Mugen Super Sport rebuild

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Lavigna
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Mugen Super Sport rebuild

Post by Lavigna »

Here goes a full rebuild of this pretty special Mugen Super Sport. It comes with these steel arms. I have never seen them before but I have read that the factory had built and tested with them.

I don't believe this buggy was ever run. It was started, or at least attempted, by the starter wheel scuffs on the chassis. I am planning a complete tear down and rebuild. There is a lot rust and grime. This will be a long project. I have already given my heat gun a thorough workout just trying to get bolts undone. The bearings were epoxied into the rear hubs!

Upgrades:

Racing Jack aluminum diff mount and clamps
Front disc brake
Milled lightened chassis
Aluminum wing mount (Racing Jack?)
Upgraded driveshafts

It came with the engine shown. I'm not familiar with this motor. Not sure if it will stay or be replaced by a OS 21 EX-B.

I have a few more upgrades on the way, such as the competition wide wheel nuts, 6 spoke wheels, Arrows tires, and some aluminum Racing Jack driveshafts.

I am hoping to find a Racing Jack ventilated disc brake. Please let me know if you have one available. Please feel free to add any information or pictures you have of this model.
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Lavigna
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Re: Mugen Super Sport rebuild

Post by Lavigna »

Some detail of the rust and grime.

I was surprised to find these lovely stamped chassis weights under the front diff. They can also be moved to the rear. Very clevar. Mugen puts great detail into their models.
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Re: Mugen Super Sport rebuild

Post by Lavigna »

Cleaning the fuel tank was an all day job. It was quite stained and all the metal was corroded. It turned out well, but still a bit yellow. These photos make it seem worse than it really is.

I'm tempted to try the hydrogen peroxide trick to re-whiten it, but I am not certain the plastic is compatible, like the RPM stuff.
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Re: Mugen Super Sport rebuild

Post by coxbros1 »

cool project! you used a drill to refinish that shaft in last pic!
Tap pic for clarity: Derek

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Re: Mugen Super Sport rebuild

Post by TheDiamondOne »

Will be following. Amazed at how u cleaned that tank.
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Re: Mugen Super Sport rebuild

Post by Dadio »

What a cool chassis , think I'm in love with the tube steel fabricated suspension , going to became pretty piece !
If a jobs not worth doing then its certainly not worth doing well.
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Re: Mugen Super Sport rebuild

Post by adam lancia »

You've got some real work ahead of you, but once it's done, that's going to be such a nice finished project!!

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Re: Mugen Super Sport rebuild

Post by Lavigna »

I have been slowly plugging along with this build. I try to spend an hour or more on it each day. Everything needs to be disassembled, cleaned, and resurfaced. The chassis and top plates will be stripped, and re-anodized.

Some of the hardware will be replaced. The ones that are kept need a lot of cleaning and resurfacing.

Unfortunately the side plastic guard was cut open for the exhaust outlet. I did my best to clean it up without making it bigger than possible.
Attachments
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Re: Mugen Super Sport rebuild

Post by Lavigna »

The steering assembly took a long time. Funny because it looks so simple. I ended up using all new tie rods. I wanted something that looked beefier than the spindly looking stock units.

Luckily I had new rods ends to match the inner arm links. However the outside link rod ends are a very unique shape. I cleaned and polished them up as best I could, but they still have some marring. I am hoping I can eventually find some new stock replacements.
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Re: Mugen Super Sport rebuild

Post by Dadio »

I do love those head scratcher diffs , very solid units , just take a couple of looks to understand them .
If a jobs not worth doing then its certainly not worth doing well.
A problem shared is a problem halved but an advantage shared is no advantage at all.

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Re: Mugen Super Sport rebuild

Post by Coelacanth »

Nice work on the exhaust port outlet...looks like it was meant to be that way!
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Re: Mugen Super Sport rebuild

Post by coxbros1 »

Nice work! Those sun gear diffs rule over bevels! so smooth!!
Tap pic for clarity: Derek

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Re: Mugen Super Sport rebuild

Post by Tof92 »

Good job !
Hope to see more soon :D
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Anything before or after is just waiting.

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