1/8 scale buggy conversion - help please!

[padailey]

Ok I've finally decided to go for it!! I have never had a desire to run nitro so I have zero experience with 1/8 buggies. I do run lipo/brushless in my TC but that is sensored stuff so I don't have much experience with any of this. So hopefully the people here on the forums can steer me in the right direction.

First what I plan to use it for.... almost exclusively racing.

Budget... somewhat limited... I don't want to go all out just to make sure I like racing a buggy first. Then can upgrade later if needed.

Also would like to use some existing electronics/batteries if possible. Not absolutely critical but preferred.

[padailey]

First step... what buggy! I have a couple options so far...

1) Ofna Hyper 7 roller... I can get one for $100
2) Ofna Ultra ???? ... as of yet unidentified as to the exact model... roller, loads of parts, tires, etc... only used a few times -- $50 - $75
3) GS Storm .... roller minus shocks... price not set but probably around $50.

I know there are others but these are local and pretty cheap so I'd like to use one of these if possible. I "think" any of these would work but I'd like your opinions also. I have heard the 7 is a good conversion but I get more with the Ultra (assuming I can figure out what it is for sure). Would some version of the Ultra work ok and others not? I don't think I want to go the Storm route just because the LHS stocks very little GS stuff... but could get it if needed.

What is everyones opinion? One thing that may help in the decision is I want a 2 battery setup so I can hook up my 6 cell or 2S lipo in series and still use them in my other vehicles.

Thanks,

Paul

[Serum]

and what electronics have you got available you want to use?

Welcome to the forum.

[padailey]

Ok I'll go on to the next step in case its easier just to figure out the whole thing at once.

ESC - Mamba Max
Motor - don't know... when I look at the calculator it usually comes up a Wanderer 8XL but I'm not sure I'm entering all the info properly..(like for speed and gearing I'm just kinda guessing). I don't mind using a fan and such but don't want to fight heat problems. I don't need to blow away nitros with top speed. Track is I would say medium sized with one straight. Its an electric friendly track. Again I'm guessing but my feeling is that I'll be tons quicker so I don't need the the same top speed. Would you agree?
Batteries - 15 min mains is all I need for batteries. If I can find another 6000 to match mine I will use that. If not I'm leaning towards the True RC (2) 7.4V 15C 6400 or the (2) Trakpowers. I want to be able to use them in my other vehicles and these will fit. One major question here is I plan on 14.8V but can I get a system that would work great on 14.8 and pretty good on 7.4V. I'm guessing probably not but thought I'd ask anyway.

[padailey]

Next... miscellaneous

1) Motor mount... sure that won't be too hard to find and depends on vehicle
2) Mount batteries somehow
3) Gearing - spurs/pinions
4) Make the Nitro guys jealous
5) Am I forgetting anything?

Added to list
1) External BEC
2) Heat sink/clamp for motor

[padailey]

Welcome to the forum.

Thanks.. I've been lurking around for a few weeks trying to get educated!

I'd go for the Hyper 7. Parts are plentiful and the buggy drives well. For an inexpensive setup, I'd stick with the MM (disconnect the internal bec) and run it on 4S lipo. If you can rig it, the trakpower packs would be perfect. For a motor, I'd go with an 8XL or 9XL.

When I first started all of this large scale conversion stuff, I was worried about being fast. Since I've gotten settled in, I've found that it doesn't take much for an electric to be competitive on a track. In my vehicles, I've gone from the 7XL, to the 8XL, and am now running the 9XL. What I like about the 9XL is that it is very gearing friendly. I just started running the 9XLs and have found that I can go from sedate to being too fast for our track with just gearing changes.

Since you are running 15 minute mains and just want to be competitive on the track, I'd have to give some serious thought to a 9XL; however, if you do want it to be a bit faster, go with the 8XL. I haven't done any formal testing, but to be able to comfortably run a 15 minute main, I think that a 5Ah pack would do you nicely. If not, you could try the 6Ah packs, but I haven't had much luck with those.

As for gearing, I'd say that 16/46 would be a good place to start for the 9XL and 14/46 for the 8XL.

[padailey]

Thanks Angel...That's kinda how I've been thinking. At least I'm close and did learn a few things from reading the forums. Also I forgot about the External BEC.... I was planning on that just forgot to add to my list. I'm gonna edit above so I don't forget it!

[IBJAMMIN]

I would go for the Hyper7 parts and hop up's are avalable.

Motor mount? you can get mikes ofna mount.

Spur? The Kyosho 46t plastic spur should bolt up to the ofna diff with a mod1 pinion.

Motor? There is many options to go with I will let someone with more buggy knowledge fill you in on that. 14.8v to 7.4v it's going to be hard to find a motor that will work good on both voltages.

Battery mounts just look around at some of the conversions here and see what works.

15min of runtime should be very easy on 4s.

[nativepaul]

I have never driven any of those buggys, but when I was asking about my Lightning 2 pro quite a few peeps sugested a Hyper 7, I discounted it as I would have had to sell the engine to even out the price and thats a PITA. If I had a roller that didn't rattle too much available for $100 or even £100 I would have gone for it.

[padailey]

Motor? There is many options to go with I will let someone with more buggy knowledge fill you in on that. 14.8v to 7.4v it's going to be hard to find a motor that will work good on both voltages.

That isn't a huge deal ... The batteries will probably be my last purchase so I was kinda hoping I could run it before I got another lipo because I might have to buy 2. So it would be fairly short term that I would consider running 7.2V - 7.4V anyway. I know I need to consider the size for fitting in the buggy but I pretty much know the physical size since I will be getting something that will fit my other trucks/cars.

With the batteries, you kind of have to pay attention to the physical size of the packs. Very few are alike in dimensions. I have Hyperion, Kokam, Maxamps, and TrueRC packs and none of them have the same widths. For a buggy, an 8Ah pack is a pretty tight squeeze. The Kokam 4800, flightpower 4900, and maxamps 5000 4S packs should fit nicely under the body. The buggy will handle better with these smaller packs too.

If you can, I'd suggest getting 4S packs, rather than trying to run two packs in series. I just think it's easier, although not as flexible as far as using the packs in other vehicles.

For 4S, whatever you do, get good packs. Flightpower, trakpower, Kokam, Maxamps (5Ah) are good packs and will deliver all the power that you need for a track setup.

[padailey]

I'm pretty familiar with the non-standard size deal with lipos. With my other vehicles I can basically go a max of (H) 26mm - (W) 47mm - (L) 150mm..... everything kinda needs to fit those dimensions. Yes I agree that the 4S would be easier and I may go that route but I need to stay with 7.4V for flexibility unless wiring two 7.4's in series is a bad idea. Ideally I would like to get the trakpower but a little spendy compared to some other options. Especially since I already have a balancer for ployquest/hyperion taps. I have gotten 33 min run time with my 6000 and Novak 4300 in TC...so I would think 15 min with a 4900 should be no problem....but not positive... extra weight and all considered.

[padailey]

ok now Angel has me thinking about getting a 4S.... that would probably save me getting another charger. I could get away with what I have as far as chargers go in the short term anyway. So is there balancing issues here to consider. I guess originally I would have thought 2 batteries better with weight evenly distributed on each side. But I suppose if the battery is on one side and the motor on the other that might balance it also. Is this a huge issue to consider for an 1/8 conversion?

Also thanks for the responses so far... keep them coming. Nothing here is completely set in stone so I'm pretty open. The MM ESC is about all I'm committed to so far. Hopefully tonight I'll be able to check out the 2 Ofna's and make a decision on the chassis I'll be using. I've been pretty 50/50 on the roller I want but am leaning towards the Hyper 7 right now. Any final words on the Ultra ???? ... Our Offroad track director said he thought it would be fine for my purposes but he has only driven a conversion of someone's in Des Moines not actually built one. Whoever that was (if your listening) he loved it.

I run three 1/8 scale conversions and run single packs in all of them. The weight distribution hasn't been an issue at all. They all fly straight off of jumps. They do, however, handle better with the lighter packs.

BTW, I don't know if you've seen this yet, but...http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/a...article_id=467