Celica grb refurb (but quickly becoming a build...)

[Wooders28]

Not sure if you've seen my post with regards to the back story, so

I had message of a mate down south, asking if I was still doing the RC cars, and that his neighbour had some I can have, if I was going to use them. His son had passed away in the late 90's, and with his ageing years wanted them to goto someone who will enjoy them like his son used to. 

Replied that i was that very guy, and asked for him to send me a photo, expecting an old Hornet in bits, or Tandy special etc, but...

 

 

🤯, to say I was a bit shocked....

So, to start with, all need work. Not sure if one broke, and got shelved while another got lifted to use (think most of us are guilty of that...🙄).

So I've started with the Celica, mainly as that's one of the only ones to made it back up the road with me, as space was at a premium.

 

 

On the outset, 'just' looked to be wishbones, and a driveshaft so set about sourcing some.

After finding the only realistic options on eBay required the sale of my internal organs,  I joined a Facebook group for the Celica/959 chassis, and given the heads up MCI make 3D printed wishbones, at a palatable price.

 So they've arrived, and are white (really wanted black but...🤷‍♂️) and seem fairly substantial. 

Started the strip down, 

Everything is honest (?) just grubby , or enjoyed is probably a.better term.

On trying to remove the ball stud, the plastic just crumbled in my fingers, not ideal, but I would rather it happen at this stage tbh, although, with hindsight I should have stripped it first, then ordered parts from MCI , as now I'm needing to do another order 🙄🤣

 

Kind of hoping I'll have some lower shock mounts that'll fit, although toying with the idea of just fitting some new shocks, as surely something new would fit? 

 

Every single screw was a fighter as its looking like he loved a bit of thread lock, (and every E-ring rotten, but £3 for a selection box of 100 i cant moan), but with larger screw drivers coming into play (and no, I've STILL not ordered a set of JIS..) and for one I gave it a little heat with a lighter to break the loctite.

 

Front gearbox doesn't look too bad, gears look okay, as he's not been shy with the ceramic grease 👍

 

But bearings are definitely a must (yeah the bevel gear will add support, but)

 

And the rears ..

 

Guess there's one good thing about plastic bushes, they wear first! 

 

 

I wasn't sure what to expect with the pinion, I've had some cars arrive and I'm really not sure how the thing ran, then the joys of tamiya worn pinion grinding paste running around the plastic gears to clean, but, not overly bad, still sharp teeth and wear ,and a 16T too, which means it's the larger of the spurs fitted?

 

 

These cars share a similar center diff to the Avante, which is handy as I bought a set of Schumacher Tungsten Carbide for that build, and there's 12 in a pack, and these take 6 each 😁. Even better, there's very little wear on the plates (not sure if the spring plates are worn, so order some more, same part # as the Avante), and zero wear on the plates if I flip them 💪

 

The other part I need, is a driveshaft.

These are looking to be 39mm long 

And looking through parts, the Tamiya #50883 , for the WR-02 etc will fit the bill? (Has anyone got these that can confirm?) 

10m wide dog -

 

 

By 5mm.

 

Sorry if anyone reading this is going to get an eye twich with my lack of original parts, I'm going 1060, 2s lipo , Sanwa compatible antennaless reciever and a Corerc 9016MG servo, but keeping the technigold (if it works right enough, if not I've a 15t firebolt/corerc kicking about somewhere)

This will be a runner, and will get used on a track in the 'have a go' sessions, will get enjoyed, with donations to the charity 'MIND' in his memory.

 

 

 

 

[Grumpy pants]

Great seeing this about to be reassembled to be used 👍

[Wooders28]

Drive shafts and centre diff springs arrived....

 

 

Although, it looks like their driveshafts are measured from dogbone to dogbone...

Probably doesn't matter anyway tbh, as they're too big to fit in the drive cup anyway...🤦‍♂️

 

 

The search continues! 

 

 

[MadAnt]

2 hours ago, Wooders28 said:

Although, it looks like their driveshafts are measured from dogbone to dogbone...

Probably doesn't matter anyway tbh, as they're too big to fit in the drive cup anyway...🤦‍♂️

Correct measurement is from pin center to pin center. The ball size is going to be tough to match, but the size can be reduced if you can get the pin out and file/machine it down.

[Wooders28]

Got a bit done, not a great deal but progress is progress...

All the parts cleaned, wheels came up quite nice! 

 

 

As have all the gearbox parts, although, didn't get a chance to pull the shafts, as they're putting up a bit of a fight, and didn't have long to use the washer...

Once the shafts are out (had to make a small puller for the Mauri Ninja build), I can clean what's left by hand.

 

 

More 3D printed parts have just landed from MCI -

 

 

So, once the kids are back in school in a few weeks, and I'm back to 8hr shifts not having to cover holidays, I'm hoping I can crack on!! 🙄🤣

[Grumpy pants]

Coming along nicely 👏

[MadAnt]

Nice! Just be very careful when reassembling, because good looking parts can still break.

[Juhunio]

Hey @Wooders28, do you know the part number for the drive shafts? I check a few things on the Japanese auction / shopping sites a couple of times a week so I could keep my eyes open if you like? Let me know 👍

[Wooders28]

40 minutes ago, Juhunio said:

Hey @Wooders28, do you know the part number for the drive shafts? I check a few things on the Japanese auction / shopping sites a couple of times a week so I could keep my eyes open if you like? Let me know 👍

Aww wow, thanks!! 

Yeah, I believe its - 4135018 

 

This is from the manual I downloaded - 

 

 

And confirmed on Tamiyabase-

https://tamiyabase.com/parts/2387-14135018 

 

As long as they're cheap enough! 🫣

[Juhunio]

12 hours ago, Wooders28 said:

Aww wow, thanks!! 

Yeah, I believe its - 4135018

No worries, I'll set up a saved search and check in periodically. If anything pops up I'll let you know 👍

[Wooders28]

Bit more progress, with the slipper/centre diff now all cleaned and upgrade balls.

Didn't get any thrust bearings in the bearing kit.., but a clean out with a bit of brake cleaner, and a regrease with moly grease, and feels fine.

 

 

I have a new component I dislike, step aside E rings, there's little C rings to take your crown! 😳🤣

 

Glad I could get a copy of a manual, to make sure I got the washers and bearings back in the right place, seems to be quite a few.

 

Bit of a fight to get te hub off, but defo needed changed..

 

 

Shame they only had white in stock, 🫣. Had to sand some height off to get the E rings on, and looking like I'm going to need to slot by the shock mounts for the roll bar (these are for the 959, and looking different to the Celica?), but the 3D printed parts look sturdy enough, time will tell I guess.

 

 

 

[Grumpy pants]

From memory the roll bars were specific to the Celica.

Coming on well 👏

[Nikko85]

Just from looking the ball connectors on the steering knuckles look like they could be weak points.

Could you replace them with a brass ball screwed into the print? Perhaps an option if they break, I might be wrong or MCI using very good plastics!

Looks great to me

 

[Grumpy pants]

@Wooders28 eBay 👍

[Torhaantje]

Maybe a bit (too) late, but rcchannel makes very high quality upgrades for vintage Tamiya's:

https://www.rcchannel.com.tw/index.php?cPath=60&osCsid=brnu7j688qp4cda8913hv8bld2

Good luck on your restoration!

Best regards, 

Rick 

[Wooders28]

2 hours ago, Grumpy pants said:

@Wooders28 eBay 👍

 

Thanks for the heads up!

Don't seem to come up that often, but these where on too, so gives me a spare. 😁

 

 

[Wooders28]

Driveshafts have arrived!! 

 

 

Just a new steel pinion to arrive (and a single 620 bearing, think I've lost one somewhere...🤦‍♂️), and that 'should' be everything to get running....🤞