So this spring as many of us do, we prep for the coming season here in Michigan, known as the Construction Season. lol Mostly cuz our roads are tore up, but also becuz it gets warm and its time to play.
So this one was a full piece by piece teardown and rebuild. nothing but the motor (which is running great after 8plus gallons so way fudge with it) was left alone. it was all fingered grotesquely be me for a few days until the entire process was complete.
For those that are new to the bajas or just havnt followed any of my previous build threads on the Mean Green, this is a first edition rtr i purchased in june of 06. it very well be the LAST rtr baja sold in the US from the 1st shipment. i was a bit late to the purchasing game, and searched hi and low for 4 days and finially found this at a hs in fla. got it shipped to me door for smooth 1001.00 which was a good price as most of the first load of rtrs went for 1050.00 retail.
so there are STILL stock items on this baja that are 3 yrs old. Most all of the aftermarket parts are either prototype parts, or first generation parts. As a result of the majority of prototypes i have been honored to have the ability to test out for the various manufacturers, i am dubing this Baja the Proto Racer.
on to the specs and rebuild info:
Stock RTR Chassis and most of the plastics are stock parts also. The original purple was stripped and re annod Green and Black by myself.
*ESP 27.2 with 8 plus gallons. no issues. 1st run motor.
JP Track Pipe 1st run so far im liking the pipe. would like a bit more low, but i can take care of that with an adjustment to the clutch
*Turtle Racing HD Clutch system with 18t 1st run
*Elcon 4shoe adj clutch with TT2 Ti plate set around 6300 rpm (no tach to check) Ti plate is Proto
*Hostile Hobby 56t Matched Spur Spur is Proto
*stock rtr tranny system with 1st run Turtle Racing Diff Saver cases. 1.5 yrs use and never touched. when i went thru it, other than a broken cross pin in the diff it was perfect. couldnt really tell the cross pin was broke it was held together so well. stuffed in a new cross pin and got tricky with the diff fluid. I only had stock 1K weight, and some Muegan 30K weight diff fluid. so i filled it about 1/3 the way with the 30K, then finished up with the 1K fluid. i also slightly overfilled the diff. i went just above the cross pins instead of to them. i like the results. i diff but not too much unless i m getting hella traction, like i do in my yard. Gotta love the TR Diff Saver Cases!!!
*PhatDad RC Nutted Hinge Pins proto
*PhatDad RC DriveShafts proto
*Turtle Racing Front top plate proto
*Turtle Racing rear hd shock brace proto
*RAMTech front shock tower with FLM shock brace and TGN caps Shock tower is Proto FLM Brace is 1st run
*Threshold Front Bulkhead Prototype
i installed the newest version HPI rear a arms and RPM fronts arms. i used the front castor spacers and thinned them down a bit and installed them in the rear of my lower arms between the arm and the hinge pin plate. this took ALL of the slop out of them. Much better.
*PhatDad RC Prototype Shock Shafts for the RTR. I got these to test from Tom Before Any of his shock shafts were released. These are actually two versions prior to what you can get new when you buy them new. Again these have 1.5 or close to 2 yrs on them. I have bent afew of this perticular set, but i was being Stupid, or otherwise called Product Testing. lol which seems to be the way this baja has been used for.
*Threshold Ressis and the new Threshold Crowns. These Crowns are Prototypes. they work Great Man. Like an old school Motor cross shock quick adjustment. you also see these on road bike like Harley Davidson ect..... shocks are pretty much bullet proof and with the Crowns, setup and adjustment for the race track should be a breeze.
*TFE Pro Bearings in it. I took every one of them and regreased them. again hasnt been touched in about 1.5 yrs. except for general maintenance and repair, as well as replaceing the occasional front hub bearing from loosing a wheel.
*OFF/TR Ulitimate brake upgrade from the Hooters baja on here to try to lighten it up some. also a first run.
*Scorpion Unlimited Front Chassis kickup plate in Satin.
*Hostile Hobby Proto MX Minis Mediums and MX Hards HPI knobby fronts. Both Protos
*Hostile Hobby MX Mini V2s mounted and ready for the track. so far i love them but have gave them very lil time atm, just waiting to get her on the track. these are also Proto
*Silverback BeadLocks Rings. Protos. I have the outers on the rear wheels, and the inners on the front wheels. They have probably just about 2 gallons on them now that winter is gone and its warming up nicely. They have been very good and no problems. ive been trying to abuse them pretty good, though i havnt had ALOT of chance to start jumping them yet. Cant wait to get the newest version of Lipped Beadlock Rings and Rims SilverBack is releasing soon.
*Phatdad RC Turnbuckles front and back installed.
*Modifier RC V1 rear Bumper
*Rhino Racing choke lever
*Rhino Racing CF Roof Scoop
*Rhino Racing Underbody Pod Proto and removed atm, will be going back on soon
Overall its been a great experience on the race rebuild. I built it for Handleing, Control Durability and Stability during a race. Im quite pleased with the way it is handleing.
And i am happy to report, pretty much every 1st generation and prototype part on this baja has been working as its expected to work, has been Durable as hell, and have kept me going much more often than they have let me down. unless im getting stupid, ive been able to pretty much gas and go this thing for coming up on 2 yrs now.
enough of the babble, on to the pics
these are the cups from my initial repalcement diff from HPI. my orig diff was blown, and hpi pulled this diff out of on they had there and sent it to me, this was july or aug of 06. 3 months later the Turtle Diff Saver Case was almost ready and i installed it, and other than a flush and new diff fluid 1.5 yrs ago its not been touched. so newer diff cups went in.
these are the original drive cups. no i didnt replace them, i just flipped them form side to side and now im running on the nice flat side.
now you look at those cups, both diffs and drives) and the wear they show, and then take into consideration the motors ran, stock 23, DDM RP 28.5, ESP 27.2, with pipes ran, TGN Race Pipe, DDM rear Dom, GBE SB, and add all that up using the Phatdad Driveshafts, on Hostile Hobby MXs and Mini MXs for hella traction in all scenarios, to Me, that is a testament to how well HPI did with the baja in the first place, and our aftermarket guys like Phatdad have done to bring us Quality and Affordable parts.
re building shocks with 20w oil all around
and now
presenting the new and improved
Proto Racer
so thats about it for the Mean Green Transformation into the Proto Racer.
i have to get a new body done up, but that wont be too far along. going with something Green and White and it will get a white wing as well.
So this one was a full piece by piece teardown and rebuild. nothing but the motor (which is running great after 8plus gallons so way fudge with it) was left alone. it was all fingered grotesquely be me for a few days until the entire process was complete.
For those that are new to the bajas or just havnt followed any of my previous build threads on the Mean Green, this is a first edition rtr i purchased in june of 06. it very well be the LAST rtr baja sold in the US from the 1st shipment. i was a bit late to the purchasing game, and searched hi and low for 4 days and finially found this at a hs in fla. got it shipped to me door for smooth 1001.00 which was a good price as most of the first load of rtrs went for 1050.00 retail.
so there are STILL stock items on this baja that are 3 yrs old. Most all of the aftermarket parts are either prototype parts, or first generation parts. As a result of the majority of prototypes i have been honored to have the ability to test out for the various manufacturers, i am dubing this Baja the Proto Racer.
on to the specs and rebuild info:
Stock RTR Chassis and most of the plastics are stock parts also. The original purple was stripped and re annod Green and Black by myself.
*ESP 27.2 with 8 plus gallons. no issues. 1st run motor.
JP Track Pipe 1st run so far im liking the pipe. would like a bit more low, but i can take care of that with an adjustment to the clutch
*Turtle Racing HD Clutch system with 18t 1st run
*Elcon 4shoe adj clutch with TT2 Ti plate set around 6300 rpm (no tach to check) Ti plate is Proto
*Hostile Hobby 56t Matched Spur Spur is Proto
*stock rtr tranny system with 1st run Turtle Racing Diff Saver cases. 1.5 yrs use and never touched. when i went thru it, other than a broken cross pin in the diff it was perfect. couldnt really tell the cross pin was broke it was held together so well. stuffed in a new cross pin and got tricky with the diff fluid. I only had stock 1K weight, and some Muegan 30K weight diff fluid. so i filled it about 1/3 the way with the 30K, then finished up with the 1K fluid. i also slightly overfilled the diff. i went just above the cross pins instead of to them. i like the results. i diff but not too much unless i m getting hella traction, like i do in my yard. Gotta love the TR Diff Saver Cases!!!
*PhatDad RC Nutted Hinge Pins proto
*PhatDad RC DriveShafts proto
*Turtle Racing Front top plate proto
*Turtle Racing rear hd shock brace proto
*RAMTech front shock tower with FLM shock brace and TGN caps Shock tower is Proto FLM Brace is 1st run
*Threshold Front Bulkhead Prototype
i installed the newest version HPI rear a arms and RPM fronts arms. i used the front castor spacers and thinned them down a bit and installed them in the rear of my lower arms between the arm and the hinge pin plate. this took ALL of the slop out of them. Much better.
*PhatDad RC Prototype Shock Shafts for the RTR. I got these to test from Tom Before Any of his shock shafts were released. These are actually two versions prior to what you can get new when you buy them new. Again these have 1.5 or close to 2 yrs on them. I have bent afew of this perticular set, but i was being Stupid, or otherwise called Product Testing. lol which seems to be the way this baja has been used for.
*Threshold Ressis and the new Threshold Crowns. These Crowns are Prototypes. they work Great Man. Like an old school Motor cross shock quick adjustment. you also see these on road bike like Harley Davidson ect..... shocks are pretty much bullet proof and with the Crowns, setup and adjustment for the race track should be a breeze.
*TFE Pro Bearings in it. I took every one of them and regreased them. again hasnt been touched in about 1.5 yrs. except for general maintenance and repair, as well as replaceing the occasional front hub bearing from loosing a wheel.
*OFF/TR Ulitimate brake upgrade from the Hooters baja on here to try to lighten it up some. also a first run.
*Scorpion Unlimited Front Chassis kickup plate in Satin.
*Hostile Hobby Proto MX Minis Mediums and MX Hards HPI knobby fronts. Both Protos
*Hostile Hobby MX Mini V2s mounted and ready for the track. so far i love them but have gave them very lil time atm, just waiting to get her on the track. these are also Proto
*Silverback BeadLocks Rings. Protos. I have the outers on the rear wheels, and the inners on the front wheels. They have probably just about 2 gallons on them now that winter is gone and its warming up nicely. They have been very good and no problems. ive been trying to abuse them pretty good, though i havnt had ALOT of chance to start jumping them yet. Cant wait to get the newest version of Lipped Beadlock Rings and Rims SilverBack is releasing soon.
*Phatdad RC Turnbuckles front and back installed.
*Modifier RC V1 rear Bumper
*Rhino Racing choke lever
*Rhino Racing CF Roof Scoop
*Rhino Racing Underbody Pod Proto and removed atm, will be going back on soon
Overall its been a great experience on the race rebuild. I built it for Handleing, Control Durability and Stability during a race. Im quite pleased with the way it is handleing.
And i am happy to report, pretty much every 1st generation and prototype part on this baja has been working as its expected to work, has been Durable as hell, and have kept me going much more often than they have let me down. unless im getting stupid, ive been able to pretty much gas and go this thing for coming up on 2 yrs now.
enough of the babble, on to the pics
these are the cups from my initial repalcement diff from HPI. my orig diff was blown, and hpi pulled this diff out of on they had there and sent it to me, this was july or aug of 06. 3 months later the Turtle Diff Saver Case was almost ready and i installed it, and other than a flush and new diff fluid 1.5 yrs ago its not been touched. so newer diff cups went in.
these are the original drive cups. no i didnt replace them, i just flipped them form side to side and now im running on the nice flat side.
now you look at those cups, both diffs and drives) and the wear they show, and then take into consideration the motors ran, stock 23, DDM RP 28.5, ESP 27.2, with pipes ran, TGN Race Pipe, DDM rear Dom, GBE SB, and add all that up using the Phatdad Driveshafts, on Hostile Hobby MXs and Mini MXs for hella traction in all scenarios, to Me, that is a testament to how well HPI did with the baja in the first place, and our aftermarket guys like Phatdad have done to bring us Quality and Affordable parts.
re building shocks with 20w oil all around
and now
presenting the new and improved
Proto Racer
so thats about it for the Mean Green Transformation into the Proto Racer.
i have to get a new body done up, but that wont be too far along. going with something Green and White and it will get a white wing as well.
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