Project Power Shot

[Power Surge]

I think I am done rebuilding the ole Thunder Shot for a while, so it's time to post some pics!!

Specs on car... original Thunder Shot I've had for about 15-20 years. Bought several used parts cars to make sure I had the best parts and plenty of spares.

I call the new version, Project Power Shot!

Starting at the front end, we've got a home made A5 metal support brace, Terra Scorcher upper arm kit with adjustable EZ turnbuckles (you use a pinion gear allen wrench to turn them), EZ turnbuckles on the steering arms, Tamiya Hop Up Universal shaft upgrade, stock front sway bar, and GMP alloy shocks mounted to the Terra Scorcher shock tower, and with a home made tower brace.

Moving towards the rear, we've got a Futaba steering servo and Futaba receiver. Power plant is the EZrun 9t setup with programmable ESC. Battery pack is 3000 mah NiMi Venom, with Power Poles connectors. At the back end, it's the stock upper arms and driveshafts for now; I plan to upgrade to adjustable uppers and Ujoint shafts soon. GMP shocks in the rear as well. The Hop Up Terra Scorcher rear sway bar was too stiff, so I made a new bar from the thinner front sway bar and just reshaped it.

Entire car is ball bearing, from the wheels to the gearboxes to the driveshaft. All bushings and thrust washers have been replaced with bearings. The GMP shock springs were too stiff, so I am running the stock yellow shock springs in the rear, and cut yellow shock springs in the front. This gave me what I think is the proper tension. When I drop the car from about 10 inches up, it compresses once and rises back up, with no bounce. The car also sags slightly at rest, which I also believe is correct.

Here are some pics!

Overall view...

Front chassis view...

Rear chassis view...

Wheels are stock T-shot, painted white with Krylon Fusion plastic paint...

Front end shot...

Another...

Rear end shot...

Business end shot...

If you're wondering what the tall body mounts and crazy bent antenna are for, it's this...

I haven't found a buggy body I like on the T-shot chassis yet, so I decided to go full body, and went with a Colin McRae WRC Focus body (minus the sponsor decals)....

I fit it to the chassis best I could, and it has to sit high up because that's how much suspension travel there is!

Rear body shot...

I custom bent the black antenna so that it exits out the roof and back, just like a stock Focus does...

The entire car with full body and Ni-Mi 6 cell pack weighs 1723 grams. The car without the body weighs 1632 grams.

I think that's it for now. Time to drive it!

As always comments and suggestions are welcome!!

[Power Surge]

Hum... all righty then.

[Mad Ax]

Looks like a good project, how does it drive? I tried to fit a truck shell over a Fire Dragon but didn't like the way it looked much. I think yours might look better with some alternative wheels - HPI make some 2.2 touring car rims and you can fit DF03 tyres over them.

A little bit of suspension sag at rest is a good thing on smoother off-road tracks and tarmac, it keeps the wheels in contact with the ground at all times. You only want full-height at rest if you're on a very bumpy track and the softer springs keep bottoming out. I too have problems finding springs soft enough!

[SKIPP]

i think it looks awsome. what kind of body is that? like to do a df03

something like that.

skip

[Gruntfuggly]

Nice work - I wasn't expecting the bodyshell, but I think it works well...

I like the A5 fix aswell - very neat.

[Power Surge]

Thanks guys. It drives pretty good so far, but the front shock springs are definitely too stiff. Going to order the DF02 spring kit and try the softer springs.

I've considered changing wheels, but I don't want to go larger in overall tire diameter, so still looking around for ideas.

Sure would like to get some feedback from some of a racers here like Mark, Terry, 94!, Hunterzero, cubsfan, and others to see how they think it compares to a modern hopped up 4wd. I was pretty impressed with the weight of the car, and it's actually very well balanced front to back.

[mymonsterbeetleisbroken]

Dang, this has made me want to fix my thundershot now!

It looks perfect. Its a modern touring car killer

Big fan of the mk 1 Focus too

[nakedsv]

Looks like you need slicks on that baby. Those poor Tamiya spikes never lasted long on pavement.

I have to say, that Focus body looks GREAT, but it is out of place on a 4WD offroad buggy, IMO.