Cheap speed 3 ZMT_10 project

 Well I bought The ZMT-10 mostly to continue my cheap speed post and to show how fast you can make a R.C. on a budget. so we already have a baseline of out of the box performance . At 17 MPH after installing bearing's. After a couple more packs the bearing', motor and drive gears should be broke in more and reduce the drivtrain's friction and allow additional top speed and I will take a new baseline test to see if there is a measurable change .  then expect to to see the power levels to start raising

Broke it

Well I broke my ZD Racing Zmt-10 / Turnigy Stadium King  the other day . Truth be told I was trying to break it . Here is the video's that go along with my first breakage.

Made some video's of the ZD Racing ZMT-10 / Turnigy Stadium King 2wd truck

Well I made some video's about my ZD Racing ZMT-10 / Turnigy Stadium King 2wd truck so check them out . Check back for more Info .

Closer look

First drive 

Better driving video

Why are there extra steering and camber links

Gps speed run

Parts swapping Zmt-10 / Turnigy Stadium King and the Traxxas Rustler.

Well the bad news is most of the parts for the Traxxas rustler are not a direct bolt .

The one plastic part you can take off of a rustler and bolt on with out any modifications is the rear shock tower . yep that's it .

The problem for true interchange ability is that ZD Racing used smaller hinge pin's then Traxxas  at most joints .

The reality is if you have a 1/8th inch drill bit and a small file you can run Traxxas suspension part's just make sure you get the matching Traxxas pin's .

The Traxxas  front shock tower is not wide enough for the ZD top plate to pass through it.

The front bumper will interchange if the front inner lower control arm pins are retained differently than stock.

Now the transmission  guts are very different and Traxxas components will not fit .

The Traxxas  transmission would bolt on for the most part but some adaptation will be required to use ether one of the shock tower's .

I did try to bolt a Traxxas slipper clutch on the input shaft and the shaft is to short for proper fitment.

The front and rear hub's will  swap easily with a bit of work.

The front and rear should be able to use after market camber links for the rustler .

The rear drive-shafts and axles will not interchange but the front axles will swap.

Swapping the top plate would take some work and the same goes for the bell crank system but maybe possible.

Rims will swap of course a will wheel hex's.

The stock spur and pinion are 48 pitch .

If I have not mentioned it here it probable wont fit at all.

I have abandoned making a part# list because almost everything listed here will swap but will require some light modification .

well Its here My brushed zmt-10 / turnigy stadium king truck

Well I placed my order and got my truck in  ordered it on Saturday and got it Tuesday I am very happy with the seller .
 http://www.ebay.com/sch/donnajay68/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686

Now first thing's first . These are my Initial thoughts. from staring at it and driving it a little

The bad .  

1. 3 of the 4 shocks had leaked out almost all their oil before I received it .
2. The included battery was almost useless .
3. The stock motor not really practical for the application it's a 540 motor but it has a fan installed in a manner that makes the winding's  shorter lowering the torque the motor will produce when compared to a normal 540 motor used in R.C.  
4. Since they picked the wrong motor there claim of 30mph is unlikly even with a different battery .
5. One of my front tire's has a serious defect
6. bushings .
7. spur gear and pinion cover is a chore to remove

The annoying

1. Why does every body use brass pinions 
2. The tires are really out of balance 
3. screws are soft and you must use the right screw driver or risk damaging them 
4. steering has more slop then I would like for a new truck
5. thread lock on the pinion set screw
6. ESC looks cobbled together and unfinished

The good 

1. ESC is rated at 300 amp's (it's what the manual say's) if that's true you can upgrade to a good brushed motor
2. big bore shocks
3. The plastic motor mount has a aluminum brace
4. tire compound is pretty good for a rtr the stiff foams hold them back though
5. The slipper clutch design will allow other brands spur gears to be used
6. front has aluminum hinge pin brace
7. battery compartment is easily expandable but will onlyfit a 6 cell NIMH stick pack or 7 cell hump pack
8. uses standard 12mm hex's 

More to follow check back soon.

Why did I buy a ZMT-10 / Turnigy Stadium King

Well a while back I did a review on a forum of the 1/16th scale car's I got off of Ebay .
I personally was quite satisfied with what I have gotten for my money with them .

That is not the reason I bought this truck . I bought it because it is available to the mass's and part's support from hobby king in my opinion is acceptable if your prepared  and stock up on item's. But what drew me In is the lure of a car that will except Traxxas replacement and upgrade part's. If this rumor is true then this car has exceptional value .


Now in the off chance that the rumor's are wrong I don't think this car will be a bad value unless ZD Racing has changed the plastic formula from what they used on the 1/16th scale car's.

Just for fun I have made list  of all the 2wd stadium trucks I could find that are popular for the bashing crowd and would be considered competitors  .

ECX RC Circuit 1/10th Stadium Truck  $99.99
[ECX1100]  http://www.ecxrc.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ECX1100

Sadly these guys are on there way out if you want one get it now Down side mostly the plastic transmission  gears and AM 27MHZ radio system

RedCat Twister XTG 1/10 Scale Electric 2WD Stadium Truck $119.99
http://www.redcatracing.com/Twister-XTG-Brushed

2.4GHz radio very adjustable for a budget car 

Duratrax Evader EXT2 EP RTR  $129.99

http://www.duratrax.com/vehicles/electric/dtxd32-evader-ext2/index.html

Up side full bearings , has adjustable turnbuckles, battery, charger and accessories  down side AM 27MHz radio system.

Arrma Vortex 1/10 Electric RTR Stadium Truck w/ATX300 2.4GHz, Battery & Charger (Blue) $169.99
[ARAD03BB]  http://www.arrma-rc.com/radio-controlled-cars/vortex/

Only real advantage's I have come up with is that Arrma installed a 15 turn motor so It should be a little faster out of the box it has a 2.4ghz radio system and steel transmission gears.

ECX RC Circuit 1/10th Stadium Truck RTR w/2.4GHz Radio (Gray)  $169.99
[ECX1100S]  http://www.ecxrc.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ECX1100S

They upgraded the drivetrain for improved reliability and thru in a 15 turn motor and a 2.4GHZ radio system and a little faster battery charger

Phoenix XT RTR 2wd Brushless 1/10th Truck $179.99

TTR6571-F071          http://www.ttamerica.com/cars/ttrd76.html#

Up side cheap,2.4GHz radio system ,and it's brushless down side will need a  battery, charger and accessories and part's support is mostly online.

RedCat Twister XTG PRO 1/10 Scale Electric 2WD Stadium Truck $189.99   http://www.redcatracing.com/Twister-XTG-Brushless

has a 2.4GHz radio system Plus a brushless motor system and is  very adjustable for a budget car

Traxxas Rustler XL-5 2WD RTR w/7-Cell Battery & Charger $214.98

3705    http://traxxas.com/products/models/electric/3705rustler

Up side You can find parts everywhere , it comes with a 7cell battery charger and accessories  . down side everyone has one , there expensive and barely a good value when compared to the  when compared to trucks like the The Brushless Evader

Duratrax Evader Brushless 2.4GHz RTR        $229.98

http://www.duratrax.com/vehicles/electric/dtxd37-evader-brushless/index.html

Up side Has a brushless system , has a 2.4ghz system ,parts are almost as common as Traxxas . down side will need a Lipo battery, charger and accessories 

Traxxas Rustler VXL 2.4GHz RTR w/7C Battery & Charger

$344.97

3707                  http://traxxas.com/products/models/electric/3707Lrustlervxl

Up side You can find parts everywhere , it comes with a 7cell battery charger and accessories  . down side everyone has one , there expensive and barely a good value when compared to the  when compared to trucks like the The Brushless Evader