12 replies to this topic

[markbt73]

I traded a scaler chassis I hadn't touched in a year for a pair of Blackfoots. They arrived today, in about the condition I expected:



Both bodies are essentially toast, cracked and hot-glued back together. But they'll work fine for running. Both chassis are basically OK, both have full bearings and JG aftermarket shock towers/body mounts and either Kyosho or Duratrax gold shocks (not sure which yet). One has the yellow CRP front uprights and nice gold Monster Beetle wheels with Pro-Line Masher tires. Both have 540s and mechanical speed controls and basic Futaba radio gear. One has a diff that crackles but still works, and the other is completely shot. But I have some diff gears lying around.

They also came with most of the stock parts, friction shocks and stock body mounts.

Chassis shots of the better one:





I took this one for a run just to see how it did. Total time machine, right back to 1987. Rear end squats down under acceleration, front wheels flop and wobble all over, and the diff snaps and crackles going from reverse to forward. But oh so much fun.

Posing with "Ol' Blue," my restored 'Foot:



My plan, I think, is to swipe the parts I need to return my blue one to a nice clean shelfer, turn one of the new ones into a knock-around fun basher, and make the other one into a really nice "old-is-new" style Monster Beetle, with the period hopups already in place, upgraded gears and axles (maybe a Thorp if I can find/afford one) and modern running gear. These ought to keep me busy for a while.

[markbt73]

25 years later, and there's still nothing better to hoon around the yard with than a Blackfoot:



Whoops... well, that's its other natural pose...



OK. Time to tear these suckers down and clean 'em up.

[B.M.T.]

I agree. I love my old Blackfoot.

[billg4]

gotta love them
if you need a tailgate pm me, have had a new one sitting in a bin for some time now

your shocks look like duratrax leakers from late 80's early 90's

[tamiya monkey]

Good to see these trucks still being used as runners, mine will be when i manage to find a front body mount.

[LylesTV]

Very cool trucks ! I have 3 at the moment, an original 80s built one with fogged paint and moinster beetle rims, one box art scruffy one for using and a third real nice one that I'm in the middle of restoring to shelf queen before selling.
I had a couple of them as a kid and they are still great fun!

[markbt73]

Did a little work on what I'm calling #1... returned it to more or less stock configuration, and installed an LRP ESC. I took the gearbox apart, cleaned it, and ran a 2mm threaded rod through the diff to bolt it together, but it still sounds like Rice Krispies. The gears must be just too far gone. I'll have to order up some re-re Frog gears. In the meantime, I may experiment with a locked rear end; my original Brat did pretty well that way.

I also de-stickered this body, mainly to get rid of the duct tape and hot glue reside. Besides, I like it all black. Don't know what the original owner was thinking with the yellow window trim, though:



Wild Dagger rear tires are for traction on the grass, but they probably aren't doing the diff any favors. But even with the failing diff, this truck is now officially my favorite runner. I'll be nicer to the other one and restore it all pretty, but this one is getting run, just how it is.

[Andyrt200]

Did a little work on what I'm calling #1... returned it to more or less stock configuration, and installed an LRP ESC. I took the gearbox apart, cleaned it, and ran a 2mm threaded rod through the diff to bolt it together, but it still sounds like Rice Krispies. The gears must be just too far gone. I'll have to order up some re-re Frog gears. In the meantime, I may experiment with a locked rear end; my original Brat did pretty well that way.

Wild Dagger rear tires are for traction on the grass, but they probably aren't doing the diff any favors. But even with the failing diff, this truck is now officially my favorite runner. I'll be nicer to the other one and restore it all pretty, but this one is getting run, just how it is.

Looks like great fun, must get mine out again!

I found those rear tyres worked much better on grass too. But now the original tyres are available again (from the re-re Bruiser) I wonder how it would run with those on, I think I read they were a softer compound also. All the original Blackfoot tyres are so old now they’ve gone hard, would be interesting to hear if the new ones worked any better or if it’s the spikes on the Wild Dagger tyres that make the difference.

I’d love to hear how you get on with a locked diff too, I was thinking of doing that.

[markbt73]

I actually found another set of side diff gears in my stash, so the diff is how it's supposed to be now. I'm going to make a spool (no diff) from the worn-out parts & I'll report on how well it goes (or doesn't).

The tires I have are all indeed rock-hard. I remember reading something about soaking them in peanut butter to soften them; I might try that.

[bromvw]

The Peanut butter works . It may have being done before but i gave that tip last year . Its a old valeters trick to bring rubber back to life

[billg4]

simple green and or wd40 can work too

[Cooltoys]

Nice you found another two of them...
The blackfoots are fun... I have quite a few of them around too... I can never stop buying them.. lol..
Stacked ones..

[markbt73]

Nice stack... looks out of order, though. The one on the bottom looks to be in the best shape.

I think 3 is plenty for me, but it is nice to have more than one so I can run one without worry.