much, maybe 1/8'' to 3/16'' on either side would be plenty.

First order of business though is to install the rear diff as soon as possible so I can move on to positioning the center diff where I can use some of the dogbone shafts I current have. If I can only position the center diff where I can only use 1 of the dog bones I have, I will have to buy an RCM Revo shaft coupler adapter for use with 1/8 diffs and make a custom length rear shaft with a Revo shaft. And I may even do that for the front center since I will be running a bigger pinion on the motor, which will move it upward, which in turn will allow me to use a front center Revo shaft.

Anyway, I'll figure it out when I get to that point. Once I get everything I order from Ebay, I'll get it all together, rob the the 23mm adapters off my E-Maxx and install them on this truck and put on my 40 series crime fighters and see how it looks as a rolller! That will be the first time in about 4 years that it will be a roller. I've had the truck for about 6 years (it's an original .21 Monster GT), ran it for 2 years, then it sat in my garage for the past 4 years and I've been robbing parts off of it for other stuff.


Now on to the good part, pictures!

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...n/DSCN1180.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...n/DSCN1181.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...n/DSCN1182.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...n/DSCN1184.jpg


Again, these are just rough mock up pictures, it will look better alot better as the project continues.

Lookin good man!

Very nice, it does remind me of an EMaxx (the first few pictures). Besides the random aluminum.

Got some work done on it today, I'll have some new pictures posted in a couple of hours.

THE WAIT IS KILLING MEE, aha, kidding, im anxious tho,

Alright everyone, here are some new pics!

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...n/DSCN1187.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...n/DSCN1186.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...n/DSCN1188.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...n/DSCN1189.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...n/DSCN1190.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...n/DSCN1191.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...n/DSCN1192.jpg


Progress made so far.... got the center diff mounted, got the chassis brace mount almost finished, still have to drill 2 holes in the chassis to screw it down in 2 more places, got my front and rear driveshafts setup perfectly (rear not pictured yet), and got the battery straps mounted.

Q;
What are the diffs like in the MGT, are they 1/10th scale like TRX diffs or are they bigger and beefier like a 1/8th scale ???

The lay out and pack placement looks good, COG should be great for a MT !

MGT diffs are 1/8 scale, with a good shimming and silicone fluid they hold up pretty well. Stock and grease packed diffs can even be eaten up by a nitro motor.

The MGT is a pretty solid truck.

Worst part of a MGT was the crap tranny, which this conversion has taken care of! I never really cared for the mgt but the chassis is very tough. If the diffs can handle brushless it should be a great setup.

I love that giant turnbuckles that supports the motor plate, good idea!

like alot of trannys (Linc knows his trannys!) the stock form w/ reverse is weakish. With a forward ony conversion I haven't broken one, but I haven't run brushless power through one so I can't comment on that.

Mostly I wanted to say something about Linc and trannys.:whistle:

Yeah, I know a few trannys. Google "Harold Bauman" for pictures.

Shhhhh. I know a guy from Brazil that specializes in "conversions":surprised:

Thanks!

X2 on what Harold said. The diffs are 1/8th scale, using an 8mm pinion shaft and 13/48 for the ring/pinion. I haven't heard any issues about the diffs before to be honest, main complaint about it was usually the tranny in the original Monster GT, but now the 4.6SE and 8.0 edition have all metal gears.

Does anyone know if there is anything extra required to run silicone oil in the MGT diffs? For some reason I remember reading that the MGT diffs wouldn't hold oil unless one bought a seal kit for them? I'll take the front (and rear when I get it) bulkheads apart and take apart the diffs and see if there is a seal in them, and probably put 10k oil in them.


The diffs will handle brushless since they are 8th scale, but as Harold said, need to be shimmed properly, but that pretty much applies to every diff anyway.

And thanks, I actually got the idea from the 1st gen RC8T's chassis braces, which are basically the same. I used a rear upper camber link and rod end from an OFNA Ultra/LX series buggy and the king pin pivot ball from an OFNA Mutilator truggy.

Good progress and nice work. Seems like alot more MT's running center diffs are popping up lately.

We just need some truggies with trannies in them (not that we could find a truggy big enough for Harold to fit in).

:rofl:

:lol:




I will have updates either in a few hours or in the morning, I got all of my parts in the mail today and I am working on putting it together now. Stay tuned!

true enough Linc, I don't fit in anywhere. Like last night with you, it was like

a: throwing a hotdog down a hallway
b: fornicating with a 5 gallon bucket of water
c: spelunking in Grand Cave

By the way, your gerbil needs food and water.

Good god, anyone else scarred for life? :P

Scarred? Not really. But I'm kinda glad they're on the other side of my monitor!! Lol. Especially since linc seems to keep coming up behind me after I post!

Ungrateful bastid, why did you not water the gerbil while you were in there?

Anyways, don't lie I could tell you were really enjoying all of the bog snorkeling you were doing! I just wish you had shaved, kinda prickly...

Alright alright, enough with the thread hijacking already.... :lol:

sorry:yes:

That you did not water the gerbil?

Ok, I am done with the threadjacking. Back to the regularly scheduled MGT center diff goodness!

I am going to be buying some new tires and wheels for this truck, and I am stuck between Proline Badlands and Losi Claws...

http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...es-with-Foam-2

http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...r-Truck-Tire-2


I want something for mostly dirt running that gets good bite in soft dirt but wont wear out quickly on hard pack dirt, and preferably a tire that is durable and wont rip when the center diff unloads during wheelies. I would assume the Badlands are the best choice, but I like the looks of the Losi Claws and if they are durable I'd like to try them. So, which one should I pick?

then post some damn pictures so we can get back on topic

Sorry for not posting pics yet, I've been working on it for most of the afternoon to get it running and I have class in an hour, so expect pictures by around 8:30 to 11:30 depending on your time zone.

From what I've seen, either tire will wear about the same. I've had both at different times and they lasted about as long on the same surfaces. The Losi claws aren't bad for forward bite, but the badlands will have more forward and side bite.

The Losi Claws are quit a bit taller also, consider gearing when making a tire choice. I had them both and really liked them both, could go either way ?

PICTURES!!!!

I got the conversion completely finished and drove it around my yard a bit. It's under-geared by a tooth or two on the pinion, but it was pretty fast considering it was under-geared, then again it could be the size of this truck that makes it seem like its moving alot faster than it is (sort of like running a 1/5, but not quite that big). It sure does handle like an MT though, :lol:, definitely needs some toe and camber adjustments, its a bit out of whack in that area, and maybe a sway bar addition somewhere down the line.

Anyway, here are the pics......

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...n/DSCN1195.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...n/DSCN1196.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...n/DSCN1197.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...n/DSCN1202.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...n/DSCN1203.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...n/DSCN1200.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...n/DSCN1201.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...n/DSCN1204.jpg









Also, I ordered Proline 23mm hex 1/2 offset MT dish wheels and Proline Badlands tires. The truck should look alot better with some 1/2 offset MT wheels, will give it a much wider stance than those 40 series do.

I like, Super clean wiring too, I always love clean wiring.

Very nice, not a fan of the support motor mount (the bar)... Looks.... though, looks beefy

I love it!! Clean, symetrical, low COG. Nice nice nice. The huge support bar is an excellent idea to tie things together. Video!!

Thanks guys!

I think I am going to try a different receiver location though, the more I look at it, the more I hate having the ESC's receiver wires and servo's receiver wires running down the truck. Since I run 2.4 GHz, I might be able to get away with putting the receiver up front in front of the motor and that way I can hide the wires going to the receiver a lot better.


And I will get a video tomorrow or Thursday if I have time, but I want to wait until I get my wheels and badlands and a body for it before I do any real hard bashing/get a bashing video. But, I did run it for a couple minutes today and other than the toe and camber angles being way off, it ran great!

the truck looks great

Looks good, I guess I should have kept that MGT I got for 20 bucks...

Yeah, just a maybe Linc

Thats pretty slick, I like that alot. Its what the Emaxx wants to be, but couldnt be without spending a ton of $ on durabilty upgrades. What are the overall dimensions and weight like?