Traxxas Evo8 (1/8th buggy)

Project: Evo8
The first Traxxas 1/8th buggy

I got this idea when I was in a brainstorm session of potential upcoming projects. After looking in it this seemed like a perfect project to get me back into the swing of making custom r/c cars. I know a few people have made 1/8th buggies in to CORR trucks and so why not a Slayer into a buggy? The wheelbase and width are perfect for being a 1/8th buggy and very close to other 1/8th's. After doing some more research I took the plunge and bought myself a Slayer roller for $140. This will be the starting point and the base for the project which will end up being the first Traxxas 1/8th Buggy.


This isn't going to be just a half-asked conversion by just putting some buggy tires,wing,and body on the stock Slayer. My project goal is to make it a competitor against other 1/8th buggies such as the 8ight, Rc8, 808. This means I will be tearing it apart and putting a 1/8th center diff in the middle and make a aluminum flat chassis to lower the Center of Gravity.Along with doing other modifications to help it be able to compete with the other buggies. I'm not much of a Nitro guy so I will be going the Lipo/Brushless route once the time comes to get it running. But, for now I'm going to be concentrating on getting this thing built. I know that I have a reputation for starting projects and taking along time to finish them. But I can promise I will all finish my projects..eventually.But first I have to finish this one and then I will work on my others.

Tear Down and Cleaning

I tore everything apart and got it all cleaned up and got rid of the stuff I don't need (Transmission, Chassis,Etc) Here is what is left.

I apologize for the quality of the pictures once I start making more major progress I will have better quality pictures.
So far since I bought the roller for $140 and sold the parts that I didn't use for $40. I have only spent $100.Throughout the build I will be keeping tabs of how much I spend and my goal is to come out under $250 for a roller. I just bought a Rc8 Center Differential. Once I have this I can come up with a chassis design along with chassis stiffeners and battery tray designs.I will be buying a piece of aluminum sheet soon for the chassis. I'm going to start with 1/8" 6061-T6 Aluminum for the first prototype chassis. 6061 is much cheaper and and should be strong enough to do testing. Once I know the exact design and know it will work I will be making a new chassis out of 7075 material just like all the other 1/8th buggies out there and I will also be getting it anodized. Over all this project looks like it will be a pretty simple project especially compared to my other projects that I'm working on.

Here is where I will be keeping tabs on how much I spend on the project:
Slayer Roller= $140-40= $100
RC8 diff and stand offs=$33.74
1/8" 6061-T6 aluminum sheet=32.29

Ethan

[YogyBrushless]

Looking good , but isnt this technically a Slayer ;/ ....J/K

Who says one can't make a Slayer into a 1/8th Slayer Buggy? lol

[lincpimp]

Lower cg would be a good think IMO. My e-slayer flips over alot. I do attribute alot of that to the badlands that have a ton of side bite. And I am too lazy to put the swaybar kit on... But lower cg would be a good thing. I look forward to your progress, cantilever suspension on an 1/8 buggy would be cool!

[Semi Pro]

EDS

welcome to the darkside, im glad you are posting overhere

[Arct1k]

You'd be better off making it more like a rally car - Put a flat chassis on it an I always thought you;d get something like a DM1

[magman]

Funny that this thread started....I was actually looking at my Revo 3.3 conversion the other night an figuring that making it into a buggy would not be that difficult.

[Kcaz25]

WOW I saw this thread a few days ago at the Mobile Alabama RC track forum! So what's gonna power this thing?

LincPimp,Arct1k: Yes, a lower Cg is a must. I will be making a flat pan chassis that goes under the diffs to lower the Cg.

Semi-pro: Haha the real darkside is The Rc Zone. I didn't know this was the other darkside. But I thought the guys on here my like my projects and I have heard its a good forum.

Magman: Yea you right it really isn't going to be that hard of a conversion.

Kcaz25: Yea... Right now I live in Colorado but I'm moving to Mobile in July. As far as powering it.. I'm thinking probably a Tekin Rx8 with T8 2050 on two Reedy 5100mah 2s saddle packs. But that's still awhile down the road.

The aluminum sheet for the chassis came a couple days ago and the Rc8 center diff should be here today.

Ethan

[Arct1k]

In reality I think you will end up with something that looks just like a G3R (gorillamaxx revo) with slayer arms...

Sort of but mine will have a Rc8 center diff so the motor will be mounted much lower and the batteries will be pushed towards the center. Plus it will have buggy wheels and a body on it.

[BL_RV0]

Sounds like a cool conversion. Are you going to leave the diffs stock? I'd worry about them...

[Kcaz25]

Originally Posted by BL_RV0

Sounds like a cool conversion. Are you going to leave the diffs stock? I'd worry about them...

Maybe it wouldn't matter with those little tires.

[magman]

you could also do a flat chassis w/a center diff motor mount combo that would be pretty sweet which is what I had envisioned

[lincpimp]

Diffs will be fine with buggy tires...