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Ok, first off, have you ever felt you have gotten yourself in over your head on a certain project(s)?

I have. I got my hands on a very good condition Turbo Ultima a while ago, and have been searching for parts since then to get it where I want it. It holds a warm place in my heart cause that is the car I first started racing with. This was the start of my Ultima collection.

Picked up a Ultima Pro XL in new condition, with the intent on replacing the only weak point of the car, the tranny. So, I will be installing a new A&L lethal weapon into it just to make me feel better.

I was searching for one of the original Ultimas because I like the scale realness of the car. On my search for one of these (never wanted to pay the coin for a NIB or new built) I ended up with 4 in a "package deal"! One Ultima Pro that is new condition, and 3 other stock Ultimas, all used. So I decided I would make an OE Ultima out of 1, a Joel Johnson replica out of the other, and sell the last with as many good parts that I had left.

I have amassed a lot of parts, bodies, and motors, etc. to actually start and hopefully finish these cars. So begins this thread of my start to finish of this group of buggies.

I will get some pics of what I have to work with tonite after I get home, wifey permitting!

I will also update this thread periodically as progress is made.

Hope you like!

cant wait to see, love the ultimas myself.. the tranny was kinda crappy and gears are hard to find, but the A&L works great for me. before ya go crazy (like i did) and try and find original replacement runner parts, let me know because alot of new kyosho stuff, along with the ST-15 parts from Tower fit, and stuff can be adapted etc. i know what fits well at this point. i might have a bunch of extra red shock collars (unbroken) lol. ill look tonight.

Yeah, I'm really interested to see your builds too. The Turbo Ultima was my first race buggy. For a while, I knew every hop-up, every mod, everything inside out about that chassis. Can't wait to see pics!

I'm also planning an Ultima build too but I'm still far away from starting a thread. Maybe you'll give me some ideas.

Pics of the Turbo Ultima.

I have the same running gear installed that I used to run bitd, minus a receiver and a battery pack (that I have, just not installed yet) . It's pretty clean and has been run, but not very much.

Ultima Pro...

The previous owner did not run this car at all, but managed to paint the yellow wheels black. Anyway, I plan on installing the aluminum wheels with paddles for a desert buggy look. I need to find a body for her that would compliment the look, so any suggestions would be appreciated!

It came with a Losi Revolution mod motor, but I plan on putting in the Kyosho motor instead.

Ultima Pro XL...

This car hasn't been run at all either. I plan on swapping out this tranny for the A&L and taking the one I removed and installing it in the Joel Johnson replica, since it has a ball diff.

Body needs to be final sanded and clearanced. I would really like to get a set of the red/green/yellow decals and put them on a black body.

Joel Johnson replica...

I have everything I need to replicate this car minus the chassis and shock towers. I plan on making my own towers out of the fiberglass sheet shown. I have the correct ESC and servo, but still seek the Novak receiver.

This car is slightly used and looks worse in the pics than it really is. It is a good candidate for the conversion since it came with the shocks....

Original Ultima...

OK, this car looks rough. It is missing some stuff, but I have most of what I need to put her back to stock. It has minimal use, but it looks otherwise. Actually all it needs is a good cleaning and it would help drastically. The shocks are in really good shape and the collars are uncracked!

I may opt to install Kyosho gold shocks, since the graphite towers will be available off of the JJ replica car. I have a set of rear golds, but need to find a pair of fronts to do this though. OR just leave the red ones on it. What would you do?

Last and certailly least is Ugly Betty...

I will use parts I have left from the other builds along with some of the spares I have as well to get this back to decent condition. She will go for sale after I'm done to help fund the others. It has an interesting front bumper and a home brew fix for the front a arms.... One snapped, so previous owner decided to cut out aluminum plate and screw it to the bottom of both front arms. Seems like a lot of work to get out of buying a new set of arms?

All 4 of the shock collars are snapped on this sucker.

The original ultima was my first electric RC. Thus far I have resisted the urge to restore one as I have absolutely nothing kyosho currently, But with seeing build threads like this one I am starting to reconsider. I'm surprised more of the shock collars were not cracked, I remember using a lot of zip ties on those little red shocks BITD

post whore.

j/k

it's amazing. i used to see nip trinity ultima chassis' on ebay all of the time a couple years ago. they've just dried up i guess.

the shell you are using is the optima one ??........

minimini wrote:the shell you are using is the optima one ??........

I am assuming you are referring to the J.J. replica?

It is a Kyosho Tomahawk body.

Where did you get those trannies? Are they an ebay only thing or can you still get them new?

All you need to do is call Daryl at Factory Works and throw him some cash, and you will have one on your doorstep!