Sandy's R&D test and repair page

OFF ROAD

This page is full of info that has been acquired through taking these beautifully engineered vehicles to extremes most would never dream.

Also some info will be things learned at the racetrack, whether it’s our own local F1 series or events across the country and world.

Any questions or info you would like to see on this page email Sandy at sandy@molzermoweryracing.com

 

Front Alloy CNR Bulkhead Installation

 
      1. Remove the front bumper.
      2. Remove the Y-brace & shock tower (2 screws - 1 bolt).
      3. Remove the four front E-clips.
      4. Remove two front bulkhead screws from bottom of chassis.
      5. Pull the front bulkhead off the pins to the front.
      6. Remove the spacer washers from the pins, and slide all four suspension arms off.

  

 
      7. Remove rear bulkhead screws from chassis, and remove pins from bulkhead.

      8. Suspeneion arms, steering, shocks can all stay on the vehicle. Just move them back out of the way.

 
      9. It is best to take the hinge pins to a wire wheel or steel wool or something to clean off the rust or debris that has built up
          on the pins. This will make is installation much easier.

 

 
      10. Reinstall pins with the rear E-clip attached to the bulkhead and attach bulkhead to chassis with supplied screws.
      11. Slide suspension arms on pins.

 

 
      12. Reinstall pin washers and attach front bulkhead to chassis with supplied screws.
      13. Install the four E-clips, and three bolts holding shock tower and Y-brace.

 

 
      14. Reinstall bumper.

      15. Done

 
 

 

Screws falling out of your off-road brake?

 

 
I use a locknut on both the screws that adjust the brake disk spacing. Using Loctite also works but makes later adjustments difficult.

 

Off-Road Radio Tray Cover

 
                  When installing a radio tray cover on the off-road models, there needs to be modifications to clear linkages. First you need to cut out the area where the steering rods exit in the front.
 
                  Then you will need to make a cut to open the area around the throttle linkage. I made the cut closer to the middle of the cover so any open area is further from the outside. On my car the throttle linkage arm stuck out so I made a boot from a piece of plastic to protect the side opening.
 
 
                 Also I attached a plastic cup with the bottom removed so I could access the power wires without removing the complete cover.
 
                I also used silicone to seal the area at the chassis plate. Simply apply silicone, let it sit over night then use a sharp knife to separate it from the chassis and it makes a perfect seal.
 
 

 

Chrome Billet motor install and testing

Install and testing page

 

 

 

When winter comes, adapt don't hibernate.

Switch woes

 

Have you ever tried to start your off-roader after a couple runs and it won’t restart. Is there dirt and sand in your motor on/switch? Which makes it stick in the off position, and then you need a knife to pick it out.

Solution: We drill a small hole in the center of the yellow button and turn in a small machine screw so you can pull out the button if stuck.

 

Gear Fix

Have you every taken a real hard tumble on the dirt track or a fine multiple cartwheel on the street in front of your house and found your spur gear is know junk?

What I found is if you land any of the off-roaders on the left rear wheel from the back, you will push the upper rear tie rod arm into the spur gear flattening a portion of the gear then the gear self-destructs.

Solution no.1: Install the aluminum rear inner A-arm PT no.4474. This will make it much stronger and tougher to move forward.

Solution no.2: Also install the rear aluminum wheel hub pt no.6478 and riser mount pt no.7478 to relocate the tie rod arm away from the spur gear.

The other thing that will change is the reactive camber in the rear wheels, due to the higher pivot point of the rear upper arm.

If you have the stock plastic pinion gear and have trouble with it melting this is caused by excessive heat from the clutch. Usually from running in high traction areas like heavy grass this causes the clutch bell and shaft to get so hot the gear melts.

Solution: Steel gear pt no.6432/1(18t),6431(16t) issue solved.

 

Samba Install

Installing the new and beautiful Samba off-road pipe? You will notice the pipe touches the plastic roll cage. When the pipe gets hot it will melt the cage a bit.

Solution: Add a piece of the roll cage material about ¾ of an inch long to the upper horizontal portion of the cage, moving it away from the pipe. Use a machine screw that is the same diameter but ¾ in. longer. Drill the piece out to a size the screw will fit through to ease in the installation.

 

A short clip of Marder jumping a 8 ft fence.

A good jumping and wheelie movie, in the construction zone

 

 

Turn your Beetle into a Monster beetle

 

You need (2 sets) 6228/5med or 6229/5hard monster tires, (2) 7154 body posts, (2) 7154/1 body posts, (1) 6729/20 package headless pins, (2) 6175 body post cross braces, (1) 6716/25 package screws.

You have to remove the tray and cut the fenders off the beetle body to clear the tires.

The other issue you will need to address is gearing with the larger tires the ratio changes. A Marder is a 7,67 and a monster beetle stock is  10,29 .  There are four gears you can change, pinion-spur-jackshaft-diffring. The easiest way to gear down to change the pinion and spur from 18/46 to 16/48 (it’s a set mesh, must change both). This brings the ratio to 9,00 we have found this to work well for all purpose playing. There are other gearing options like changing the rear diff gear to a 50. That gives you many more options (more expensive). I personally run 18/46 - 15/50 in my

 

Monster Beetle which is also a converted standard off-road Beetle. Installation of the body posts is simple, on the front turn in two screws (6729/20) then turn on the two long posts. The rear you need to drill two holes for the machine screws on the flat area of the roll cage above the motor, then screw on the short posts. Drill holes and cut off the fender of the body and GO.