My first nitro to brushless conversion!
 

I have always been an electric guy, never touched a nitro in my life (20 years in R/C). After having 2 brushless systems in electric vehicles, and tearing up parts, I could really see why the nitro conversions are so popular; for the more solid drive trains. So I decided to post my first nitro conversion here since you guys seem to do it the best. I decided to start out with a 1/10th scale, since not ever running 1/8th (no nitro, remember,lol). I knew I needed 4 wheel drive, my other mamba is in a HPI RS4, and I had always wanted one of the RS4 MT electrics back in the day. So here was the logical choice; HPI nitro MT2 18SS! It has Mamba Max 5700 (changed to 4600 until I can handle THAT), Apogee 3800 3s li-mn batts. I used a 3mm gpm chassis and gpm center spur holder and HPI graphite upper deck, after my first runs on the stock chassis showed it to have WAY to much flex. Even put some turnbuckles from front to center and rear to center to stiffen it up, but that just tore up the stock plastic spur mount. Still trying to find tire/mamba setting combo that will hook up, this thing is insane!

So here ya go check it out:

Nice conversion! Looks like you have good right/left weight balance too. As far as chassis flex, you could make some chassis braces like 1/8th scale buggies use. To make it simple, you could use rods something like this (usiang whatever color/brand you want of course). Bolt one end to the front top plate and the other down to the chassis, and the same thing on ther rear.

thats a nice looking truck you built.. very clean..
phil

I'm doing a similar conversion, but using only modified parts from the 18SS (no aftermarket parts [yet]).

It looks like that chassis doesn't have the raised edges on the left and right sides, and I'm guessing that is a big cause of the chassis flex.

Your conversion looks great.

looks real nice...good job man.....once you get rid of the slight chassis flex, it should be pretty solid.....

Thanks guys. The new 3mm chassis with carbon fiber top deck is as stiff as a board. I tried rods similar to what brian suggested with the stock chassis, but it still had flex at "twisting" angles. Left to right balance came out nearly perfect with that size battery. Just need some good weather to get some good runs on it now. I may have to go to the local indoor track and embarass some nitros (and myself, with so much power,lol).

That is nice. How is the mamba doing for you?

I love the mamba system, it is my second one. But going from 6 cell nimh in the first rig (which I thought was fast) to 3s lipo in this rig is taking some getting used too (crazy fast!).

You should have tried a 2s lipo first. I think it may have been more than just 6 cells any way.

Hi,

Waht is the best motor for an e-mt2 :027: ?
MM 4600 or 5700 ?

What batteries are you going to run? On 3s lipo, I think the 5700 is probably too much, over 55 mph with my gears/tires (thanks for calculator BrianG) . I switched to the 4600 but haven't got much running on it yet, it should have about the same top speed as stock 18SS (46 mph), with much more torque.

I'm going to run with lipo 3s or 4s.

then i would say the 4600

Looks great bdebde!