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My dream RC is a 1966 Lotus 49 F1 car nitro powered but fat chance so I decided to hack together a "stand off scale" car not a replica but something that reminded me of a vintage F1 that I could bash around. Photos are of the Lotus for inspiration, the first step in the process, and the extended chassis. I bolted together two GT chassis for a wheelbase that matched the SC8 (just in case I got cold feet I could always throw an SC8 body on it.) The extra battery tray is in case I need to move weight forward for steering. Step two will be to lower the front tower and shocks. As for the body I have some skills so it will just be a matter of finding time. Wish me luck.

Man, that looks awesome. Keep us posted with details please. I have a GT I converted to brushless that I shelfed a while back and I may want to try something similar. Great idea really.

In fact the donor was my electric oval GT. It simply wasn't competitive without a major investment in motor and battery (read lipo) and I built it more because I like to tinker.

Now that is a project - very cool, keep it going!

I would welcome opinions about this monoshock setup for the front.

A. Perfect.

B. Maybe with some testing.

C. No way.

Extremely high cool factor and very low profile, but it might limit your choices on body style because of how wide it is. If you can do something similar, but somehow bring it in it would be perfect. Of course, after you apply that same concept to a wider front end like you have it might be perfect. It is one of the few set-ups that will allow a body like you want. I'd say it's a great starting point.

looks cool you might want to go with buggy wheels on the front to look more scale?

arf wrote:B. Maybe with some tinkering/modifying.

thats my vote if its gonna be a runner. Just don't like it not selfcentering if its gonna go fast on pavement
Todd

Here is the rear end lowered. Shocks mounted directly to the bulkhead. Stiff springs, 45 weight oil. Engine weight should give me the ride height I want, about 15mm. The final position of the pipe will require some thought depending on whether I end up with a rear or side exhaust engine. I'm mixing parts from the two GTs I started with, decided to use the stock arms and save the aluminum bits for later.

A couple more of these great cars from the mid sixties just before wings.

arf wrote:Here is the rear end lowered. Shocks mounted directly to the bulkhead. Stiff springs, 45 weight oil. Engine weight should give me the ride height I want, about 15mm. The final position of the pipe will require some thought depending on whether I end up with a rear or side exhaust engine. I'm mixing parts from the two GTs I started with, decided to use the stock arms and save the aluminum bits for later.

That looks trick as hell and will go a long way in lowering the profile for a scale body. It's always a major bonus when you can find something that moves a project along that far without spending any extra cash.

That front end would need a stabilizer to counter the action between the left and right suspension action affecting one another

I purchased this stock plastic front tower. Soon as it arrives I will cut it down (see pic) and lay down both front shocks.

I think you'd be able to go to short shocks with the holes you have marked, or possibly fabricate a short strut off of that tower to accommodate shorter shocks. That is...if that is something that would appeal to you. Either way it will be a step closer to getting everything toward the ground. Good stuff.

As usual there will be much measuring and chin rubbing before the cut, suspension geometry is tricky and I'm no expert.