Cheap rust-bucket Clod Buster

[markbt73]

Just picked up this old Clod off Craigslist:

It looks better in the photo than it is... it sat in a garage for about 20 years, so all the screws (and the motor cans) are rusty. Nothing's broken, but it's all loose and sloppy, so it was obviously run quite a lot, but not abused. Totally stock, black-painted friction shocks, no-badge grille, OK body, good chassis. With a set of ball bearings and an ESC it should make a great backyard basher. Or, just how it is... I'm not picky; it was only $50.

More photos later.

[markbt73]

The innards:

Not exactly a climate-comtrolled storage environemnt:

But, I stuck a crystal in the receiver and installed a battery, and way-hey! It runs!

It has the turning circle of a container ship, but it moves along like it should, and the gearboxes sound good. So much fun to see this old thing bouncing along over stuff. My original Clod stayed stock for about three battery packs; I'm not sure I ever really appreciated it for what it was. I was in too much of a hurry to modify it. I think I'll leave this one as it is (more or less) for a while.

[WillyChang]

should just weather & rustify the shell, then call it done

[mongoose1983]

You can never go wrong with a Clod !!!!!!!!!

[markbt73]

Quick question for someone who knows more about the Clod's history: My first one had black metal braces running down from the gearbox sides to the C hubs on the axles. This one doesn't have them. Were they added at some point in the production run, or did the previous owner just leave them off?

[matman]

Quick question for someone who knows more about the Clod's history: My first one had black metal braces running down from the gearbox sides to the C hubs on the axles. This one doesn't have them. Were they added at some point in the production run, or did the previous owner just leave them off?

The previous owner left them off , So you will need too get some . I have some on my clod & it says it in the manual.

[billg4]

you will break axle tubes and gearboxes without those braces unfortunatly

[wolfdogstinkus]

Nice buy and nice price as well, always fancied a clodbuster, I must get one, one day.

[markbt73]

I wonder why the guy didn't install the braces? Ah, the joys of buying used vehicles... I guess I'll have to order the parts bag with them in it. It looks like the pressed parts bag from the Super Clod comes with the chassis reinforcing plates, so I can install those as well.

I'll also need to replace almost every screw on both gearboxes when I start tearing into it; most of them are seized from rust. I'll bet someone makes a stainless steel screw set for this thing, though... and I also need bearings... project not so cheap all of a sudden. As usual.

[billg4]

I'll also need to replace almost every screw on both gearboxes when I start tearing into it; most of them are seized from rust. I'll bet someone makes a stainless steel screw set for this thing, though... and I also need bearings... project not so cheap all of a sudden. As usual.

rc screwz carries them http://www.rcscrewz.com/ and for many othr tamiya kits

[markbt73]

I looked at rc screwz, but I ended up ordering a bunch of black hardware, along with bearings and the press parts bag, from RPP Hobby, as they had the best prices on stuff and I've been happy with their service before. Should be here in a few days, and then I can start tearing into it. Now to check my old ESC stash and see which one can handle dual 540s...

[berman]

_{Shame I didn't see this thread earlier, I'm sure I have heaps of spares of those reinforcing plates, which you could of had for free. Good to see another Clod being loved}

[markbt73]

_{Shame I didn't see this thread earlier, I'm sure I have heaps of spares of those reinforcing plates, which you could of had for free. Good to see another Clod being loved}

Ah well, thanks, but I needed a bunch of other parts anyway...

[berman]

Ah well, thanks, but I needed a bunch of other parts anyway...

Probably had those too...

[markbt73]

New hardware, full bearings, locked rear steering, direct-link front... up & running once again!

She's never seen one this big before... not sure what to think.

But that doesn't mean she won't chase it...