Hot Rod Frog

[markbt73]

I just picked up this beauty off our local Craigslist site for $30:

It's an original Frog. It has a positively ancient Futaba Attack radio (with the old plugs!), full ball bearings, mechanical speed control, and a vintage Trinity Onyx 14t double motor. Tires are Duratrax, I think, on HPI Super Star wheels. The body is an old Parma '33 Ford, all hacked up to clear those big shoes. The guy I bought it from said it has been sitting in a garage for 20 years. Everything works, diff feels good, only thing missing is the front bumper and mount (someone swapped in a CRP front bumper and then cut it off).

I had originally wanted this to tear up and do some sort of Baja-bug project with, but seeing it now, I kind of want to keep it as it is. Sort of a time capsule. It does need a little work; the steering is pretty wobbly, and the rear shocks stick if you push the back end down. But aside from a little cleaning and tweaking, I think I'll keep it like this. I like the hot rod look.

[commiedoor]

and some people hate the poor oldfrog ! .. i love the look . if you google image '' tamiya frog '' you will heaps on done up frogs ...

[B.M.T.]

That is pretty cool, in my opinion. Very 80's, as you say.

[gozone]

Nice oldschool car.. I agree with you, to keep it as it is.. It has got some patina and history attached to it, and not all old cars need to look pristine, new and shiny.. Old "wrecks" with soul are equally good.

Oh, and the wobbly steering, and rear end staying down when compressed is not due to abuse or "oldness"... That´s just the way a Frog is, lol..

Or, as Lady Gaga would have said: "Baby, I was born this way"...

Cheers..

Michael

[HunterZero]

If the steering is wobbly, then the pressed aluminium parts in the front suspension are probably shot. The screw holes wear and elongate, especially around the radius arms if they were overtightened.

Although this particular example is missing the radius arms altogether!

- James

[markbt73]

If the steering is wobbly, then the pressed aluminium parts in the front suspension are probably shot. The screw holes wear and elongate, especially around the radius arms if they were overtightened.

Although this particular example is missing the radius arms altogether!

- James

The radius arms are back on it now. The previous owner took them off to attach the front body posts, but luckily he included them. With them back in place, the suspension parts are pretty tight. Most of the wobble is from the holes in the servo saver being all stretched out and the wheel bearings not fitting tightly in the wheels. I might look for some smaller wheels that don't put so much stress on the system.

[markbt73]

Took this thing for a quick test drive this afternoon. Oh right; I forgot... I hate mechanical speed controls...

[WelshHornet]

Took this thing for a quick test drive this afternoon. Oh right; I forgot... I hate mechanical speed controls...

there's a certain knack to them that once you go to ESC you forget! Thats quite a nice shell, are you going to keep it on there?

[markbt73]

there's a certain knack to them that once you go to ESC you forget! Thats quite a nice shell, are you going to keep it on there?

I'm keeping it, but it needs some help. The edges are trimmed really raggedly and the paint is flaking off.

[markbt73]

Okay. Remember when I was going to keep it how it was? Yeah, forget I said that...

I raided my parts bin for a few things to turn it into sort of a phantom Blackfoot. Homemade G-10 front shock tower, Holiday Buggy friction shocks (for now), modified Blitzer front uprights, Blitzer wheels with Duratrax tires, and a battered F-150 body (for now). Electronics are all waterproof: Traxxas 2075 servo, LRP ESC, and a Spektrum receiver in a balloon. I think I'll get a lot more use out of it this way.

[markbt73]

Took it for a test run tonight. It's an absolute hoot to drive, very fast with a 540 (because it's overgeared) and more stable than I remember my Blackfoot being. Turns on a dime, and very hard to flip over. It actually reminded me of the old "truck conversions" for buggies from the late 80s - early 90s. It still needs a little work; it has an almost comical amount of bump-steer, and the motor was scorching-hot after one run on a 3000 pack (about 20 minutes). Granted, that was in tall grass, and I'm building this for a beach runner, so maybe it'll be all right on the sand.

I seem to recall the standard Blackfoot/Monster Beetle having pretty bad bump-steer as well; can anyone confirm this?

[Saito]

To me, the Blackfoot IS the first truck conversion all in one box. The motor is likely hot because it is way overgeared. The Blackfoot uses a one piece countergear in combination with a 10 tooth extra long brass pinion with an adapter. Yes, the bumpsteer in the 'Foot and 'Beetle is wild. Your conversion might be a bit more stable due to the shorter tires and lighter leaxn body. I love ORV-based trucks. They may not be totally bulletproof but they're a hoot to drive.