Getting The Best Out Of A Blitzer Beetle On A Budget!

[Grumpy pants]

So I've got a cheap project on its way to me and I keen to make this a longer term keeper and well used runner.

I've got a full set of new standard tyres and a set of new Dirt Hawgs with foams and wheels.

I've got a brushless set spare to run it with and I'll do the usual bearing inside and out.

But what about a shock set, pinion and and I've read somewhere about swapping the front steering knuckles over? I'm pretty sure the pinion is one size only as well from memory.

This one will be used in the park, car park, woods and beach btw.

All tips gratefully received as well.

[MAD RACER]

A brushless 12T is awesome in mine.

Insane fun . I have a Lexan shell on mine as well.

Yeah racing shocks all round with standard front springs and Losi yellow at the rear.

Yes you can swap the front steering knuckles over which require some dremeling to get more lock out of but does help with bump steer & with correct front shocks the front bottoms out unlike the standard shocks which run out of throw and still be half a inch of the deck.

[chickenman242tk]

Light shock oil in the front ,i run 15wt with my bl blitzer ,i would suggest a decent servo for steering ,one of my blitzers runs a cheap tower pro servo which is great but the low profile savox i have in my speed rocket blitzer is just that much better but deffo is the cheaper option lol.

13t steel pinion is what you need also , you can go a 15t but you may find you will run a bit hotter

[Darat76]

All I did for mine was throw a 3300kv sensorless brushless with a 60a esc in it, full set of avid bearings, put a set of cva's on it, and swapped out the set upper arms in each corner for turnbuckles. With this, and running it with buggy tyres that are like aka evo gridiron, it will pull wheelies and backflip onto it's roof with a standard nimh stick pack on the road, or other high grip surface, still yet to buy a stick pack styled lipo or 2, am going to, just haven't gotten around to it.

thinking of getting some alloy shocks, an xray servo saver, and changing out the steering links for something that is easier to adjust, and maybe changing to captured ball studs for the steering and upper links

[chickenman242tk]

The best way to get adjustable turnbuckles and steering links is to get the dt02 set , costs aroud 16 bucks , i did have to grind them down now in length a touch but they work great and go a long in helping the front steering geometry

[Grumpy pants]

Thanks chaps all tips and advice is gratefully received.

Any pics and links is also appreciated too.

Keep the info coming! Please!

Simon

[Darat76]

my turnbuckle set was actually for the df-02 chassis, just had to put the longer rods in for the front upper link, and the shorter ones in for the rear upper link, which is the reverse of what the df-02 setup is, sadly, the steering links aren't long enough in that set, and I've only seen one set of adjustable steering links on ebay for the blitzer hawk thunder stadium beetle, and they really don't thrill me...

[Flerbizky]

I bought a load of ball-ends - some 4mm threaded rod and made my own adjustable upper arms. Drill through where the rear upper arms are attached to the gearbox, use a longer bolt and attach with a locknut. I run a 9T BL in mine, and it's bulletproof. Hit anything too hard with a front tire can crack the tub. Which is why I now have 2 spares (:

[Edit] Pictures you say (:

Full Size at: http://i.imgur.com/aHkLYPG.jpg

Full Size at: http://i.imgur.com/39qn5wo.jpg

This is going into my next Blitzer gearbox:

Full Size at: http://i.imgur.com/TzxHyUg.jpg

(:

[Ian_Gsi16V]

Interesting thread for me also as I have just put together my planned long term runner beetle.

Used it for the first time yesterday and it was awesome! My plan is certainly brushless for the summer months on the beach which gives me a bit of time to carry out a few other mods.

[Gruntfuggly]

Don't bother with the original tyres - the rears wear out way too quickly. The dirt hawgs will last much longer.

The blitzer chassis makes a great runner - mine gets more use than anything. As the others have said above - it'll handle brushless and LiPo no problem (apart from wearing out the dogbones - but you can get replacements for a few quid).

You just need to swap the front knuckles over so the steering rods attach underneath - I haven't done any dremelling on mine - I don't need any more steering lock - just add more power to the back wheels. Oversteer is quite bad on a loose surface, but you learn to control it.

[Grumpy pants]

Ok, so it's stripped and being cleaned this week for assembly sometime soon ; )

I'm going to do this with existing parts I have in my spares to keep it a low cost model.

I'll use my Blitzer tyres as I like the look of them and I have no reason to keep them otherwise.

It has come with CVA shocks which I'm pleased with as well, the front knuckles is a free mod so that will happen too.