Yellowdatsuns Marui Big Bear Build.

[yellowdatsun]

Had one as a kid, and I picked up a non-running example a couple years back. I think now is the time to get it going. I don't want to bash with it, just poke around the front/back yards.....since parts are expensive and hard to come by.

We'll start with the wheels and tires. The original tires are the one thing you can almost never find in good shape, they are *always* cracked. Sooo, I'm using re-release Wild Willy tires. They are the right diameter, but a little thinner on width. So I sanded the lips down until the looked right.






You can see the difference clearly between the two. The ground down ones look like they were made for these tires.

[yellowdatsun]

Incredible_serious sent me a package from Australia, to me here in Arizona. Thanks again mate! It was full of miscellaneous parts. What I needed most were transmission bits, as the cases on my roller were empty. I was able to find what I needed in the pile of goodies.

The only issue I'm having with the assembled tranny, is that one pinion is too big and binds, and the next size down is too small and chunk-chunks. Not sure where to go with that. I left the bigger one in for the time being.

I pulled the motor and speed control from a Fast Attack buggy which I doubt I'll even run.






I'm not sure how the front steering assembly is supposed to go, so I need to do some research, otherwise I'm kinda stuck.

[yellowdatsun]

RC10 stuff to the rescue! Their stock 1984-ish rods and clamps work perfectly!

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So I tested the steering, and it works fine. I also tested the esc and motor, those work fine too! WooHoo, I'm getting close!

[yellowdatsun]

This is the body I have. Aside from one small crack, and the missing lights for the roll bar, it's in great shape. May just leave it blue, even though it's not my favorite, I don't want to botch things up and having it ruined.






To be totally honest, I actually like the thinner wheels much better. Looks far more believable, and like what *should* have come on the truck to begin with.

[yellowdatsun]

Since two of the four bumper attachments points were broken, I decided to break the rest off and dremel them down. I then attached the bumper to the body, and again if looks more realistic. I'm old enough to not need the spring bumper anymore.

[yellowdatsun]

Swapped out a tranny case halve, and now everything runs smoothly. I'm noticing there are slight and subtle differences between some of these parts.

[tamiyadan]

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[yellowdatsun]

That explains it.

[tamiyadan]

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[rccars4sal]

My friend had a big bear back in the day. It was faster then our 540 powered buggies. No kidding.

[uniquenamehere]

Those tires look great on there. I'd give it some box art treatment and run it!

[yellowdatsun]

Just ordered a set oif stickers from http://mciracing.ca/ in Canada. They have TONS of vintage stuff.

[tamiyadan]

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[yellowdatsun]

Stickers are on the way!!

[proffesso]

oh brilliant! do tell how the stickers go. I still need to complete my bigbear as well.

tires, im using lunchbox tires...exactly the same as yours im guessing? I havent changed the rim width yet though...they are currently quite stretched. I think I will do the same as you there