I recently found a lightly used, bare-bones M03 chassis for a few dollars, so without knowing much about it, or without any specific plans, I bought it. I was told it was from a Mini Cooper kit.
A couple of weeks later, I was at the local hobby shop and decided to buy a HPI Datsun 510 body and matching wheel set to fit my M-chassis. Soon after, I realized the 1:1 Datsun 510 was RWD (the M03 is FWD), and the M03 had a 210mm wheel base while my new body is a 225.
Fortunately, after some fiddling around and a little reading, I found the M03 wheel base was easily adjustable, and I also found several how-to's on changing it to RWD.
But as I proceeded with my RWD modification, I found that it was even easier than I had imagined, almost as though Tamiya had designed it this way. Where others had Dremeled the sides out of their chassis to make openings for steering rods, I found it possible to do the modification without any cutting at all. The only downside of mounting the servo this way is that it does result in some bump-steer, but that doesn't matter too much to me as I don't race (I don't even run them as much as I should).
I thought I would share this option in case others find themselves in the same dilema and want a super easy solution.
Through the process I have really grown to love the M03 design and hope to find more of them to use in future projects!
It's funny you should say it was almost as if Tamiya had designed the car to accept a servo in the rear section, because they did. When the M-03 was being designed, mechanical speed controls were still around, especially for entry level models. The M-03 was designed so aservo would fit in the back and operate the MSC which sat on top of the chassis. The really hot capacitor part connected outside the chassis, on the left, just forward of that weird triangular bump. This also explains the odd 'basket' fitted to the side of the M-04 models. I've only ever seen this once, but never in any Tamiya manual or documentation. I have an album with the photos located...http://s174.photobucket.com/albums/w103/monkeyracing/M03%20mechanical%20speed%20control/
Very cool and very well written and shown
If you get chronic bump steer, you could fit the really long ball joints from the FF02 to the steering arms to level the tie rods out.
excellent conversion! A very helpful how to guide. It's a shame Tamiya don't sell a pack of the most commonly used conversion parts for their cars.
Thanks guys! Skottoman - coincidentally, it was your collection of fine mini's that inspired me to start this build. I'll be very pleased if mine turns out half as nice as one of yours!
This has got to be the best 'How to' showroom entry ever. You got so much information into a showroom entry! Usually people post threads in forums of how to do this kind of stuff. Your are very clever! Really nice job on the modification, and the tutorial...
fantastic how to! i think i just might try this mod!
Great job. You will have to let us know how it drives.