Brushless Warhead Monster Truck.....YES I was bored.

[xirtic]

IT LIVES!!

Since getting into crawling, I have really grown to dislike NITRO in terms of the mess and constant tuning needs. I had bought a Duratrax Warhead a few years ago, and it was just a pile of garbage in terms of the motor, weight, and general bashing performance.

Before I get flamed for my conversion product choices, let me say that the purpose of this was to build a truck that could use parts/batteries from my electric buggy conversion. Sharing batteries is a HUGE savings, as well as sharing ESC types in case of a failure...swapping could work until a repair is made. I did not want to make a huge investment into a Warhead.

The performance goal was a quick truck with good handling. I do not race, so this is a basher to have fun with in the local park, a field, a parking lot, ect. The end result was just that. It will lift the front end at take-off and coming out of a turn. It will throw a rooster tail of grass/dirt. It turns nicely and has good balance. It is not going to win a drag race against some 6 cell monster, but that is not what I was after. It is faster/quicker/quieter/runs cooler/more nimble/more durable/more fun than the NITRO version ever was....so I am happy.

Monster Max v3 ESC
Feigao 6xl Brushless Motor
RC Monster Motor Clamp
Zippy-R 4800mah 25C 3 Cell Lipo
Novak 15T Hardened Pinion
Custom 1/8" Aluminum Motor Mount
Custom Lexan Lipo Tray
Custom Lexan ESC Tray
Duratrax Race Steering Kit
Maximizer Beadlocks
Proline Mulcher Tires and Firm Foams
Spektrum RX
Retained the Mechanical Brake/servo

Parts REMOVED
Removed Nitro Motor (Super Tiger 4.4)
Removed Exhaust
Removed Throttle Linkages
Removed Motor Mounts
Removed Fuel Tank/Lines
Removed REVERSE via Duratrax Reverse Removal Kit
Removed Transmission Servo
Removed Nitro Steel Motor Support Frame
Removed HEAVY Warhead stock Tires/Wheels
Removed Futaba AM RX

It is just amazing how much lighter this truck is in the electric version. The Warhead stock tires/wheels were damn heavy....even going to beadlocks and the mulchers cut a significant amount of weight.

Removing reverse was done while it was still a Nitro. The reverse portion of the trans added a lot of rotating mass in the trans, as well as a lot of weak little gears. Running in forward only simplified the trans internals as well as added durability. I also was able to save more weight by pulling out the transmission servo.

The Race Steering kit is also great. It dramaticly improved the turning radius of this truck.

I had to maintain the mechanical brake due to a 1-way bearing in the transmission....it is actually working out well. It seems to extend the battery life a little as the motor is not providing the brake.

I built the motor mount out of 1/8" aluminum instead of steel in order to save on weight. Same reasoning goes for the use of LEXAN for the battery and ESC trays.

I am hoping that this NEW Warhead provides me with some fun afternoons this summer. Between it and my Cen Matrix to "Brushless 4wd Core Truck Conversion"....It should be a blast. Next conversion will be a CEN Magnum 1/10th scale 4wd Stadiun Truck to brushless.

HERE are the pics.

 

[chip cross]

Why not more voltage ?? What is the big ass silver box with wires coming out of it ?? Some type of motor control ?

 

[Tupers]

Why not more voltage ?? What is the big ass silver box with wires coming out of it ?? Some type of motor control ?

I think you'll find that that is the motor.

 

[chip cross]

I think you'll find that that is the motor.

Yep I see it know, it has a motor clamp / heat sink.

 

[xirtic]

Why not more voltage ?? What is the big ass silver box with wires coming out of it ?? Some type of motor control ?

The motor is 2780kv....at 11.1v that puts me at 30858 RPM. My goal was to be at about 30000 rpm. (The Warhead drivetrain is kinda weak). I can push it to 14.4v and still be safe (40032 RPM)...and I may at some point. I just wanted to share batteries that I already had.

The "big ass silver box" is actually just a silver plate of 1/8" aluminum. It is and adjustable base for the motor mount. In order to line the pinion up with the spur, i could not use the original Duratrax mounting setup...it would not allow for pinion size adjustments. So I mounted the motor "sideways" and I can slide the plate up/down to adjust pinion mesh. The other part of the motor mount allows for forward/back adjustments. There may have been other ways to get this result, but I have not found other examples of converting this truck to electric...so I kinda just gave it a try. To make it more difficult, I am a Computer Engineer and not a metal fabricator...so my actual machining skills are pretty limited.

 

[chip cross]

Looks good man, what does the truck weigh ?

 

[xirtic]

I plan on bringing it to work this week to have the mailroom weight it. really cannot give a fair guess...but I am curious as well. The feel of it being lighter than it was when it was nitro is dramatic though. Each wheel/tire has to weigh about 2/3 of what the stockers weighed. Motor weighs less....ect. I will get some numbers this week.

 

[xirtic]

Looks good man, what does the truck weigh ?

Also....Thanks. I try to at least build a decent truck...clean installs....and for this build build something with less...it was not really a project worthy of more. No Nue motors....$300 ESCs.....or $250 batteries. The entire conversion cost less than $300.

 

[chip cross]

The reason I ask why only 3s is because the more voltage you use the less amp draw you have on the battery.

Also....Thanks. I try to at least build a decent truck...clean installs....and for this build build something with less...it was not really a project worthy of more. No Nue motors....$300 ESCs.....or $250 batteries. The entire conversion cost less than $300.

Easy on the pocket book I see. When I built my SC8e I spent a butt load, but the truck works great.

 

[xirtic]

The reason I ask why only 3s is because the more voltage you the less amp draw you have on the battery.

If this setup (The drivetrain) holds up over a few more runs...I will probably order a few 4 cell packs. I just did not want to invest a ton into this project if it just blows up. I do see your point on more cells...and on the amp topic I have to agree with you. I hope it holds up...4 cells would be fun.

 

[xirtic]

The reason I ask why only 3s is because the more voltage you use the less amp draw you have on the battery.


Easy on the pocket book I see. When I built my SC8e I spent a butt load, but the truck works great.

I agree that some builds are worth investing more $$$.

My Cen Matrix Buggy conversion saw more $$$ thrown at it. It truly does make a difference and is justifiable in the right rig. The Matrix drivetrain is almost bullet-proof. IT just tears up tires and is a BLAST to drive. The right build definitely deserves an investment. My crawlers tend to eat the hobby funds...the conversions are to kill any boredom.

 

[chip cross]

If this setup (The drivetrain) holds up over a few more runs...I will probably order a few 4 cell packs. I just did not want to invest a ton into this project if it just blows up. I do see your point on more cells...and on the amp topic I have to agree with you. I hope it holds up...4 cells would be fun.

It's still a cool cheap basher "thumbsup" How do you like the Zippy batteries ? I have used some smaller maH 3 and 4s packs in my comp rigs and they work great.

 

[xirtic]

It's still a cool cheap basher "thumbsup" How do you like the Zippy batteries ? I have used some smaller maH 3 and 4s packs in my comp rigs and they work great.

These Zippy-R batteries work GREAT. They charge/balance constantly, and they supply a good punch. The wires are 8ga, and really are beefy. IT was fun putting a deans on those monsters.

I run a Zippy-H 1450mah 3Cell in my comp Bully crawler...and it also holds up well. I really have no complaints, and at the cost....they really perform.

 

[chip cross]

These Zippy-R batteries work GREAT. They charge/balance constantly, and they supply a good punch. The wires are 8ga, and really are beefy. IT was fun putting a deans on those monsters.

I run a Zippy-H 1450mah 3Cell in my comp Bully crawler...and it also holds up well. I really have no complaints, and at the cost....they really perform.

8 ga wire !!! Damn :shock::shock: I use the Zippy-H 1450 maH packs as well that pack is a very good pack. IMO

 

[xirtic]

8 ga wire !!! Damn :shock::shock: I use the Zippy-H 1450 maH packs as well that pack is a very good pack. IMO

I am all about supporting our vendors....and they get a lot of my $$$. I am sponsored by RCSLOT....but I still buy quite a bit from the other RCC guys as well. (Current pending orders with JP for Warrior Motors) Some of the SCRC guys are even vendors here ("JetBoat"), and I may be trying to get a vendor star if my links pass the testing as intended. BUT, batteries are a strange topic. I just cannot justify what some vendors charge for Lipo batteries. IF I can get a nice quality good C rated battery from HobbyCity....for 1/2 of the price (or less) of a battery from a U.S. vendor, my money is going to go to HobbyCity. That allows me to buy more of the other parts from the RCC vendors. I no longer buy links or plate materials from vendors as I machine my own from McMaster Carr materials (Their Chicago warehouse is 10 minutes from my office), but items like chassis, motors, ESCs, and axles definitely are purchase types of items. With Zippy's quality....they will keep getting my battery $$$.

 

[chip cross]

BUT, batteries are a strange topic. I just cannot justify what some vendors charge for Lipo batteries. IF I can get a nice quality good C rated battery from HobbyCity....for 1/2 of the price (or less) of a battery from a U.S. vendor, my money is going to go to HobbyCity.

Ohhhh, that is easy ADVERTISEMENT !!! ;-)

With Zippy's quality....they will keep getting my battery $$$.

Agreed !!!

 

[xirtic]

Ohhhh, that is easy ADVERTISEMENT !!! ;-)



Agreed !!!

At least I did not say WHO the U.S. based vendors were. "thumbsup"

 

[chip cross]

At least I did not say WHO the U.S. based vendors were. "thumbsup"

Whatcha talkin' bout Willis ?? :lol:;-)

 

[xirtic]

OK...I just got it weighed.

I am finding this number to be higher than I thought that it would be, but here it is:

With the 4800mah 3cell installed, it is weighing in at 16.25 pounds. According to Duratrax, this truck only weighed 11.9 pounds in it's nitro form. This is without fuel and RX battery. Even if a 5 cell pack and 220cc of fuel pushed it up a pound to 12.75 pounds for the Nitro, Where are these extra 3.5 pounds coming from?

I removed the following:
Fuel Tank (2 oz)
Fuel Lines (1 oz)
Motor (14oz)
Motor mounts (1 oz)
Motor frame bracing (2oz)
Exhaust (3 oz)
Reverse parts from transmission (1 oz)
Reverse Servo (2 oz)
Fuel (7 oz)
RX Battery (4oz)

Total Estimated REMOVED = 2 pounds 5 oz
(Weights obtained from various google searches and not actually weighing items that I no longer have)


Weight of components added
Feigao Motor w/ pinion (14oz)
Custom Motor Mount (2 oz)
MMM v3 ESC (4 oz)
Lipo (16 oz)
Motor Clamp (2 oz)

Total Estimated weight ADDED = 2 pounds 6 oz

Ignoring wheels/tires this means that I broke pretty much even. There is a substantial weight difference between the stockers and the Maximizer beadlocks with Mulchers....the stockers must be about 25% - 30% heavier....but I just cannot find weights on-line.

I also have found another guy running a similar setup, but his is weighing in at 13 pounds with stock tires.

I have to believe that the HUMAN doctor type scale here at work is inaccurate at the lower weights....but until I can get to another scale, the pig weighs in at 16.25 pounds. I cannot believe that number.

 

[xirtic]

So today I installed the Duratrax RT-X Transmission in the Warhead EVO....it is a direct fit. The Warhead Forums say that this swap provides a more responsive/quicker revving transmission. They were RIGHT!!!

I also switched to a 16T pinion from 15T. This small change along with the RT-X transmission have turned this conversion into a "Wheelie-on-Demand" machine. It is a FUN basher.