New Conversion Kit for Tamiya DF-03 Dark Impact

[van]

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PCDV0116.jpgi will be making one from scratch soon because i need to finish off my ta05 kawada rc first but my frist df03 parts for now are the kawada spur conversion set and the kawada slipper gear cap but for the suspension arms they are almost the same size the only thing that would be a problem is spacing but thats where you shim it up but if you want to see my ta05 ill take pics of the for now its custom to the fullest that it can go and the chassis is custom milled by me . I dont like to buy full kits so i just buy the spares and upgrades that way it saves money .

[RavenC]

Originally Posted by Sero

Hey Raven,

Seems like you know a lot about the KM conversion kit.
Actually I want to take an order within this weekend.
Can you show me some photo of your DF-03?
And can you list out the adv. and disadv. of it by your OWN EXPERIENCE?
I don't think the advertisment is really 100% true...
Waiting for your opinion....

Sero

In fact, I know nothing about KM conversion kit but DF-03.

For the advantage, I don't think it is really different from the advertisment, no need to worriy about this.

And about the disadvantage, just to pay attention will it be stock out soon.

Hope to help

Raven

[NewKid]

gonna build the di today...will be taking some pics of progress tonight!

[jimmy]

Took me long enough - but project 'ultimate Impact' is go!
I only just started but of course the main part of this car is the awesome KMRC conversion kit. Since i wanted to get the best of the car I also hunted out some choice hop-ups, concentrating on performance rather than looks.
At the moment other than the conversion there is:

• Tamiya hopup shocks - I will change to 501X pistons and shafts though
• Tamiya turnbuckles
• Tamiya heatsinks (might ditch these)
• Tamiya centre one way
• Tamiya front one way
• Square front and rear shock towers
• Square rear diff
• Kanzen ceramic diff balls
• Square front cvd
• Yeah Racing rear cvd

Powering this lot will be the 2007 Nosram Matrix brushless with 5.5 motor and Nosram team cells. Steering will come from the latest low profile KO servo.

I don't know a heck of a lot about Tamiya stuff and all the millions of cars they do - and what might fit this df03 buggy... but I am looking for a couple of things and hoped someone might be able to help.
I am looking for caster front hub carriers - the kit are ZERO degrees and it's simply not enough with the fairly shallow front kick up.
I have seen some Yeah Racing front TB05 hub carriers in 4degrees caster but not sure if these will fit?

I am not sure what rear toe-in is on the DF03 as standard (from the wishbones) but it looks about 4 degrees - so does anyone make toe-in rear hubs for this platform or that might fit? I want to reverse them for less toe-in.

[omen1975]

I was suprised on how light my KMRC DF-03 is, I think this conversion will surely be a winner in Stock classes.

omen1975

[Eotz]

Hello.

I'm racing with my DF-03, full of options but with the stock plastic chassis and the cars work really fine. My next step is going to be one of the carbon fiver conversion chassis. My first option is the 3Racing one becasue use the same layout than the stock chassis and in my opinion the weigth distribution is the best point of this car, but I wish to know your impressions about both chasis. Does anyone race with one of this chassis?. What do you think about the racing behavior of both chassis?.

Thanks.

[jimmy]

Hey there Eotz, What is your setup on the df03? I did get the car going fairly well but it could have been better - I think the shock towers would have been next to change to get better performance.
I was just frustrated by the lack of some adjustments (castor and antisquat for instance)

The layout on the KMRC conversion does place the weight closer together which in theory might enable the car to turn quicker - but we'll have to see since I've not raced it yet. The layout does make it easier for me to use my racing cells though.

[Eotz]

Originally Posted by jimmy

Hey there Eotz, What is your setup on the df03?

Hello Jimmy.

This is the full list of the Hop-Ups that I'm using:

From Tamiya:
- Sleeper.
- Center one-way.
- Heat sink bars.
- DF-02 universals (Front and rear)
- TRF hexagonal wheel adapters (4mm thickness).
- 18T to 29T 0.5 pinions.

From Five Stars:
- Front and rear Shock towers.

From Yeah Racing!
- Turnbuckle set.
- Aluminiun battery cover (Great cooling batteries).

From 3Racing:
- Aluminiun gear box plate.
- Aluminun racing steering (With bearings).
- Damper set.
- Front and rear Diff Shaft.
- Graphite Front Suspension Brace.
- Alum Rear Gear Box Stiffener .

From Losi:
- Shock coils.
- Ifmar Stud tyres.

From JConcepts:
- High down force 7" wing.

From Cyclone.
- Wheels.

Last race and next one (Nest sunday 13) I'm race with an LRP ICP V7.1 ESC and a Fusion Phase 4.1 12x2T because my Reedy neo 3 Stars Brushless motor died the first race in the 3th cualifying. My new Vector X11 6.5 will arrive next week.
I think this is all and I don't forgot nothing . You can see 2 pictures of my car in this forum.

See you.

[jimmy]

The yeah racing battery cover is mad- but I think actually a really good idea - it should stiffen up the chassis a little and also put some weight low down.

I forgot to say I also use the tamiya slipper - but have put a B4 48dp spur gear on it so I could use my existing pinions.

I heard some good things about the 3racing shocks - I just wasn't overly impressed with the kit plastic or tamiya hopup shocks

[Eotz]

Hi Jimmy.

Yes, the 3Racong Shocks are really good, the came with really hard coils and oil that should be replaced. Ofcurse depending of the track and son on. I also made bigger the holes of the pistons. I'm using Losi coils with this shocks, in the front they fit perfect but the rear coils are a little bit shorter than 3Racing coils. This weekend I'll try Schumacher's CAT3000 coils. Those shocks works really soft and the complete set cost only cost 22$.

Bye.

[sim]

Losi springs work on 3-Racing shocks? I have both of these and never thought to try them out. Haha.

[gordy]

New to this forum, although I've been looking round for quite some time. I'm also building a DI for club racing. I've ordered a KM chassis kit, does it concern anyone else, how little meat there is at the back of the chassis - where the motor cut out is?
Jimmy, I've got a KM catalogue here, that says they do C hubs in zero degrees, 4 degrees, 7 degrees and 10 degrees and rear hubs in 0,1 and 1.5 degrees. Although I haven't seen it on their site - it might be worth enquiring about.

[jimmy]

It's thin back there but the carbon feels to be quality stuff so I'd not worry too much to be honest. The top deck / gearbox mounting should stop it flexing back there.

Thanks for the tip about the parts, I've not heard about them but I'll look into it!

[jimmy]

Found the catalog - I'll get some bits on order I think once I've figured out the new KMRC website. They have sadly taken some cues from the 'how not to design a website' handbook. Now please excuse me whilst I close their site tab so I don't have to listen to that music or car engine any longer.


oop, found the site and currently they only offer for sale the 0 degree stuff like you said - which is what everyone else sells also. I want some 1 degree hubs and 10degree caster c hubs

[gordy]

It might be worth sending them an email asking if they can do they in different degrees. I know what you mean about their website - it's like trying to find your way round Tesco's with the lights out!!!
At the club the other night I was looking at some Yokomo BD touring car C hubs and rear hubs, and although I haven't got any to try - they look damn close. I really want to make the DI perform well. Just hope it's not a total let down after all this effort.

[mutie]

Jimmy how's the DF-03 project car comming? it looked like it was shaping up well.

I have just ordered a keen hawk and a whole load of blue bits as well (getting a little out of hand actually! costing me an arm and a leg!)

Hairy Steve! Where are you! Come back to FORCC and we can have a DF-03 race! (even though it will only be the two of us unless i work on Gordon)

Has anybody tried the 501X shocks on the DF-03? i think the rears are similar but the front shock bodies seem a little longer.

I was thinking about a 3 racing chassis, has anybody tried to fit a GTB on it?

Cheers

Ollie

[BelstenToo]

Rather than resurect a really old DF03 thread I thought I'd add to this one.
I've just ordered an avante mk2 and keep eyeing up all of these options with much interest! Jimmy, have you had chance to build that 'ultimate' version yet?
I think I'd better run mine standard for a while, as it's been 11 years since I last raced! The df03 looked like a good car for me to get started again though.

[DCM]

Pete, pop to Cardiff, I have a full 'bells and whistles' DF03 sitting in the workroom, unemployed.

[encore75]

Originally Posted by jimmy

Took me long enough - but project 'ultimate Impact' is go!
I only just started but of course the main part of this car is the awesome KMRC conversion kit. Since i wanted to get the best of the car I also hunted out some choice hop-ups, concentrating on performance rather than looks.
At the moment other than the conversion there is:

• Tamiya hopup shocks - I will change to 501X pistons and shafts though
• Tamiya turnbuckles
• Tamiya heatsinks (might ditch these)
• Tamiya centre one way
• Tamiya front one way
• Square front and rear shock towers
• Square rear diff
• Kanzen ceramic diff balls
• Square front cvd
• Yeah Racing rear cvd

Jimmy,

I'm putting together my Keen Hawk, but would like to gather all the "essential" hop-ups first so that they can all go in during the initial build. Like you, I'm looking mainly for performance and durability, as Tamiya parts are harder to come by here in the U.S. I've got a few questions for you (and to anyone else who might know the answers)...

What's your impression of the Tamiya turnbuckles? Also, have you any idea as to what material they're made out of (steel, titanium, aluminum, etc.)? They do look pretty beefy, though.

What size are the diff balls and diff rings in the DF-03 diffs?

I was also thinking alloy hubs might be a good idea, as I see the hinge pin set screws not holding in the plastic hubs all that well over time...I figure with the alloy ones, at least I could use some Loctite. Have you any experience with the various 3rd party ones out there (Yeah racing, GPM, 3Racing, etc.)?

Thanks in advance, and I look forward to your completed review of "Project Ultimate Impact!"

[DCM]

If you want an easy option for turnbuckles, look no further than the Associated B4, they fit a good un.

As for alloy suspension parts, the chances are you will break something bigger than say a hub.

As for hop up, RW Racing will sell a layshaft which will take a B4 slipper unit directly, or you can buy the Tamiya one and then ream out B4 spur gears to go on.

Tamiya Centre one-way will help things, 3 Racing motor plate to help cool things and maybe a 3Racing steering set.

Big one though, and don't go for the cheaper 3Racing/Square/GPM option, go for a set of Tamiya DF02 Swing Shafts (CVD's), they are a direct fir and far easier to rebuild.