If you're going with a MRS4 upgrade motor or Mini-T motor, an xmod board with a Nelly should be able to handle it. The spy definitely won't be able to handle a 540.

Yeh, I have noticed the painful expense of tiny ESC's. I am sure I will figure something out. I will get something to work. Right now I am working to get the money to build the dang thing. I am thinking. I could get a performance motor for an RS4 or a mini t and use it, but I have this knack. ..this itch.... I want to see what the 540 would do, and I said I would do it and I pretty much have to now. But I honestly want to see what kind of monster I can create.
First things are first however. I need a chassis, a radio, and a servo.
Then I will go into mounting the beast. I amthinking of using a spacer to lenthen the chassis for the 540 and bringing it back to stocl length for the brushles conversion. Also as far as that driveshaft goes, instead of CF I am going to get an aluminum rod and fashion a longer driveshaft out of it.
I guess I am going to end up spending like, $50 on an ESC. Oh well, when i convert the car to brushless I can use it in my MRC unkown name monster truck I have. Should I go with something like the novak spy? or is there something equivelant and cheaper you know of? or something better for the same price and size. (space is still very much an issue.)

The 300-sized motors are what are used, but the mamba is slightly smaller than that in diameter (round 180-sized). If you have interference problems with the Mini-X receiver, just put some aluminum foil around it. It doesn't look good, but you won't get interference (mine does probably because it's next to the motor). As for the ESC, there's a cheap Tamiya ESC that'll handle down to a 15 turn, but you can't run it through the Mini-X rx because it uses a separate plug to power the receiver. There are some tiny powerful ones, but they're ridiculously expensive.

Ive decided to take a page out of your book and use a mini x Rx. It is smaller, and WAY cheaper, and will work with that $10 futaba t2ph Tx.

Ok, I have a question. What size motor comes standard in most 1/18 scale vehicles such as the MRS4, Mini-T and the RC18? 300-400 sumthing like that?

Seeing as how I planned to use a 1/18th cale motor to begin with... I am looking in to Rs4 and Mini T motors, versus the 540.

My main worry with the 540 is the ESC. I need something small that can still deliver enough current.

Did you measure that Futaba rx? It might be too big even w/o the casing. That transmitter should be fine.

Dude, I came into this hellbent on a 540(and I will still experiment with it) but you truly inspired me to build something great.
Thats what I was thinking, but I figured it would be worth asking.

I am thinking of getting this transmitter because it is cheap.

http://www.rcmart.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=421_36_48&products_id=3456

and this is the reciever I want to use.

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXN510&P=0

that should run me about $30-35 total.

If I do go with that hitec Agressor setup below, I will probably take the Rx out of its casing and heat shrink wrap it. (assuming I can find the heat shrink)

[url]http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXCXM5**&P=0[/url]

Thanks for the compliment. The xmod transmitter won't work with any aftermarket electronics.

Picked up a brand new set of bearings, (NOT RS but equivelent) for $9.43 shipped.

Thats one ting off the list.

I am ging to try and do installs and service for people as well as sell my old EP and chassis, and things like that. If I can at least get this done by Christmas I will be happy...lol. Cant afford to put too much into it, I have to pay for my real car too.

**UPDATE on the TOPIC of a 1/18th motor in an x mod.**
What I have learned.
The brushless system is truly the ultimate 1/28th to 1/18th motor conversion though.

No greater speed and power can be found and I believe the people who take the time effort and have the skill to put something like that together in a 1/28th scale format are truly the great x-modders. Those who can take teh power and performance of a 1/18th scale car and make it work in something half the size, are truly gifted.

For those of you such as viperdout and brickmodder who have lead the way to this new era in x modding. I salute you!

EDIT: can the stock x mods transmitter be used with an aftermarket reciever?

thanks, thats pretty cool. a wider tire might help out back.

The rear wheels are wider than the fronts, which was done so you can use Mini-Z tires.

Ok thanks.
so the topcad wheel widths are offset?

Well, the tires are designed for a Mini-Z, so you'll have to look in there. They need to be 11mm wide in back (which are hard to find on that site but there) and 8.5-9.5mm for the front. You need foams on the drive wheels, so if you go RWD, there's no need to get them for the front.

ok ill look again. i didnt see them. What brand are they?

www.rcmart.com

Here is the body I would like to fit onto this Monster once I am done.

http://store.yahoo.com/matrixcollectibles/veils15silco.html

Still looking for the foam tires too. If anyone knows as to thwere I can find some.

most of my other rc stuff is used anyways.
what brand was it?
yeh i actually saw the hitec 2 ch agressor i wanted for $30 somethin new, on ebay.tx rx and a servo.with crystals.

i got a radio off ebay the other day for 30$ that had been pulled out of a car after about two runs....used electronics arent WONDERFUL but there not a bad way to go for the price

oK thanks, i can always spray down the shack bearings with wd40.

I use shims to get my wheels nice and tight anyways.

ok so as of now: i am looking at 100$ in a Tx and Rx + the chassis.
$50- on a ESC and $15 on a venom fireball. $20 for bearings.
$20 in allow drivetrain out back.

Then when i get the dough saved up: $120 in a mamba 6800 combo

Then the esc and the fireball will go in another vehicle i have here. or my boat.

There's no spare plug to power the receiver. It sends power just straight through whatever channel (channel 2 for a pistol grip setup) you plug it into.

As for bearings, I actually am still using the radio shack bearings with 0 problems at all. Tiny RC shielded bearings might be better, but since they're dry, they might heat up too much and seize.

crap... i am going to need bearings, i need to keep this car running on something smooth and stable if it goes as fast as i plan. any suggestions on best set for the cheapest price?

alright makes sense, i guess i was just expecting to see the power plug for the reciever. i dunno, as long as it works when i plug it all together.

The Mamba ESC? I believe that's the on/off switch...

nice, and thanks for the gear info. what is the switch for in the pic of the ESC?

yeh the reciever measurements are bigger than the other one i looked at, I may buy a differnet hitec one, and sell the old one. also those servos that come with it. I think they are too big to use, so i guess i will just sell them too. or throw them on another project i have layin aroudn here.

thanks for that, i got confused as to which charger to use, i was looking at the cheapest at that moment.

alos: does the mamba speed control have the power plugs for the servo and reciever? or will i have to solder those on?

UPDATE: THE CURRENT plan is to still use a 540 in my new chassis and all. Once I get the funds for the brushless setup, I will get it and install it into the chassis and do what tinkering needs to be done.

And this really haasnt gotten off topic, it expsed an error on my part though. I said, i wanted to puit a 1/18th scale car motor in my car, the mamba is. The 540 is a 1.10th scale motor, as I now know. So yeh.. my bad. back to mamba madness....

Oh yeh by the way, anyone know what pitch the x-mod gears are?