Let's Talk Lunchboxes

[mongoose1983]

Sneak peek at my newest eBay score. A set of Imex Jumbo Dawgs. I've wanted these since forever. Finally. But what's up with the way the tread meets in the middle?

What a fantastic find! I'd love combine a pair of those puppies with a Hornet gearbox + six Parma Hemi engines to build a scale 9200lbs mod tractor.

[emory70]

I keep an Imex search on ebay going. I've seen a couple other sets of these. I really wanted to put them on my Wild Willy 2, but the fronts hit the rears at 1/2 turn

[emory70]

They are almost as big as Clod Tires. It would be easy to run aftermarket Clod rims and tires, although not very cheap.

Look around Crawford Performance Engineering and RC4WD

[mongoose1983]

They are almost as big as Clod Tires. It would be easy to run aftermarket Clod rims and tires, although not very cheap.

Look around Crawford Performance Engineering and RC4WD

I believe the Dawgs are wider than the stock Clod Buster's tires. For some time I thought they copied the Kyosho USA-1's.

[emory70]

They are not quite as tall as a Clod tire, but I believe the width is comparable. I'll get a comparison pic here in the next couple days

[mongoose1983]

They are not quite as tall as a Clod tire, but I believe the width is comparable. I'll get a comparison pic here in the next couple days

That would be nice. Thanks!

[emory70]

OK. Here are comparison shots of the Clodbuster (on the left in each pic) and Imex Jumbo Dawg (on the right in each pic)

[mongoose1983]

Thank you so much Emory70. Not until now I've had the chance to find a side-by-side comparison. I like the tires and, as I said, I'm in hopes to find some and use them for some custom vehicle someday (that of course, hopefully not as in the old Alan Jackson song, haha)

[emory70]

There's a pair of tires on ebay now. The rims come up every now and then

[mongoose1983]

There's a pair of tires on ebay now. The rims come up every now and then

Believe me I've seen them already, but I'm penniless and I still have projects to finish here.

[shenlonco]

darn those must be wide as heck!

steam rollers!!

looks like the big bear tires profile and how they looked.

[emory70]

Since I have them, I'll use them. But I do have a set of RC4WD Clod size Mud Slingers on CPE 3d printed beadlocks. They have very little backspace and fit 12mm hubs. I'm gonna throw them at the Lunchbox just for grits and shins.

[emory70]

So just the other day I was on ebay and I see that GPM is starting to make all new Lunchbox parts. I'm kinda digging the metal front suspension arms. And the seller "sicnme" is making his own version of the discontinued G Made rear shock mount/wheelie bar support.

[mongoose1983]

[...] I'm gonna throw them at the Lunchbox just for grits and shins.

You might want to have a look at this. It's in the page 21 of the August, 1991 issue of RCCA

[emory70]

Yup. There you go!

[whahooo]

I've a question:

What wheels do you use on the wheelie bar?

I'm talking about the plastic wheelie bar wheel that makes that annoying scratching noise when you hit full throttle.

My hobbyshop doesn't have a matching (plane) wheel, because they are to thick and I don't want to mount 2 tiny wheels to the wheeliebar because I don't like the looks of it.

[emory70]

If you're open to an "upgrade" part, GPM makes a pretty one with what appears to be a treaded rubber tire. But it ain't cheap

[TheMidnight Pumpkin]

I have a Pumpkin/Box suspension mod to share that isn't on this forum yet. For those who retain their stock shocks. But are seeking better handling than stock.

Starting with the rear shocks, measure and record the top of the shock body, and cut it off flush on the top side of the spring retainer on the shock body's. Then use that measurement to mark the top of the front shocks, and cut off the tops of the front shocks to match the rears.
Next you want to assemble the shocks with 2 other minor changes.

1. Put a servo grommet on top of the shock shaft so that its located against the hex head on the shock shaft. It serves to act as a bump stop for the shock shaft during rebound. It will be pressed between the shock shaft head, and the frame when the shock is not compressed.
2. Remove the stock black rubber tubes from the shock shaft. They are used to limit the shocks travel. In their place put a regular rubber o-ring grommet on the shaft. This acts as a bump stop for the shock during full compression.

These changes only lower the Pumpkin/Box by around 1/4" or 5mm which does help the CG a tiny bit. But more importantly they change the front suspension arm angle by making them parallel to the ground when not compressed. By doing this you are gaining better camber angles during operation and making better use of the bump steer during suspension compression.

I also run the "pen springs" in the rear to help control the axle hop. (As opposed to the third shock option.) But I add plates over the cavity to hold the springs in. Instead of using a center shaft to hold them in.

[Buggyjam]

On 07/09/2015 at 8:40 AM, emory70 said:

OK. Here are comparison shots of the Clodbuster (on the left in each pic) and Imex Jumbo Dawg (on the right in each pic)

Those tyres are sick fat! What rims are they? 2.2? I love big truck tyres. Maybe an idea for my second clod. 

[mongoose1983]

On 23/6/2017 at 10:33 AM, Buggyjam said:

Those tyres are sick fat! What rims are they? 2.2? I love big truck tyres. Maybe an idea for my second clod. 

Yes, they're 2.2 but you have no wheel options as the only ones that fit these tires are the ones that were specifically made for them by IMEX. They fit directly the Tamiya 2wd buggies and truggies until 1986. You can not run these tires/wheels on a Clod Buster

Have a look at this sucker that went for $50 just last week on eBay. Unfortunately, postage costs are outrageous nowadays http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Tamiya-Super-Beetle-/122556225894?hash=item1c88eb9966%3Ag%3AQ~cAAOSw1~JZSF4u&nma=true&si=5qvXfpk0ncmxxawI2OTNLCKiu4k%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557  The wheels used by the seller are not the original ones. So the tires were stretched, using some alien, odd size wheels. No tire stand stretching too long so I presume they were shot, or in the process.

Keep an eye on eBay. But these rarely pop up for cheap.

[Madcaper]

I got an offer for a NIB Lunchbox and a Tamiya Sport tuned 540 engine.

What do you think about this combo?

[mongoose1983]

7 hours ago, Madcaper said:

I got an offer for a NIB Lunchbox and a Tamiya Sport tuned 540 engine.

What do you think about this combo?

That's a good combination. Just don't spend much money because although the Lunchbox Van is one of the nicest runners you can ever come across, these vehicles are not difficult to find. Good luck with the Lunchbox!

[TheMidnight Pumpkin]

I realize the above posts are old. But here's a set of Jumbo Dawgs on ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Tamiya-Blackfoot-Imex-Jumbo-Dawg-Truck-Tires-/263114247199?hash=item3d42d4cc1f:g:SbkAAOSwbiFZXVEF

[mongoose1983]

4 minutes ago, TheMidnight Pumpkin said:

I realize the above posts are old. But here's a set of Jumbo Dawgs on ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Tamiya-Blackfoot-Imex-Jumbo-Dawg-Truck-Tires-/263114247199?hash=item3d42d4cc1f:g:SbkAAOSwbiFZXVEF

It's not easy to find a set of wheels to use those.

[TheMidnight Pumpkin]

1 hour ago, mongoose1983 said:

It's not easy to find a set of wheels to use those.

There's others on ebay that include wheels. Also Imex still has some wheels on their website. But me, I would likely use HPI universal wheels for these. Well if I had a need for them...