Serpent Quattro

[tommy911t]

I bought a Serpent Quattro off a local ex-racer here in Portland. Hoping to use it at our local 1/8th nitro road course here in the North West.
I'm really excited to try to get this running for a few weekends this summer just for a side project. I'd like to get a feel for the class to justify purchasing a modern kit for the 2014 season.
The purchase came with a spare roller, spare parts, spare engines and plenty of new old stock wheels and tires that were very well stored.
I've never ran 1/8 onroad nitro, so I do have some questions:

Would a modern exhaust and manifold fit vintage Nova engines?
Missing a gas tank... any leads out there?
I have a feeling modern bodies would fit, are there modern or replica "wingless" bodies out there?

There is an awesome track here near Portland that I'd love to try my VRC honed skills at called Timezone. I visited a few times and was awed by the idea of endurance racing.

This restoration is really just for fun, not competition.
I have a feeling I need to get a jump on the restoration before I miss this short NW summer.

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide a total NOOB.
-Tommy

Thanks and here are some pics:

[urban hype]

Hello tommy911t

The basic layout of these cars have not changed so you could use a modern engine and exhaust. You may have a bit of trouble with the engine blocks but other than that it should not be a big problem. Since the middle belt runs underneath the manifold I would pay attention to the clearance. If you look at what ofna is offering there are parts that are available to give you the retro look with out paying vintage prices. Fuel tanks come in a lot of different shapes and sizes so you should not have a problem getting a new one. Other than that it should be good.

[tommy911t]

Urban,
Thanks. That was really what I wanted to hear. I may go modern with the engine to keep parts available and tuning to a minimum.
I'll look around for a suitable body...
Thanks again,
-Tommy

[GoMachV]

Very cool! Just out of curiosity who was the racer? I haven't seen most of those guys in many years

[tommy911t]

I don't recall his name, but he lived in SE Portland and seemed to still be active in 5th scale.
He sold me everything for 1/8 onroad that he had around. Very nice guy. I'm sure the trunk he included had his name from traveling to races. I'll see if I can't find a first name for ya.

Needless to say, the gentleman hooked me up with plenty of spares, but I gotta do much more research to really know what I'm now in possession of.

I'll do my best to post updates as I find time for this project.
-Tommy

[GoMachV]

Very cool! Those are some pretty insane cars to watch let alone drive. I remember watching my cousin race at the town center when I was quite young, then I think it went to Eastport plaza. Is Timezone the only 1/8 track in the area now?

[markbt73]

I remember seeing that lot for sale. I thought about it, but I don't know the first thing about 1/8 scale onroad, so I passed. Can't wait to see what you do with them.

[tommy911t]

I remember seeing that lot for sale. I thought about it, but I don't know the first thing about 1/8 scale onroad, so I passed. Can't wait to see what you do with them.

Everything I know about 1/8 scale onroad is coming from hacking a 10T into a GT 15 years ago.

...I too am looking forward to the outcome!

From what I've read, this is the Mk3 version:

http://www.serpent.com/company/history/

My suspension springs are coil over, but there are hinge pin mounted springs in the spare bins.

Still gotta look for a name on the luggage it came in...

[tommy911t]

Last few days I found some time for this project.

I'm a big fan of the aluminum chassis look of 1/8 scale so I decided to replace the like new carbon lower(main?) chassis with the alloy.
Took a short amount of time to swap, but I got a better idea of how this beast ticks.

Im very familiar with modern b4 and b44s from racing each week. I keep them as dialed as possible, but that doesnt always satisfy my tinkering. Belts, clutches, one ways, dogbones, Phillips heads... although not totally foreign to me are outside of my days at the track.

Next update is hopefully the suspension and hinge pins.

Thanks for stoke and the allowing me to vent/show and tell.

[prp]

Hi you have 2 nices cars, with Team Losi / Ranch Pit Stop graphite option,
chassis, upper plate and rear shock tower...

[tommy911t]

Hi you have 2 nices cars, with Ranch Pit Stop graphite option,
chassis, upper plate and rear shock tower...

awesome!
Thanks for the heads up on the carbon. one top plate is not drilled for the servos, and looks as new as that lower, so that may be used for a shelf queen.
I'm still learning and look forward to finding more about the model and sharing info.

[prp]

You have the graphite reinforced chassis plate for the speed box spur gear too...

[tommy911t]

PRP,
Thank you so much for that!

You have just answered so many questions with that ad.

-Tommy

[V12]

Hi you have 2 nices cars, with Team Losi / Ranch Pit Stop graphite option,
chassis, upper plate and rear shock tower...

Interesting information. I wondered why this Quattro looks so different to mine, but I never saw RPS option parts for this car before. But my Quattro also was the early version with 2WD, chaindrive rear, different shock position and no quickchange wheels.
Infact not really much look like the one I had, maybe it´s one of the last Quattro versions.

[prp]

The Tommy's quattro look like more from the world 87 car, the US Team like Gil LOSI Jr
have all the RPS / Team LOSI option parts, with the lightweight wheel in yellow,front one way, no diff all rigid
fast wheel change...the last version before the SPRINT 6000.