Upgrade a cheapo RC car

[KDminx]

My son was gifted a cheapo 1:18 (I think) RC car by his grandparents a few years ago. It is a nippy little thing but the batteries are toast and he needs something with a bit more go.

I've been looking at proper 3S bashers and I'm sure Santa will oblige him one of those. In the meantime I really fancy having a go at upgrading it. I'm thinking: motor/esc, battery and suspension.

 

However I don't have a clue what to order or if that is possible. Obviously don't want to spend too much money. Motor is c. 27mm in diameter and 50mm long.

[TommyC]

Looks doable. But if you want a brushless setup and new shocks you can expect to spend minimum £60.

 

to make thinks easier it’s good to know what diameter shaft the motor has so you can use the same pinion gear.

Edited August 13 by TommyC

[Lone-wolf]

you would need motor, esc and radio gear and possibly a servo, just buy a brushless MJX hyper go from banggood

 

https://www.banggood.com/MJX-HYPER-GO-16208-16209-1-or-16-Brushless-High-Speed-RC-Car-Vehicle-Models-45km-or-h-p-1967165.html?cur_warehouse=CN&ID=510808&rmmds=CategoryToysPop&trace_id=d1b91723575030938

[wombat]

As @Lone-wolf says, cheapo rc cars are cheap for a reason 

[bertberr]

Looks like a WL Toys A979.  I'd be more concerned about supply of breakable parts, well those parts you're more likely to break, ie arms, knuckles, hubs, bumpers, body mounts etc.  Ebay, BG used to have loads of parts for these little 1/18 wltoys cars, less so now, though you can still find parts on AE.  Personally, as others have said above, I don't reckon its worth spending any money on it, so many other better/stronger little bashers out there now - HBX 16889, MJX 16208, SCY 16101 for not a lot of money.  I'd perhaps source a cheap little 2S lipo and just enjoy it for what it is in more confined spaces, and continue your RC journey with a decent 1/10 basher. 

[KDminx]

Thanks everyone. It is definitely an A979, that info has helped me look for parts etc.

 

I agree the cost of a brushless motor and ESC cannot be justified, and even upgraded shocks or steering servo can’t really be justified. 
 

I’ve ordered: a pair of OEM shocks to replace the broken one, some shock oil to refill the other pair, 2x 2S LiPos and a usb charger with the correct connectors. That should be enough to get it running nicely the boost from 6.4 to 7.4V will hopefully give a noticeable performance increase. 

 

Then Santa can worry about the 1:10 3S or 4S real-deal. 

[Lone-wolf]

Good move going to 2s lipo will give it a boost and by xmas the new MJX hyper go 1/10 V2 should be in the shops, or banggood and that is a 4s monster super tough

[300bhp/ton]

On 13/08/2024 at 18:34, KDminx said:

I really fancy having a go at upgrading it. I'm thinking: motor/esc, battery and suspension.

 

However I don't have a clue what to order or if that is possible. Obviously don't want to spend too much money. Motor is c. 27mm in diameter and 50mm long.

 

 

So long as you do it for fun and not for any other goal, then it should be fine. As the likelihood is, you'll spend more than you want to and it'll never quite perform how you intend.

 

As for upgrading.... doesn't this run 2S LiPo already? I've never seen or used one of these, but a quick Google and the ads all claim 43mph capability. Which frankly sounds fast enough to bordering on too fast for a 1/18th scale. It must be a handful at times.

 

A simple upgrade would be something like a 3S capable ESC (QUICRUN 1060 maybe) and a 3S battery. Going brushless seems an overly expensive route IMO and brushed motors can still deliver pretty good.

 

Likewise with the shocks. What is wrong with them? Do they break or is there something you aren't happy with? Not sure if they are friction or oil filled. If oil filled, then changing the oil and/or springs would work, not need for new shocks really.

 

Google says no bearings, so maybe price up some for it. 

 

Ultimately though, unless you want to make a bling shelf Queen, it likely has limited potential to upgrade. And by all accounts should perform pretty decent anyway.