RC10DS - Lamborghini Diablo - BODY SWAP TO GALLARDO

[LoboNYC]

Hi all. As you know, I entered my camel yellow electric RC10DS Lamborghini Murcielago in this this months BOTM. There, I mentioned i had a nitro version of a DS Lamborghini in the works. Well here is the start of the build page. Im starting out, believe it or not, with a nitro RC10DS from Ireland i got on ebay in July of 2014. After 7 years on the shelf with intention of working on it, i finally took it apart. By the way...i have a big box with a bunch of DS cars that are waiting for TLC. This DS came with a .15 Yokomo engine and was a really nice car just needing a nose plate, new engine and TLC. The Yokomo could not be saved and the nose plate was tweaked. I decided to strip the black powder coating from the chassis and nose plate replacement. I used wire brush for the removal of the coating and sanding of various grit to smooth out the markings left behind from the wire brush.

The DS i started out with





taking her apart


Started removing black powder coating with wire brush




Chassis and nose plate done but far from complete...notice the markings left behind from the wire brush



Lots of sanding...used 3m Corse to fine pads. Corse is being shown in photo.


Smooth as can be




Im going to replace the rear suspension arms with a set of aluminum ones. I got them years ago over seas but was never able to find front sets. These had the CNC marks. I sanded the marks off so they can match the chassis.




I wanted to save some time so intead of rebuilding and repairing the original tranny im dropping in a brand new Stealth tranny with ball bearings. Another plus on dropping in a new tranny is that this tranny has a slipper clutch. The original tranny was a qualifier type with no slipper. Im replacing the steel hardware with stainless steel.


She sits perfect on the chassis


Im cleaning and polishing the original axles but i may end up replacing them with a set of Shiny MIP CVD's for this project...We'll see


Im upgrading this ride with a set of period correct Cliff Lett's Titanium turnbuckle set and a set of Lundsford Titanium hinge pin set. also replacing phillips screws with new ones.



Suspension arm mounted on chassis...looking pretty sweet i might add



Here is a partial shot of the green Diablo body im using along with the #1 decals used the other Lambo for color comparison...as of now, im still waiting for the #2 set to arrive in the mail.


UPDATE: 1/16/22

Decided to upgrade this car with a set of MIP shiny CVD's to give the rear an extra touch of eye candy. Rear stabilizer and titanium turnbuckles mounted. I will continue to swap out the steel screws for stainless steel but they are getting harder to find in my parts box.







UPDATE: 01/18/22

Front and rear end are now complete





UPDATE: 01/22/22
Received these aluminum Tamiya style Lamborghini Countach wheels from Korea today. Beautifully machined. I enlarged the center hole in order to fit the axle. I mounted a set of Pro-Line Sedan Hawgs. Since they were old new stock, the inner foam tire supports were shot. Currently the tires have no foam inserts.

Also, i replaced the original c-hub/axle knuckle setup for the associated sc10 version. The only modification needed was to enlarge the hole for the bottom hinge pin and reverse the ball ends. This mod allows me to use 12mm hex wheels in the front. Just be mindful of the wheel offset.




Used a wide hex in the rear to get the rear wheels in line with the fronts.


UPDATE: 01/28/22

MIP Ball Bearing Steering setup installed.



A few white RPM ball cup ends used along with the titanium turnbuckles.


Engines mounts cleaned and installed


Futaba throttle servo mounted. The label came off during cleaning. I may end up replacing the servo in the near future.


Some full shot photos of the DS



UPDATE: 02/25/22 PROJECT COMPLETE

Stock exhaust canister is replaced with an old GT aluminum side pipe. Nasty looking, needs cleaning and some polishing.


Shot of the side pipe and exhaust manifold after polishing with soapy brillo pad.


The polished exhaust manifold goes well with the brand new OS CZRX engine


Engine/Manifold/Pipe combo dropped into the chassis along with a new Associated GT fuel tank. Looking good.




Throttle/brake linkages set up. OS filter shown will be replaced with a stock Associated paper element and foam filter included in the kits.


I decided to spray the engine bay area in matte black in order to break up the green and to enhance the engine air filter hole.


I LIKE IT. If you look closely you will see an air intake opening on the front windshield in the second photo



The project is 99% complete. It lacks a fuel filter (on order). Aside from that, this car is finished with a Traxxas receiver, two servos, and a receiver pack. Here are some photos:







Money Shots









Extended the stinger a bit with a purple aluminum tube (i removed the purple anodize layer, polished it up, and shortened it) so the exhaust can exit outside of the body.







This car came a long way. It is better than stock. The original gearbox that lacked a slipper clutch was replaced with new gearbox that has the slipper. Steel hinge pins and turnbuckles were replaced with titanium versions. Restrictive exhaust canister replaced with manifold and tuned pipe. Stock rear plastic arms replaced with aluminum. Old engine replaced with new OS .12. Old fuel tank replaced with new tank. Stock dog bones replaced with MIP shiny CVDs. All bushings replaced with ball bearings. Steering assembly replaced with a new MIP ball bearing setup. Most steel hardware (screws) were replaced with stainless steel. New receiver, new receiver battery pack and servos installed. Countach aluminum wheels combined with proline sedan tires and a green/gold HPI Lamborghini Diablo body complete the package.

What do you think? I think it turned out okay Okay for March BOTM

[KidAgain]

Wow that looks great man can't wait for more updates

[MarkyDents]

The brushed aluminum looks beautiful ! Your hands and fingers must have been killing you after all that effort.

[LoboNYC]

Wow that looks great man can't wait for more updates

Thanks!!! I posted some updated photos. MIP CVDs added to the build

The brushed aluminum looks beautiful ! Your hands and fingers must have been killing you after all that effort.

Thanks!...and you got that right...not only did my hands and fingers hurt...my lungs were angry at me . I forgot to wear a mask when removing the powder coat and sanding the aluminum...man i was coughing up for days and spitting out black stuff. i was not a happy camper

[RC10resto]

Powder Coated or Anodized?
I thought they were all Anodized

[LoboNYC]

Powder Coated or Anodized?
I thought they were all Anodized

You are correct... my error...the chassis is anodized. And still nasty to breath in the dust, lol

[XLR8]

As someone who has spent a lifetime hand-crafting parts from aluminum then struggling to brush and polish those pars to arrive at an acceptable finish, I am humbled by your work.
It's just beautiful!

[LoboNYC]

As someone who has spent a lifetime hand-crafting parts from aluminum then struggling to brush and polish those pars to arrive at an acceptable finish, I am humbled by your work.
It's just beautiful!

I thank you for those kind words.

I can tell you this...when i started to go through the different stages of sanding using the 3M pads i noticed the aluminum was getting smoother but the brightness started to fade. It started turning a dull grey. i tried rubbing it with WD40 to see if it would remove it. That didn't work for me.

I took to the bathroom and continued sanding the chassis in the tub with ivory liquid soap on the 3M pad and running water...The aluminum immediately got bright as you see. It saved my elbow grease

[LoboNYC]

Countach Wheels photos posted 1/22/2022

[LoboNYC]

PROJECT Lamborghini Diablo Nitro is FINISHED

Photos on first post after following "UPDATE: 02/25/22 PROJECT COMPLETE"

Hope you guys like this one

[LoboNYC]

UPDATE: 9/23/2023 BODY SWAP-

I couldn't leave well enough alone. I decided to swap out the Lambo Diablo body in favor of the Lambo Gallardo Body. The HPI diablo body is really cool except i have issues with HPI bodies that have the wing mounts molded onto the body. I prefer the plastic mounts you screw onto the lexan, that is if you chose to have a wing. Also, the body was already painted and decals applied when i purchased it. I would have liked to paint it a color of my choice. I found a Gallardo body online and it arrives with plastic wing mounts and wing, side view mirror, and wipers. Guess what? I get to paint it myself.

The new body was cut, trimmed and mounted. The DS wheel base has to be shortened via the rear suspension arm spacers. This is enough to get the wheels in line with the center of the wheel wells. The Gallardo body is 200mm.













This is what i have done so far. The holes for the plastic accessories have to be made as well as vent holes for engine cooling.
There are a few parts i wish to swap, like shock towers and front bumper, purely for aesthetic purposes.
Paint colors have not been decided yet.

[LoboNYC]

QUESTIONS FOR EVERYONE

If you were purchasing (or bidding on ) a finished project car, given a choice...

would you prefer to purchase one with an UNPAINTED body or one with a PAINTED body?

If a clear body were included with a finished project car, would you the body to UNMOUNTED or MOUNTED?


Alex

[juicedcoupe]

QUESTIONS FOR EVERYONE

If you were purchasing (or bidding on ) a finished project car, given a choice...

would you prefer to purchase one with an UNPAINTED body or one with a PAINTED body?

If a clear body were included with a finished project car, would you the body to UNMOUNTED or MOUNTED?


Alex

I guess it depends.

If it has a nice Andy's (or otherwise cool) painted body that is properly trimmed, definitely.

If it has basic paint and/or so-so trimming, clear and unmounted.

But cool paint varies by taste. What one person thinks is cool, might be hideous to another.

[Frankentruck]

I prefer to have a nicely finished body come with it but my bargain hunting doesn't usually have that in my shopping budget. I'm surprised when nicely finished projects don't sell for much more than 'needs work' projects. I've seen that happen a few times, including a nice DS.