Questions about converting a XX to SCT

[fredswain]

I have a XX sitting quietly on the shelf. It hasn't been run in about 15 years although it is perfectly mechanically sound. Although I could install electronics in it and go racing again I find myself having much more fun with my RC10 and JRX2 cars and don't really need yet another buggy. I have toyed with the idea of just selling it but part of me thinks it would be cool to build an SCT out of it.

I have never been a truck person at all. Not in the RC world or the real world and I've always hated truggy. However SCT seems to be a bit more appealing to me and I find myself quite entertained at the track watching those guys fly all over the place during races. My friend is also toying with the idea of piecing together an SCT from old parts. Neither of us wants to spend the money on a brand new vehicle although when it comes down to it we may ultimately end up spending that much in a conversion anyways. We are both tinkerers who like to create things so that's where most of the enjoyment comes from.

This leads me to the XX. I don't plan to race it so I may as well have some fun with it. The questions I have are in regards to what it will take to convert it into an SCT. If I use the XXT suspension arms, how close to SCT width will it be? I don't think wheel fitment should be a problem.

As far as chassis goes, I know that the longer XXT chassis is still about an inch too short for SCT. However they can be had for very cheap (as can the XXT suspension parts). My plan was to take a XXT chassis, cut it in half on the bandsaw, stretch it an inch with another piece of a chassis spliced in place, then make a mold off of the assembly so I could make my own brand new 1 piece resin cast chassis from scratch.

Assuming I can get the chassis to work out and can use the XXT suspension, what other things am I missing (besides the body of course)? I actually like this idea as I want to keep a low buggy like center of gravity. The other idea is to make a lexan lower tub to fit under the chassis that extend out to the body to completely enclose the bodywork. This would keep airflow underneath very smooth and would prevent the body from working like a parachute on jumps as no air (far less) could get in.

This is the current idea but that's all it is currently. What do you guys think?

[Coelacanth]

This is the current idea but that's all it is currently. What do you guys think?

Though I can't offer much about Losi as I've never owned one, I'd say go for it! Taking an old chassis and modding it into something with a completely different function is a rewarding challenge!

[fredswain]

The hardest part about this will be the chassis. Since it is composite it isn't easy to stretch. It's not like the RC10, JRX2, or graphite chassis where the front and rear ends just bolt on top of it. The front and rear ends are self contained that bolt to either end of the main chassis so I can't just make a simple flat new plate chassis. Well, I probably could for the front but not the back.

That leaves me with stretching and then completely building a new cast chassis off of a mold built off of the modified original. If successful it would definitely be the only purpose built XX-SCT chassis of it's kind. I know I can do it as I have cast many things in the past. I also know which material I'd use as just any old casting resin isn't going to work. I'm really trying to do my homework on all the parts needed beforehand so I an decide if I want to undertake the challenge.

[Coelacanth]

Making box-arts and duplicating replicas is fine and all, but there's something to be said for creating something totally new. Acquiring all the parts, without quite knowing what will fit and work properly, and having to modify some that are "close but not quite", is probably the most time-consuming and frustrating part. But once you have what you need and it's working, that also has its own coolness factor.

[JK Racing]

other items to figure out:

Front and rear bumper set ups
Front and rear body mounts

On a similar note, I created an LXT-SC myself, loved it, but my local series outlawed "home brew" or "scratch built" SCTs quickly. So it sat for a while as I whined and pouted. I disassembled it and built a regular LXT that I sold. I still have the chassis in one of my boxes.

[fredswain]

Bumpers and body mounts are a relatively easy problem to deal with. Fortunately our tracks just have open classes. 2WD, 4WD, no motor restrictions, run what ya brung. There was a stadium truck out there last week although we all wondered why he was allowed. He wasn't very good anyways. There is a Slash running around with a custom milled home made aluminum chassis. Pretty neat setup but he is the only 2WD running against a field of 4WD's. He still usually ends up in the A-main though.

I'd like to see some pics of that truck if you've got any. I have so many JRX parts lying around that I could build several vehicles. Actually maybe that would be a better way to go. It wouldn't be hard to make a chassis for JRX parts and all I'd need to buy are the front and rear arms. I have lots of shocks lying around and a couple of spare gearboxes. I've even got the front steering hubs off of an LXT. Yeah, maybe I'll do that and just sell the XX. I'll think about that. An even older tech SCT. I'm all for it!

[JK Racing]

http://www.rc10talk.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=11242

Body ended up on my boys slash, everything else but the chassis has made it into/onto other projects.

[fredswain]

That's the route I'm going to go after all. I'll leave the XX alone for now. I may run it or just sell it. I don't know yet. My SCT will be JRX/LXT based though. I'm pretty much going to do it the way you did as it seems pretty straight forward. Traxxas parts are easy to find too which helps. I am going to do the chassis differently though. I'll probably build a custom graphite one. I'd like to use the new Proline Flo-Tek body. I'll do a build thread when it progresses. I am still updating electronics in a couple of cars so money is going towards them first. I'll just start slowly getting parts together for the conversion.

[DerbyDan]

Sounds like an interesting project!

Like you, I've never been a particular fan of the 'truck' format... but at least the SCTs are based on something that is actually a real 1:1 class of racing & it does look fun!

I was scouring the 'bay' the other day & came across this truck converted XX4, but this wasn't some sort of homebrew effort it was a conversion sold by Losi - it was called a 'soda truck' & I guess based on SC trucks too? Soda truck racing didn't take off... I guess because they actually handled well, thus taking away the fun element that the rather clumsy SCTs have now. I wonder if the old XX4 Soda truck would still qualify in the SCT rules??

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/team-losi-xx-xxx-truck-buggy-like-tamiya-kyosho-etc-/290568307863?pt=UK_ToysGames_RadioControlled_JN&hash=item43a7388497

[fredswain]

The SCT races are probably my favorite to just watch when at the track. Those things are all over the place. It's fun just to watch them lose it mid air off of a jump or in the middle of a corner. You'd swear it was a bunch of NASCAR drivers at the controls with all the wrecks. They take a beating with those big bodies too. It just seems like a fun class to run in. I definitely wouldn't go into it with a serious in it to win it attitude. I'd be in a class dominated by 4WD trucks anyways. My friend Chad is planning to convert an old RC10T over to SCT so at least we can say we have some vintage SCT racing going on.

The one thing I miss seeing at race tracks is ingeniuty. In the late 80's you could go to the track and you'd see all sorts of things. Some bought and some made. Manufacturers and racers alike were trying all sorts of neat things. You don't see that anymore. Heck even most bodies you see anymore are prepainted. I want to go into SCT with a build it and test it yourself type of vehicle. I want mine to be a different beast that may change from week to week. I want people to look at it and wonder what the heck it is. Part of me even wants to build one with a 5 link style rear suspension. Why not?