twatts1000

So this past weekend, I replaced the *popcorn* OG tranny with a used Robinson tranny. Works freekin' great, though I had to install it with a 20+ year old "Warlock Racing" motor (see Trinity p2k) since I can't get the damned pinion off!!!

I also added a vintage set of CRP#1622 (Rear Shock Mounts), and I'm still on the hunt for suitable replacements (I think here I will have to go modern since Parma Blue shocks are harder to find than a virgin at a *****house)...

Also got a CRP #3045 (Rear Skid Tranny Plate)... I'm going to try to dye it black here in the next day or so...

Also working on a DIY BEC, but I'm thinking that a cheap off-the-shelf model will be easier (since I don't have to build it), and just as cheap... Right now the MSC is working great so I'll hold off on Modernizing to a TEU105 (methinks)...

I'll try and post some pix pretty soon...

Terry

twatts1000

Success with dying the CRP rear tranny skid guard...

45min. at a slow boil...

Terry

twatts1000

Here it is on the Frog...

Terry

twatts1000

Ran the Frog yesterday and the CRP rear skid guard I dyed took some abuse... It scratched and now shows some white... Oh well, I guess it won't stay a perfect black forever...

And the 30yo front tires took quit a beating and finally quit... They were as bald as bald gets and finally the rubber tore open on both sides...

I know that 12mm hex adapters are just out of reach at this point, but can anyone recommend Front Wheels/Rims that will (1) fit the Frog front axle, (2) take a 2.2 tire, and (3) take 1150 bearings???

I have a set of Brat rear wheels/tires already that are almost dead. I have EBAYed a used set of front wheel/rims... and I'm about to EBAY (4) Brat tires to re-tire all (4) corners...

But that puts off the inevitable - I will have to adapt the Frog to modern tires... The rears are easy with the HPI and the Tamiya adapters... Anyone have any luck with the AsiaFleas DT03 front wheel adapter???

Seems like I'm talking to myself... Anyone alive out there???

Thanks,

Terry

Lunchboxer

I think 2.2" wheels / tires are pretty big for the chassis.. might look weird..

twatts1000

yeah, maybe 1.9 are better...

Could anyone recommend a 1.9 wheel that with do 12mm Hex, support 1150 bearings, and fit the Frog???

Thanks,

Terry

Lunchboxer

I know this is not what you want to hear, but I think these old old vintage buggies look the best with the stock setup. The tires are available due to re-re so it is easily obtainable.

To convert to the modern rubber, you'd most likely need to do 2.2" setup. I think it just look weird. If you run the Tamiya hex adapter on the rear, due to the design of most modern wheel, the offset difference will most likely bring the wheels in closer to the chassis (making the rear narrower). I'd stick w/ the stock setup.

But if you must, I have seen some choices here:

http://www.tamiyaclub.com/forum/inde...howtopic=58072

Good luck!

twatts1000

Its not that I don't want to hear that... I'd just rather hear that there is a suitable replacement out there now... I had some issue finding Brat tires last night...

I wonder if something like these would fit better:

http://www.rpphobby.com/product_p/rc4z-t0021.htm
http://www.rpphobby.com/product_p/rc4z-t0068.htm

Thanks for the replies and the link!

Terry

Lunchboxer

Might want to e-mail RC4WD directly and find out. !

RustyUs

I would think you would be able to put on most any of Tamiya's 2wd wheels that use the 5x11mm bearings for the front, and the rear wheels...just have to find the right hex size. But like Luchboxer said...the offset is gonna be the biggest battle, unless you can find somewhere in another forum that someone has already done a wheel swap on The Frog. Maybe something like the Fighter Buggy's or Super Fighter's wheel set would be an option...again you would have to order the Parts B Set, or something like that, that has the hexes for the rear wheels.

RustyUs

I don't know how much the postage would be from the UK, but....Tamiya Tyre Set Subaru Brat/Ford Ranger 9400554

twatts1000

Thanks guys...

I ordered Brat tires off of EBAY, hopefully they will get here soon! My wife is out of town, and I have no front tires

So today I got a Sport Tuned motor (new) and Brat front wheels (used)... The front wheels are mismatched but in good condition. One cleans up better than the other... I really don't care what they look like since all they need to do is hold rubber to the road...

I also ordered some new rear shocks and very soft damper oil... I cleaned up the existing and filled them with 3in1 as a stop-gap until then...

And a BEC is on its way too... Hopefully this will solve my space issue I've having with my existing 4AA battery holder...

After that, I'm done with the electronics and the rear... I'll move onto the front soon - try to solve the adding front shocks riddle... Lots of good ideas, but very little in the way of parts...

Terry

twatts1000

Here she is...

Terry

Lunchboxer

Keeping the MSC?

twatts1000

For now yes... Sooner or later, I'll replace with a modern ESC...

Terry

twatts1000

So with my wife out of town, I've been tinkering with the Frog...

Yesterday, I cut out a piece of tin to mount on the underside of the driver. I needed a place to attach the BEC... I simulated the BEC with some of my son's legos, it was close enough for Frog Science...

Today, I also received new aluminum mounts for front and rear shocks. I love the front mount. I'm going to pull out the measuring tape and measure the possible shock lengths with the new front mount... The rear mounts were smaller than I had hoped and I didn't like the way they fit compared the CRP rear mounts I already have... If anyone else wants these rear mounts for their ORV, let me know... I'll probably trade for a 6-pack...

And I also took out the MSC Servo Arm and replaced it with the extra CRP Steering Arm I had leftover from when I broke my first/original set... Had to trim down the threaded rod, but it works quite nicely and looks much better...

Still need to do some major surgery and either add a new bumper support or a new CRP bumper... I have both pieces, I just haven't gotten around to that point yet...

And since LB mentioned my MSC, here are some shots of the box... I found in tucked in the Frog Manual...

Terry

twatts1000

So here is a list of things I have done to the Frog as of late [updated 5/16/2015]:

1. Replaced original (bought when I was a kid) CRP/Parma/etc (?) Steering Rods with TwinningMike replacement from EBAY (exactly the same as CRP replacement, but included all the hardware and threaded rods). I also picked up some NOS CRP replacements...
2. Replaced "popcorn" original tranny with used Robinson Racing tranny. I don't really like this and I'm looking at Thorp parts on EBAY...
3. Replaced original silver can with a Sport Tuned.
4. Picked a clear plastic "window" tranny cover (fictpacket on EBAY). Pretty cool, it lets me see how the pinion sits.
5. Installed new BEC (hobbyking). Repaired/replaced almost all of the old wiring with new wire/solder/heat-shrink. [Pulled the new BEC out of the system since it was giving me such RFI fits].
6. Added CRP rear shock mounts. Replaced original rear dampers with Xtra Speed 75mm dampers w/ 250cst juice. They're Yeah Racing clones...
7. Dyed and added CRP tranny skid plate. (subsequent runs have scratched it and it now showed the white again. I should have just spray painted it black, it would have been easier).
8. Added new Brat tires on all 4 corners. Original (bought when I was a kid) Buggy Champ rear wheels and EBAYed Brat wheels on the front... I also picked up and/or built new Frog front tires and new Grasshopper Sand Paddle rear tires... I also have a set of Frog spiked tires that survived the years... I have yet to run as of these; the Brat tires are my "daily drivers"...
9. Replaced original MSC servo arm with modified CRP steering arm. Why not? I had the extra parts...
10. Added front shock mount (logisticsshop on EBAY) and Yeah Racing 70mm dampers w/ 250cst juice.
11. Replaced front suspension arms and all metal parts with NOS parts. I only kept a few original screws and the axle knuckles.
12. New CRP front bumper.
13. Replaced original rear swing arms with .50 Caliber aluminum swing arms.
14. Added HPI #2135s and Pro-Line Road Hawg II's for rear.
15. Replaced original rear swing arm braces with CPR 1606 (sprayed painted black).
16. Added CRP 1606 support to Transmission Box.
17. Added Thread Rod via CRP 1606.

I got the Parma nerf bars when I was a kid... They've taken a beating!


Things I still need to work out:

1. Solve Front Wheel Riddle: bearing-in-hub vs. hex.
2. Find 2.2 Front Wheel/Tires that fit w/ CRP or Frog front bumper (or try out a Blackfoot bumper or find another aftermarket bumper).


To do list:

1. Get new body - paint, decals, etc...
2. Get good off-road buggy spike tires for Front.
3. Replace MSC with modern ESC [ordered TEU-105BK].
4. Replace Tx/Rx & Servos w/ modern system.


Terry

twatts1000

OK...

So the manufacturer of my front shock mount is EBAY Seller "logisticsshop"...

The center-to-center shock length are (by hole bottom to top): 50/60/70mm...

Joy!

Terry

twatts1000

Just arrived at my office: (4) Brat tires and (2) Frog front tires! Woohoo!!!

Terry

twatts1000

New rubber...

Front is a Brat Wheel, painted white (they were used and stained brown)...

Rear is a Buggy Champ wheel... I got these as a kid...

Both have new Brat tires...

Terry

twatts1000

Just did some night-driving, back and forth in the street between street lamps...

Dang, this thing is much faster now with a new Sport Tuned instead of a shot Warlock! And the tires grip nice; the car turns on a dime... I just have to remember to let it slow down so I don't roll the car! Straight shots are rocket! Work great in the grass! Handling is much better with the new tires. Glad I made these upgrades!

All I can say is wow!!!

Now to get the new shocks for the rear and front and this thing will be 95% done! Woohoo!

Terry

twatts1000

I'm not too happy with the 48p Robinson Tranny... It works great on-road, but grinds here and there on heavy off-road use... Its wearing out the Spur Gear...

I'm thinking about changing over to a Thorp system... Any comments or suggestions or advise on Thorp???

Thanks,

Terry

RustyUs

I am enjoying the work you are putting into that pad hopper. I don't remember too much from back in the day about aftermaket gears for the Frog. I do remember going through a lot of stock tranny gears as I was using a Technigold motor along with a 7 cell hump pack to fill the lack of speed void. Thorp Dirt Burners diff/tranny gears? Can you still find them for the Frog?

RustyUs

Wow! I just did a quick search on some Thorp diffs for the Frog/Brat/Blackfoot...$100 or more is the asking price! That's crazy.

twatts1000

Yeah, that Thorp stuff is crazy expensive... But its looks freekin' *solid*!

But I am biding my time, and have some extra tax refund to spend...

Terry