Original Avante with some 2011 parts - just purchased..

[Escher 20]

So - My hobby budget just won't allow for a $600 re-re... been watching and waiting for years as the Avante has been something I've lusted after since they came out.. I finally found one on ebay - an original from '88 rebuilt with 2011 parts where needed.  I managed to snag it for a good price - it will be here next week.

Some pics from the ebay ad to tantalize while I wait...

 

A couple of questions:

1) I am in no way a purist and plan to hop this baby up - putting as many stronger parts and updates in as possible.  Full aluminum uprights and the like.  What (if any) 2011 updates should I make sure to do?  For example - diffs, etc - are they stronger?  I've seen the lists of updated parts, but I'm wondering - from practical experience - which are actually better to run?

 

2) The only thing I *AM* a purist about - is the original decal set.  I really want to make up a body that is exactly like the original with "Spacetech Engineering" and the other original sponsor names.  Anyone making replicas?  

 

As an aside - I also ordered the original 1988 Tamiya Radio Control Guide book with the full page layouts of the Avante... be still my 15 year old heart!!  I had this years ago and spent hours drooling over the Avante pics...  Already planning an entire display for this and my Frog Re-re...

 

Thanks in advance guys...

[mtbkym01 4008]

MCI Racing for the decals

[GTodd 1346]

The weak areas on the ORIGINAL Avante series of cars were the: front uprights (were grey, now gold), the trailing arms, front hubs, and the rods for the beautiful rod ends. Replace those parts with the 2011 ones and you will be bulletproof. The original Avante gearbox was pretty robust. I'd just tighten the center differential as much as you can and ensure to use blue loctite. The gear diffs are good, is just as some Tamiya AW greece in order to slow them down .

[Escher 20]

1 hour ago, mtbkym01 said:

MCI Racing for the decals

Thanks - Just ordered 2 sets...

[Escher 20]

3 minutes ago, GTodd said:

The weak areas on the ORIGINAL Avante series of cars were the: front uprights (were grey, now gold), the trailing arms, front hubs, and the rods for the beautiful rod ends. Replace those parts with the 2011 ones and you will be bulletproof. The original Avante gearbox was pretty robust. I'd just tighten the center differential as much as you can and ensure to use blue loctite. The gear diffs are good, is just as some Tamiya AW greece in order to slow them down .

Sweet - I'll plan along these lines!

[moffman 5752]

MCI racing all the time for aftermarket decals! Not tamiya quality but definitely the next best thing!

[Escher 20]

Finally got everything installed and ready to run...

 

30 seconds after this pic - the rear a-arm broke - didn't even jump it or anything - I think it got stuck in some long grass or something...  Swapped it out and will give it another go tomorrow.

 

Also now I'm looking at Egress rear arms... these are just silly fragile...

[GTodd 1346]

On 8/31/2019 at 6:03 PM, Escher said:

Finally got everything installed and ready to run...

 

30 seconds after this pic - the rear a-arm broke - didn't even jump it or anything - I think it got stuck in some long grass or something...  Swapped it out and will give it another go tomorrow.

 

Also now I'm looking at Egress rear arms... these are just silly fragile...

The rere rear arms are super strong, I had a Black Special Avante with a crazy Novak Brushless and it took everything I threw at it. Tripples imcluded!