My 1987 Clodbuster restoration

[Zac_F71]

I traded a SCX10 crawler for an early release 1987 Clod, has bowtie grill, Chevy tail gate, and "Chevrolet" script on the rear box decal. I wasn't sure what I was going to do with it to be honest - I had gotten a Zilla3 with it as well that is full of vintage parts that is currently for sale as a roller

Anyway back to this - I traded a clod roller+ a tube chassis for an original box, bought original box inserts/couple random original parts, a Trinity Monster HP reverse rot. motor, original wheels from another truck I bought local, bought original decals/bearing from same local guy, the truck had clean original tires, working original Futaba radio/ S148 servo's/MSC..About all it's missing is 4 correct -M3x12mm screws for the battery cover (bolt on one) - the snap in battery cover is unbroken as well!

The plan - Complete tear down, clean EVERYTHING, and reassemble per instructions to bone stock with the exception of a couple vintage/modern upgrades - it will look just like box art for the most part

$300 Zilla3 robbed -Tekin Titan ESC/ Trinity Midnight motors - sold truck for $225
$100 JRx2 buggy local robbed - Novak 410M5 ESC/ Trinity Monster Horsepower motor - still have it for sale

Stock axles with bearings/RRP pinions
1987 Trinity monster HP matched motors
Trinity Midnight 27t motors (not sure which to go with yet)
Tekin Titan ESC
Novak 410M5 ESC (not sure which to go with yet)
TowerPro 996R steering servo
Stock steering
Display worthy box art body with repro decals - it won't look exact but close as I don't want to cut up the original decals
Spot glued tires w/ Walthers Goo so they can be removed for cleaning clean
Futaba AM75mHz Magnum radio (original to the truck)

Costs -
$300 for the truck (was a trade and was just a declared value in the trade)
$free original white wheels from another truck I bought from same guy I got the original decals from
$150 for the box
$80 original decals/bearing set
$88.66 for the box inserts, NOS motors/MSC/resistor/power switch/Red rod end (8 or so)
$40.45 for 2 2S lipo batteries that will fit in the stock location (I hope - compact Hobbyking Zippy batteries - and an alarm)
$70 for a mint roll bar/rear shock tower brace/Trinity Monster horsepower reverse motor
$6.77 TowerPro 996R servo
$85.96 Omnimodels order- new tamiya body, windshield, J parts, new clear antenna pipe, gears, RPM blower, deans connector, and 2 cans of TS-18 Tamiya Red paint
$7.50 Robinson Racing 13t pinions
$13 for repro decals
$35 Tekin Titan ESC (no clue on value really)
$50 Novak 410M5 ESC (no clue on value really)
$35 Trinity Midnight matched 27t motors (no clue on value really)
$50 Trinity Monster Horsepower motor (no clue on value really)
$free Vintage Deans 4 pin connector that I'll use to wire the motors

$42.48 CPE order - steering links, lower chassis plate, 4 M3x20mm screws, and both battery bars

Parts I'm looking for -
8 CVA or similar oil shocks (Must be VINTAGE - Kyosho, Tamiya, ESP, CRP)

PICS!

[Zac_F71]

Parts are ordered! Going to be like Xmas early with all the stuff I'm waiting for!

Body
Tamiya TS18 paint
Glass
Bumpers
Roll bar w/ lights
RPM chrome blower
Batteries (2 2S lipo)
Deans ESC/Battery connectors
Lipo alarm
Original box inserts (motor/MSC/ body)
NOS motors
NOS MSC
NOS MSC resistor
NOS power switch
NOS Red rods ends
TowerPro 996R steering servo
CPE aluminum steering links
Tamiya gear sets
Tamiya clear 15" long antenna pipe (just like the original)
Tamiya rear shock tower brace
Tamiya lower chassis plate
Tamiya battery box inner braces
Clean Trinity Monster Horsepower reverse rotation motor

It's a lot now that I list it hahahhahaa yikes!

[Zac_F71]

I do plan to run it- after a post on the Tamiya Clodbuster owners society group on Facebook I have decided to go with the Tekin Titan ESC, and Monster HP motors.. so I'm going to buy new brushes/springs for them as well as look for a new stock roll bar as the one I got is broken and scratched...

Doing a trade for my original decals however, for the correct "chevrolet" script decal sheet! SUPER happy about this!

I made a little progress on it-

Got the axles torn down, found rubber sealed ball bearings in the inner axle tubes LOL so someone has been inside it..

found out my grinding sound/feeling inside the gear boxes - I was expecting obliterated gears.. nope gears are fine, just needs pinions LOL they've had some use



More parts!!!!! (not pictured is the other Trinity reverse rotation Monster HP motor (which is basically brand new), and the roll bar that I won't be using in the resto..)

[Zac_F71]

Well got a TON of work done.. after stripping down the original chassis, I found it to be non stock modified, so I got out my spare stock chassis and started with that.. using the repro decals as well

Got the chassis assembled, soaked and/or washed everything in water/dawn dish soap including the new chassis. decided enough waiting LOL I started in on the axles after cleaning them all up.

I'm sadly still waiting on the servo.. and it's at the point where I need to spend a night with the soldering iron doing up a new wire harness for the motors/ESC/Battery..

Pics should do the talking but it's at a mock up roller stage and looks killer! Since the servo won't be here til Thursday or so sadly, I will probably pull the CPE steering links back off, and paint the rod ends Red..

BTW - the last pic is to show the RPM blower hat.. looks VERY nice on the body, much more detail than the original!

[Zac_F71]

Well got the body done up! mostly - clear is still drying -

Stock blower or RPM blower - went with RPM


2 of 4 coats of PS-18 Red




Detailed, and cleared!




3 hours of cutting decals, and detailing the grill/blower

[uniquenamehere]

Looks awesome! I have a soft spot for these...

[Diamond Dave]

Yup, Clods are great.

[Wahrsuul]

Nice looking truck, where did you get the "blower" from? I recently picked up a mostly stock Clod, I wasn't sure what to do with it, hut I'm feeling like a stock restoration like yours might be the ting. I already have my original modded Clod, so an all stock one would be a nice addition. Does anyone know where I can get some OEM wheels?

[jwscab]

new wheels and tires are on ebay all the time. that's your best bet.

HOWEVER, I heard that proline will be selling new wheels soon, both stock AND new offset wheels which is very cool, most guys that are running modified clods are using axle spacers, so wheels with more offset would be pretty badass.
http://www.clodtalk.com/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=30445

HAHHAH, I just realized that the link is YOUR thread on clodtalk. HA, SO I guess you have seen it.

[Zac_F71]

Nice looking truck, where did you get the "blower" from? I recently picked up a mostly stock Clod, I wasn't sure what to do with it, hut I'm feeling like a stock restoration like yours might be the ting. I already have my original modded Clod, so an all stock one would be a nice addition. Does anyone know where I can get some OEM wheels?

original white wheels are hard to find - expect to pay $100 for a nice used set.. I bought a $300 mod clod roller for white wheels, Imex All-t tires, and Speed Gems motors..

The blower is made by RPM..

All most done decided I want a brand new roll bar as the 3 I have are scratched up/broken.. so I'm on the hunt for a bar, and still need to wire electronics in it.. then it's done!

[Wahrsuul]

Pretty much what I figured, just keep checking ebay. I just won a set yesterday, but 3 of them are painted silver. Suits me as I wanted some black ones anyway.

[Zac_F71]

Well got a stock roll bar from RPPhobby coming so hopefully next weekend this thing can be done!

[mikea96]

Looks good! I have always been a fan of the clod but have never owned one.

[Zac_F71]

Post a pic if you can!

[Puffdogg]

Wow,really great resto work. Have to say, i always preferred the stock white rims on the vintage Red Box Art Clod. But the chrome ones give it that bling look....