Associated RC300 1/8 scale project No. 2 - custom build

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A couple of special parts will be used for this or another RC300 project.
B&B SP115 machined steering blocks for ball bearings

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Ball bearings mounted to the steering blocks.
Photo showing basic steering block and ball bearing version compared.

Now building the complete front end.

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Steering block completed with steering arm.
Building now the left hand one.

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Some rework needed for building the front end. Same thing as experienced at the kit front end already.
King pins have a too tight fitting and need a slight reaming of the holes at the steering arms. But not too much, as the holes should be slightly tighter as with the kit version. So the ball bearings could show their advantage.

Finally I found adjusting the king pins could make a big difference. In the beginning the steering blocks did not move that free as expected. Not any better than the kit version.
But adjusting the king pins that way, the small #858 clips don´t touch the arms did the trick.

With the front end completely assembled you can´t see the ball bearings any longer. But you can feel they move much more free.

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Building the steering setup will be next task.
I will go with the machined servo saver for ball bearings. Also aluminium tie rods replacing the heavy steel rods.
All the special parts used so far were made by B&B back in the days. But very hard to find now.

[morrisey0]

Those bearing'd steering blocks are incredible!!

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Yes, and work very well.
I just was not aware those existed, before I found them.
But there were actually quite a number of special parts for the RC300.

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Next step is building the servo saver.
Again I found another B&B special part, which will be used for building the 'RC300 custom build'. This will be the project name for this car from now on.
This SP116 was machined for accepting ball bearings, and replacing the kit servo saver.

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Build starts with deburring the plastic parts, as usual for all of my builds. Also cleaned for a nice look and getting rid of production debris.

Building the servo saver actually is not really diffult, beside one certain step.
This is mounting the servo saver spring.
Actually it is nicely shown at the instruction photos, but you have to hit exactly the same conditions as shown. Otherwise it is a pain ...
It took me quite some time to get that job done. So my advise is watch the instructions and photo carefully ... and never try to use any other pliers than shown.
Because it won´t work.

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Finally mounting the ball bearings and the steel sleeve.
Both are a tight fit and need some carefully work to get in.
For tasks like this I always use a special machine vise which works in a parallel way.
So the bearings go in nice and straight.
Same for the steel sleeve. But this one needs some really careful fiddling and patience.
Because that´s another tight fit and the sleeve didn´t want to go into the bearings as easy as it does with the kit servo saver plastics (no bearings).

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The machine vise I mentioned above. Built from aluminium with a quite smooth surface.
Usually you don´t have to fear parts might get scratches at the surface when using this. But for very sensitive parts I add a thin cardboard between part and vise.
Don´t ask me for the brand, I bought it many years ago and have served me really well for my builds. But also is a 'always there'' for the toolbox when going to the race track.

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B&B ball bearing servosaver built and completed

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I like to build complete structural components, assemblies or whatever you prefere to call them.
Later they will meet the main chassis.

After building the front end halves and the servo saver, next step will be the front body mount assembly.
For most 1970 to 1980 1/8 scale pan cars the front body posts are bolted directly to the chassis or bumper.
But Associated decided to use a support plate for the RC300, which wears the body posts. Something you still could find at certain cars nowadays.

I start with the original plate, still in bag. I decided to show this plate for a reason.
The photo shows two locations for the body posts. But for telling the truth you hardly can find pics for cars using the outer position.
Also I don´t like the shape of this plate so will go a different route.

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The original support plate was punched out of a plastic sheet. What results in a quite rough outline. Same for the bumper and the basic radio plate.
I absolutely don´t want to use parts in this condition so 'some' time is spent smoothing them. Especially as the plastic material is quite tough.

Next step was changing the shape of the plate a bit and removing the outer holes.
Then final smoothing and cleaning of the plate.
This is the final look now.

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For the body posts I won´t go with the original plastic ones.
As the whole car will be a customized version, I will use some rare aluminium body posts made by MCV.
This company might be unknown to most guys today.
Cleaning them now then building the assembly.