So now I have a Blackfoot

[makoman1860]

The Tamiya....not related to the cold weather. In search for a couple vehicles for my 4 and 6 year old to learn driving on, I stumbled upon a box of vehicles on the local craigslist. They were all radio shack except for an original blackfoot. Its bone stock, looks like it spent more time upside down than anything. I was going to do the dustcover/front shock tower upgrade, toss a set of bearings in it, new rear dogbone style drive shafts, an ESC, centered steering servo, stock 540 can motor and let the kids enjoy it. Should I look for anything else as a common fix for any known issues? Any common parts that break I should stock up on? Im assuming its not worth anything with the re-release, or am I wrong and should let a collector have it?

[tamiyadan]

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[TRX-1-3]

I remember the rear outboard trailing arm mounting area as a "weak spot". Remember looking at the red plastic chassis in that area and seeing whitish stressing and small cracks developing when I was a kid.

[tamiyadan]

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[alien3t]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-TEAM-CRP-1606-REAR-SUSPENSION-SUPPORTS-MONSTER-BEETLE-FROG-BRAT-/262134471916?ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT

i have 1 set by itself left. (from the team crp stock pile buy out.

To Run 1624 (if you want a set i sold them for less, Crunchy bough about 100 sets off me)
but you need 1622 to run them , and you need the 1624 to run 1627. there was a 3rd part that replaced the rear body post and brace. But you can run the other 2 peices without the 4th kit.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/REAR-HD-SHOCK-MOUNTS-Tamiya-The-Frog-Subaru-Brat-Lancia-Rally-RC-Team-CRP-1622-/232081058382?hash=item36091bea4e:g:19AAAOxydB1Sktuv
TEAMCRP on ebay was the number 2 of 2 people that bought out the crp inventory.

I also offered the rear bumper/front skid plate as a kit.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/REAR-HD-SHOCK-MOUNTS-Tamiya-The-Frog-Subaru-Brat-Lancia-Rally-RC-Team-CRP-1622-/232081058382?hash=item36091bea4e:g:19AAAOxydB1Sktuv

Here is mine so far with the CRP gooddies on it, (i still need the rear Tamiya blackfoot brace for the body posts.


Skid plate. SUppose to tie the front end together better.

[makoman1860]

Wow I started adding up the cost of making this thing reliable. By the time I do the MIP Diff work, add driveshafts, decent shocks, bearings and some stiffening parts....the parts alone cost more than I can pick up an old RC10T for. I mean I love the look of it....but wow its a far cry from what I am used to. Maybe Ill save this for a "shop made upgrades" project.

[tamiyadan]

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[alien3t]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/311674537755?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

nitro master has them for $17.50 right now, (been that way for a little while)

[makoman1860]

Dan,
Dang it! Now its back to being financially maybe worthwhile. So on the shock side of things, are the re-release shocks oil filled or is there a reasonable alternative to the sticking friction shocks on this thing?

[alien3t]

looking at the re re manual. they are oil filled like the Mud blaster but black. (not friction like original)
You could probably pick up a set from the seller in the cva link i gave. ihe parts out new kits. I think i have seen them around 20 bucks for all 4 shocks on ebay. unless you want metal shocks.

[tamiyadan]

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[makoman1860]

Thanks for the history and info. All great stuff. I started pulling this thing apart and I wrongly assumed the shocks were the friction type, when they are indeed Yellow CVA shocks from the 1980s. I was also shocked to find some bearings in this thing. I think Im going to just give this thing a re-build, throw in a new set of gears, new sealed bearings, re-re dogbones with the dif screw mod and some waterproof radio gear from an old donor traxxas. Also found the parts to do the dustcover mod to brace the front shock tower. Should be a fun rig to take to the campgrounds.