All Carbon-Fiber Mid-Motor Traxxas Rad2 Conversion (Project: Traxxas Radicator Pro)!
 

The Traxxas Rad2 is one of my all-time favorite vehicles, and I have a few laying around, including a NIB Kit, a New-Built Kit, and a used Factory Assembled RTR (one of Traxxas' very first RTR vehicles).

Anyway, I decided to do a fully custom build and create what I think Traxxas would have created if they had built a "Pro" version of the Radicator/Rad2!

First, I am going to turn the transmission around, making it a mid-motor car. Second, I am going to use an extensive amount of carbon-fiber; custom designing & building a new chassis, top-deck, front brace, shock towers, motor-mount plate, battery strap(s), etc.. Third, I am going to use titanium turnbuckles, camber-rods, and hinge-pins. Fourth, I am going to run a set of aluminum, threaded-body shocks that are as close to the stock size as possible. Fifth, I am going to run a modern set of wheels & tires. Sixth, I am going to run a Traxxas Velineon Brushless System powered by a LiPo Battery & a Spektrum 2.4gHz Radio. Seventh, I am going to run an Associated RC10B4 Buggy Body. Eighth, I am going to run Acer Racing Ceramic Ball-Bearings, as well as 12.9 Grade Tony's Screws. And finally, I will use the stock plastic suspension, steering parts, transmission & gears, except I am going to upgrade the diff inside the transmission to handle the brushless power.

Shock Towers & Motor-Mount Plate = 3mm CF, Chassis & Top-Deck = 2.5mm CF, Front Brace, battery Strap(s), & Anything Else = 2mm CF

I think it is going to be bad-ass!

Pics of the current car;

http://pics.offroadextremes.com/rc/t...rx_rad2_01.jpg

http://pics.offroadextremes.com/rc/t...rx_rad2_02.jpg

http://pics.offroadextremes.com/rc/t...rx_rad2_03.jpg

http://pics.offroadextremes.com/rc/t...rx_rad2_04.jpg

http://pics.offroadextremes.com/rc/t...rx_rad2_05.jpg

http://pics.offroadextremes.com/rc/t...rx_rad2_06.jpg

http://pics.offroadextremes.com/rc/t...rx_rad2_07.jpg

http://pics.offroadextremes.com/rc/t...rx_rad2_08.jpg

http://pics.offroadextremes.com/rc/t...rx_rad2_09.jpg

http://pics.offroadextremes.com/rc/t...rx_rad2_10.jpg

What do you guys think?

I had a guy come into the hobby shop the other day with one of these (all white nylon though) and none of us could identify it. Looks like its an early radicator. Do you know anywhere to find more information on this car?

If it was all white plastic, it was the Traxxas Rad2 Kit (needs assembling and electronics).

If it's all black plastic, it's the Traxxas Rad2 Factory Assembled RTR (needs nothing but a 7.2v stick-pack).

If it has a gold aluminum tub, shock towers, and rear motor-plate with white plastic wheels, it's the original Traxxas Radicator Kit (needs assembling and electronics).

If it has a gold aluminum tub, shock towers, and rear motor-plate with chrome wheels (plastic or aluminum), it's the original Traxxas Bullet Kit (needs assembling and electronics).

If it looks like any of the above, except has larger tires, it is one of the truck versions (Traxxas Hawk or Traxxas Hawk2). The Hawk has the motor on top of the transmission, the Hawk2 has the motor on the bottom of the transmission.

sounds like a fun project, i had a hawk2 back in the day, it was a fun truck

Gold aluminum tub hey? I take it this was Traxxas' run at the RC10 market?

Pretty much. I have a never ran Bullet and it looks very much the same as my first RC10. There are a lot of differences but all in all similar. When I get some time, I'll restore the Bullet, and make it brushless.

-JB

looks interesting!

Yep, the Traxxas Bullet was Traxxas' first true entry into the competition level of 2wd electric buggy racing, and it did extremely well. The gold-tub RC10 had a weird front suspension and a horrible steering setup, but the Bullet had a more typical layout which worked much better.