Street scorcher bad idea?

[steelo]

I am currently in the process of rebuilding a re re Sand Scorcher that has seen better days. My friend donated it to me about 6-7 years ago and it’s definitely taken some abuse. So far, I have cleaned it up, redone the steering for direct steering with a servo saver, doubled up a carbon fiber chassis to the existing glass fiber to make it more rigid. I’ve also drained and refilled the front shocks with 35wt oil, the rear with 60wt and installed internal shock springs - they appear to recoil MUCH better than using the torsion springs. Now, the car is (almost) all put back together but I’m waiting on 12mm hex adapters for the rear wheel and new front tires to arrive from the UK.

 

Anyways, I had this crazy idea to turn it into a Scorcher street rod…I’d much rather run it on the street than risk destroying it in the dirt. I bought some Proline 2.2” hubs (meant for a rock crawler) and street slicks for rear tires. It actually looks pretty cool and gives it a wider, more aggressive stance. I think I’m just going to keep the same front wheels and black them out to match. I’d like a little hotter motor but I don’t think I’d go any faster than maybe a sport tuned…I have a brushless 17.5T but that would require modification to the motor cover and I don’t believe the car would handle it well.

 

Does anyone foresee any issues with this idea? I realize this is a SRB and I don’t expect top-notch performance…I believe on-road is the safest option for this type of car.

[GooneyBird]

I think that on-road might actually be the most hazardous environment for a Sand Scorcher. May I recommend a wide-open beach with nothing to hit for miles around and soft sand when (not if) it rolls over?

Speaking of Street Scorchers, why reinvent the wheel when you can modify a modern(esque...) on-road chassis:

 

[SRB Bloke]

Pictures pictures pictures...  we need to see them  

There's been some awesome street scorchers here on TC but they normally drop the SS shell on a street chassis.

Never seen one on the original chassis...  sounds like fun.

[steelo]

Well, the nice thing is I can always just put the stock wheels back on if I want to go off-roading =) Again, I realize there are much better chassis out there which would perform better…my M-05 for example.

 

I just like the idea of a beetle hot rod and think it would be pretty cool.

[steelo]

This is what I have so far...I plan on fitting a new body on it (burnt orange) detailing the rear wheels a little bit and blacking out the front wheels. What do you guys think? Be honest... =)

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/197wKq9MvDSDtZTqA49vMZtVFjB54t1p7/view?usp=sharing

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-kKAZEXlH0INUG0tl6zMPvZ3i3qD_DlE/view?usp=sharing

 

[SRB Bloke]

I see what you mean about those rear wheels, they look good...  but to keep it off its roof on a hard surface you need to lower chassis as far as you can. Also try and fit the bodyshell as low as you can. Maybe cut out some small bits so it goes over the rear cage.  Either way have fun and keep us updated   

 

[steelo]

Thanks! That’s exactly what I plan on doing once I get a new body, that’s one of the things that ‘bugs’ (no pun intended) me about it…I’ve found some good looking shells with spoilers. They give it a street rod type look, but I’m not sure how effective any down force it provides would be. I'm hoping the wider rear wheel stance and stiffer shocks provide additional stability, preventing it from rolling over so easily.

 

Another crazy idea...I'd like to put in a high torque motor that has equivalent rpms to a silver can meant just for wheelies and 'burn outs' depending on how well the rear tires stick (Tamiya torque tuned motor, maybe?) I know stability will be an issue so I'm thinking I don't want to go any hotter than a silver can or sport tuned.

 

I'd, of course add a wheelie bar =)

[Biz73]

For running it on street, you may want to get the ball differential for the SRB's. Part of the reason they do ok on sand and loose dirt is that it allows the wheels to slip when needed. The Torque Tuned motor is in between the silver can and the Sport Tuned, but has more Torque. If you run nimh's you won't be seeing any wheelie action, as it's a heavy car with the metal front end. I don't have experience with lipo's, so I have no idea if they would do it.

[steelo]

Well, with the plastic boxes removed, the front end is rather light. I've ran lipos and silver cans before and it will do quick wheelies if you gun it. Good idea about the diff...I'm going to see how it handles and then decide.

[markbt73]

It sounds to me as if it wants to be a drag racer... no need for a diff, in that case.

[steelo]

Yes! Mainly building it for the 'cool' factor. Wanting a street/hot rod look and a scorcher that can wheelie would bring a smile to my face =)

 

(and you don't see very many beetle hot rods)

[Juggular]

I'd second the differential idea.  The reason GooneyBird said on-road is dangerous and Biz73 suggested a differential is that Sand Scorcher does not have a differential.  

Just like steering a boat, if you want to go right, you row more on the left.  Scorcher would do the same.  Since there is no differential to make up for the difference, both tires would want to skip on the road.  Add the side-way momentum, Scorcher would flip.  The grippier the tires, the stronger the motor, the worse it would become.  A differential could solve that problem.  If you don't turn at all, of course, no problem.  Your body is Lexan too.  A couple tumbles won't destroy it. 

I like the look of your car.  It does look cool.   As you say, we don't see many street bugs for sure.  

[Saito2]

The Chevy Corvair had a simple swing axle rear suspension at first. If proper tire pressures were not maintained and the car was driven aggressively, it would crash. I can see a Sand Scorcher's outside rear tire "tucking under" in a hard turn and pitching the whole buggy over.

[steelo]

Thank you everyone…btw, that shell was my wife's first body that she trimmed and painted...it's pretty beat up in the picture but I think she did a pretty terrific job =)

 

 I just wanted to get a good idea what it would look like with more aggressive street wheels/tires. My plan still is to put on a new body (burnt orange) and black out the front wheels. I’ve thought about it and I don’t believe that I’m going to go the diff route just yet. I’m going to see how it handles with a either a torque tuned or a sport tuned motor…if I’m having rollover issues, I’ll put in a diff. Right now, I’m using a stock silver can and I have no issues with tip overs on asphalt, even at top speed (unless I hit a pothole the wrong way)

[Juls1]

If the tyres your using are grippy, and you have a grippy surface to drive on, without the diff it’s likely to just plough forwards when you try to turn under power, letting off power while turning will most likely make it spin out (possibly traction roll at the same time.) if you put some slippery rock hard tamiya tyres on it you might be ok, but sticky prolines I think fitting a diff is pretty much mandatory unless you plan to never drive it. 

[steelo]

Thanks...that's definitely concerning as I hope to run it.

 

Does anyone know where I can find a reasonably priced diff for it? I checked ebay and they're going for $98.00 USD 

[Re-Bugged]

13 hours ago, steelo said:

Thanks...that's definitely concerning as I hope to run it.

 

Does anyone know where I can find a reasonably priced diff for it? I checked ebay and they're going for $98.00 USD 

Thats cheaper than the one on Australian eBay at the moment, its going for A$180 about US$140 

[njmlondon]

You could consider using a ORV chassis for this. They have exactly the same wheelbase as a SRB. The Scorcher body can fit on quite easily.

In fact you can buy a NIB Frog or Brat kit for the price of a diff!

[steelo]

Thanks...That's so disappointing...are there any compatible diffs from other makes that may work?

[Biz73]

 

[steelo]

Awesome! Thank you so much!!

[steelo]

Update: I am about finished (for now) with it. I ran it yesterday and it ran surprisingly well, even without a diff it never rolled over on asphalt. Of course it only has a silver can and a 7.2V nimh. The car feels very stable, probably because of the wider rear wheelbase. Overall, pretty happy...car also turns MUCH better with the direct steering. 

 

My next plan is to find a high-torque motor with similar rpm's to the silver can and see if it can possibly wheelie...if so, I will try to fabricate a wheelie bar.

[tilstad1]

Too hot motor in a sand scorcher will make it rollover constantly on asphalt, much due to the non diffed gearbox.

 

However, there is a cheap and easy fix; mount Brat/Pajero front wheels/tires, and it wont. They give a significantly wider front track, and wont dig under and let it roll over.

Ran it like this with a technigold back in the day, and no more rollovers.

Other solutions might very well achieve the same.