Ultima Buildup

[Mr. ED]

Hey Mike,
Is everything well?

[mikedealer]

all is well actually lol. got my 3 new bodies in the mail the other day.. trying to figure out a paint scheme, i forgot how bad i suck at airbrushing lol. car is totally ready to roll though... gotta work out the gearing and such, but ill see how the recommended 20t pinion handles in there.

[Mr. ED]

Just wondering as I didn't see pics of your car on the vonats coverage.
Use water-based paints; that way you can still save the body if anything goes wrong half-way through

[mikedealer]

it was just one of those things were i just didnt have time to go and/or finish my car. car was ready to roll, i just didnt have enough practice on the ultima to make it work really, drives wonderfully now, trying to get it to my local track this weekend, i modified the steering a bit, and it works awesome now..

i really wish i coulda made it, there was a rainstorm here on long island on saturday when i was planning to head there, and i just didnt have the time with all my obligations unfortunetly. really sad i missed it

[mikedealer]

update: painted the driver, going to paint the body with the real flame technique on a black body, should look sweet..

need some "general" kyosho decals, option house decals, and some ultima decals. already contacted marwan for a few different sheets (already got a perfect original ultima decal sheet but am going to save it for a box art build). anyone has any random kyosho stickers feel free to give me a price/PM.

just gotta find the wing now, but ill just keep the aluminum one now, and keep an eye out for a ot58 on the bay.

need some more HPI front buggy wheels too, so pissed HPI doesnt make em anymore and wont sell me the injection molds for them lol. bastards.

[mikedealer]

body update, gonna mount it up later and slap some stickers on it i got from a01brutal (thanks again)

[JetTech101]

those flames look really good

[mikedealer]

thanks gonna sticker it up a bit and call it a day.

waiting for kamtec to send me my repro wing soon too.

[AYKBOBCAT]

Reviving this thread...

Hey mikedealer How did you make your custom upper deck for the Ultima? I now probably have enough parts to rebuild a decent one from 4 used buggies but all the top plates are bent or cut in some ways. I'd love to get an aftermarket carbon plate but Fiberlyte do not make any. Don't know any company that does...

[mikedealer]

bought a sheet of carbon fiber, used a band saw and scroll saw to cut the general shape, then dremel'ed the rest. sounds tedious but it went pretty to be honest. found the orange dremel mini grinding stone took off the most meat and lasted the whole chassis. used a drill press to drill the holes

i just traced it out and cut it out. it isnt 100% perfect like u would get with a CNC, but its definetly a 9.5 out of 10. could probably make it perfect even more.

i can make u one if you just dont own a band saw/dremel etc or dont have the patience. the graphite sheet cost about $50 typically for the 3mm stuff.

[Mr. ED]

2mm is more than enough; better actually to keep the CG low and overall weight ofcourse.

Even fiberglass is good but you may want to double up the part from the nose to the steering posts then.

JG made a fiberglass topdeck: I have one I used but the dimensions aren't correct: I found it bent my chassis just in front of the rear tower and thereby reduced the build-in anit-squat of the rear arms to 0°.

[AYKBOBCAT]

bought a sheet of carbon fiber, used a band saw and scroll saw to cut the general shape, then dremel'ed the rest. sounds tedious but it went pretty to be honest. found the orange dremel mini grinding stone took off the most meat and lasted the whole chassis. used a drill press to drill the holes

i just traced it out and cut it out. it isnt 100% perfect like u would get with a CNC, but its definetly a 9.5 out of 10. could probably make it perfect even more.

i can make u one if you just dont own a band saw/dremel etc or dont have the patience. the graphite sheet cost about $50 typically for the 3mm stuff.

Thanks. That may be interesting for sure. I definitely don't have the tools. I had to leave all my power tools in Europe when I moved back to Canada (different voltage). Maybe PM it get serious...

[mikedealer]

so after running my ultima a few times, i quickly came to realize that the transmission just isnt up to par with what it should be along with the fact their is no real slipper.. those 32pitch gears and the rarity of the parts needed to run just wont cut it. Also the steering wasnt getting the full range of motion as it should.

So i got a Lethal weapon tranny with power clutch slipper assembly. waiting on 1 more part for it for the diff (need the thrust bearings, on its way)...

I also modified the steering to allow for maximum turn radius, i cut out a graphite bar, added 2 rc10 front wheel bearings inside, some 3/16" aluminum spacers to keep the screws center, and i have to say, while i havent run it yet, its a beautiful thing and works great. so much better than the original setup i had (the cups would hit each other).

As you can see too i added the current ultima rb5 front blocks and steering (mostly due to wheel availability), and they are as smooth as can be.


Currently i am waiting on rear axles/cvd's (going to go with current rb5 ones since they are the same size and will allow for a roll pin to keep the hex on as opposed to pressure fit).

And i am looking for Shocks to use also, I have a set of gold shocks, and they are smooth as can be, but i want to go with something a little more current, might go with RB5 ones.

Also sent my shock towers and top plate out to chad at dynotech, and hoping to get them made up in carbon fiber, ill post some pics when i get them, and if anyone wants some sets ill tell chad to save the cad files for more.

[RichieRich]

Nice work. I think the Ultima tranny is pretty solid. BUT, you're right, it has limited adjustments with regards to gear ratios. Post some pics when you're done.

[mikedealer]

i have to say, the tranny i was running held up well, no problems really at all. i was running the option house spur gear with the 32metric pitch inside, and 48dp outside, and it works well, but there is no adjustment other than pinion. i also had the ot74/ot76 combo running inside, worked well too, but no slipper adjustment at all with that peice.

ive bid on the robinson gear sets at least 10 times as theyve come up, and they either end for outrageous prices or are the really small spur size (thing it was like the 59-61 tooth ones), also i couldnt use the ot74 slipper then either.

at least with the A&L here i can adjust spurs/pinions/ratios no problem. i think it will work out well.