Building a Trophy Truck. What power plant do I use?

[KevinH]

I’ve decided that my next project will be a 1/5 scale Trophy Truck. I was going to build a 1/5 scale monster truck but I think I need to switch things up. I’m monster trucked out. I will be using HPI Baja 5T shocks and tires and then I will pretty much be designing and making the rest of the truck myself. The only problem that I have is that I’m unsure of what power plant to use. I can go with electric. That will be cool because I can build a more scale truck but it won’t have the cool sound and smell of a gas burning engine. If I go with the standard “weed wacker” engine then I won’t have any room to build a cool interior. What do you guys want to see?

[rccardude04]

I'm curious as to whether or not the Mamba Monster has the power handling necessary for this type of conversion.

-Eric

[KevinH]

A lot of guys are converting their Baja 5Bs and 5Ts to electric so I know there are systems out there that can push this big truck around.

[Sorcerer001]

Conley V8, baby. I mean, if you want to build the coolest trophy truck around, anyway.

[Sorcerer001]

I'm a pretty die hard electric guy, but the expense of the batteries just to push around a 1/5th scale vehicle with authority and provide decent run time... I don't know if it'd be worth the effort. Yep, those Conley V8's are pricey, but imagine the sound of that thing loading and unloading over a set of whoops...

[KevinH]

Conley V8, baby. I mean, if you want to build the coolest trophy truck around, anyway.

That is a GREAT idea. Not sure that I can get my hands on one.

[Big-Bus7]

i would go gas put the engine in the way back, like they do with the real ones, look at some pictures of the reall corr trucks witht he body off and try to layout all the parts like they have them in the 1:1 scales.

[Sorcerer001]

That is a GREAT idea. Not sure that I can get my hands on one.

Come on, man. You work for freakin' RCCA! Swing that weight around! Call up Conley and just throw out the old "Hey, buddy! Guess who this is?". I'll bet they'll send out an assembled kit ASAP, lol.
Seriously, though - it'd be pretty sweet to just convince them to send you a loaner for an article. I assume this is going to be a feature, anyway. It's been a long time since you guys profiled Conley - they (he) may see the value in some free advertising to a fresh market. You could always swap in a 26cc engine once you've finished the project.
I honestly couldn't think of a better way to show off a Conley V8 than in a scale CORR truck, given the recent explosion in popularity. I'm sure you've already done so, but crank the speakers and watch the Conley youtube videos again. And again. It's mesmerizing.

[MrCrash]

If you can't get a Conley, how about an opposed twin 2-stroke, or even a 4-stroke?

[KevinH]

If you can't get a Conley, how about an opposed twin 2-stroke, or even a 4-stroke?

That would look cool but won't have enough power. Right now I'm going with a gas engine. I am mounting it just behind the cab and I'm going to make a custom exhaust. This truck is going to be sweet.

[MrCrash]

For the record, I meant a gas opposed twin like in large scale planes. Same for the 4 stroke. For the gas engine, are you going for a normal or a reed style engine? I know some of engine builders for the Baja are getting some killer power out of the reed engines. I just think something like this is going to need a retarded amount of power :p

[KevinH]

For the record, I meant a gas opposed twin like in large scale planes. Same for the 4 stroke. For the gas engine, are you going for a normal or a reed style engine? I know some of engine builders for the Baja are getting some killer power out of the reed engines. I just think something like this is going to need a retarded amount of power :p

Didn't even think you were talking gas. That's a good idea but won't work because of the size of the engine. I'm looking for something as small as possible and because of your suggestion I came across some airplane 2-stroke gas engines that may work. I just have to figure out how to start it. I'm not looking for crazy horsepower here.