Personally, i wouldnt convert the raven.... i dont mean to sound snobby or anything like that because i understand why you picked it, like you said, its cheap, but its cheap for a reason.
If i were you i would design the car around one of the better buggies out their, B4, xxx, xxxcr, or maybe even an RB5. the parts are more readily available and generally of better quality. If you picked something like one of these buggies, its gives you a great starting point (the B4 isnt world champion for nothing after all).
I have made a conversion for the B4 to make it mid motor (check it out:
http://www.oople.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5477 ) the main reason i chose the B4 was because:
1. i had one lying around
2. its world champ so theres a start
3. good quailty of parts
4. i couldnt afford to buy a sheet of carbon fibre and get it cut to my own chassis design
Some tips i can offer from making my conversion:
- Dont rush into it
- Plan it, re-plan it and plan it again
- Draw up accurate diagrams of the car and the parts needed
- Make prototype parts out of someting cheapish to make sure it all fits
- Make a second prototype out of parts which can withstand racing
- Race the prototype you have made
- Summarise all your findings from your prototype and see if anythin needs changing
- Make the changes and then race the car again
- Draw up all of the information you have gathered and produce an accurate diagram
- Make it! Race it!
hope this helps???
Cheers,
Tom