SCX Chaparral Conversion

    I received an SCX Chapparal in trade a while back and never did any driving with it as it didn't drive well in my book. Nothing against the car, but the motor didn't feel right, and the wheels hopped pretty bad. So, onto the shelf it went until a few nights ago I was driving my MRRC 2F. Yes, I'm one of the 26 people in the world that love that release...but I digress. It made me look at this car again.  "Wait just a minute!" says I. I've got a pretty nice little stash of parts, nothing like his, but enough to do something with this thing!

Step 1: Decide what to do. I wanted a motor, wheels, and tires. Detailing will come later. I decided on a Ninco NC-2 and a Ninco motor pod. 

Step 2: Mark out where the pod goes, and using a cutoff wheel in a Dremel, have at it. I opened it up as the lines show:

Step 3: Test fit, test fit, test fit!

Step 4: Cut off these little tabs, but be careful! The chassis doesn't have much meat back here!



Step 5: Using my Ninco puller, move the pinion gear closer to the end of the shaft. I used a spot of glue on it to ensure it stays on.



Step 6: Test fit motor.



Step 7: Change wheels and axles. Wheels by BWA, axle is a stock Artin unit. I used the stock SCX axle bearings.



Step 8: Glue in the motor pod and motor. I used hot glue as it works well for me, and this is a rubbery style body/chassis so I was looking for it to stick properly.



Step 9: Run a small line of glue towards the rear of the motor.



Step 10: Change the front wheels. I used some piano wire, a piece of tubing to hold it as it had lots of slop up and down in the stock axle notches, BWA wheesls, and I reused the SCX tires. You can see this in Step #8.

Step 11: Run it!!!

Verdict: This took me a total of 1 hour. I'd still like to detail the car and make the wheel inserts out of some wheels I have laying around. Maybe this weekend if I get crazy. It runs great though! Smooth, quick, handles very well, and is much better than seeing it sit on the shelf!!!