BL Conversion progress & pics
 

Hey guys I haven't been on the forum in a while so I thought I would share some updates. My savage started as a Nitro .25 SS kit. Here is what I have changed since the last time I posted.

1. Sold the CC 1717 and bought a CC 1520.
2. Sold the Kershaw Gen 2 tranny.
3. Added a Center diff and CVD's from a LOSI Muggy.
4. Swapped the OEM shocks for LOSI LST shocks.
5. Swapped the aluminum upper & lower arms for RPM.
6. Added a 300 in/oz servo.
7. Sold the roll cage.

Driving impressions:
Good: The center diff is nice. I have more control and the shocks give it a lower center of gravity. The 1520 has stupid power but it's usable power. I didn't care for the 1717. It's amazing to watch a 14lb truck do 35+ mph and then rip a wheelie and the front tires look like frizbees.:yipi:

Bad: It cogs pretty bad. I tried a 1518 and a 1520 and the 1520 is worse. I lowered the gearing and played with the software but no luck. The pinion gear falls off with every run regardless of thread lock. It still wheelies like crazy but that's on 6s. I played with the throttle curve and now the front end only comes up over 90% throttle.

More pics

The Big Joes are more for show. The truck handles much better with these and they weigh 1/2 a pound less per wheel.

cool build! I've been working on a MGT conversion with a center diff for sometime now. I too have started off with a 1717 and grown to dislike it and favor my 1520 more. but..my truggy really should have its motor back...

I too had cogging issues with my 1717 when i first started my conversion and i had to revert to the (iirc) 1.24 firmware and my cogging issue went away. I have never felt that my system is super over-powered like i've seen and read? on 5-6's in my truggy or mgt with center diff they are fast, but wont rip huge wheelies at WOT?

Idk if it's just my gearing and fluids or what. What are you running for thicknesses in your rig?

I find the 1717 to be more powerfull than the 1520. If you have good batteries, connectors and maybe some extra caps it is mind-boggling in a 1:8 car and must be perfect for an savage 5b conversion.
In my savage flux xl it was in fact a bit to much, way more powerfull than the car was in stock lenght and motor.

Really nice build, wish the badlands were still in production.
I have a 1717 also, working great, whats the advantage of the 1520 to the 1717 that some of you guys preferred the 1520. haven't tried a 1520 to know. what about a 1527 or 1530 then?
As i am currently using my 1717 with a mamba XL2 on 6S thinking going up to a 1527 or 1530.

The 1717 had pleanty of power. (More than the 1520) I just didn't like the powerband. It was more like an on/off switch in my Savage. It was difficult to drive. I was on my roof more than my wheels. The other issue was the weight. The motor would actually bend the screws that heald the tranny in. I'm sure the 1717 works great in the right truck.

I updated the firmware to 1.34 and the truck wouldn't even move. I rolled it back to the 1.21. Maybe I will try the 1.24.

The diff fluids are 30/100/30.

Something seems off. My truggy can rip wheelies at any speed with the 1518 motor on 4s or 6s. I have to dial it down with punch control. I actually shot one of the front tires off when the front end came up. It flew over a snow bank and hit my neighbors bay window.:lol:

Your 1717 will eat my 1518.

Just an update. The Savage has been fantastic. The center diff is solid and it makes the truck fun to drive. I still have cogging issues and I just added a smaller pinion to see if it helps.

Latest upgrades:
1. Aluminum shock caps
2. Softer springs
3. One piece aluminum rear hubs
4. 19mm conversion for Losi wheels.
5. Losi Muggy wheels.

I have decided (with Mike's suggestions) to replace the Losi center diff set-up with an RCM Universal diff mount. I will have to fab a plate to hold it. I built a center diff out a HB D8T. My Muggy is getting lonely and wants it's diff back.:sarcastic:

I was reading and I have a 1520 and 1717 out of the XO-1. The XO-1 1717 is currently chewing up spur gears in my LST2. No clogging issues at all. Bat out of Hades fast on 6s. Fabbed a one off wheelie bar to keep the front down. The 1520 is nice as well but the 1717 has way more power. Moves my truck with little effort.

version 1.24 is the firmware you need to get rid of cogging.