Anyone own a FF01?

[tpliquid]

Are these still popular?

[zabbe]

Got a couple. One beat up golf vr6 and a NIB new beetle. Don't know bout the popularity. But I like them...

[ajorge13]

I got a Mugen Civic, I've had it for about 14 years I think it's a great car.

[BADMUTHATrUCKER]

Brilliant little handler if set up right (mainly swap the L & R rear hubs to give toe in. You need to make/buy adjustable camber links to let them fit though).

I raced one in Tamiya Class in the mid 90s against TA01/02/03/TL01 and consistently kicked butt by a lap +. You can push them where you can't push the 4WDs, particularly in the wet.

[zabbe]

Great tip on the toe-in, BMT.

Have you got more tips? I got inspired to dig out my trusty old vr6 yesterday, and it's in much better condition than I remembered. (Not the body tho')

[BADMUTHATrUCKER]

Ah, I see the reason for the reaction to the new Sicorro body You'd do a sweet job of that.

Tips, eh?. Well, because the track I used to race at was so huge (85 meter main straight), it was build for 1/8 gas cars, we ran our Tamiya class with 27t motors, unlike most others that used silver 540's back then. So, the speed was up, and that brought all the handling deficiencies right out!

The reason they go so well in the wet is simple. With the rear not driving, and if the suspension is set right, there is nothing to cause loss of traction in the rear mid corner. Make sure you do ALL your braking before you turn in, and smooth the power on and you won't know it's raining (while the 4WD guys trying to be a hero and back it off the track) I found a lot of 4WD drivers resented the FF

My set up was: Super hard front springs, from a PB or BMT gas car I think. Mind you, touring car springs are much harder these days. Inside the front shocks, 2 of the larger V parts spacers, not one big, one small. Serpent 130 weight oil, and 1 hole piston.

*note* You must slightly trim the bottom of the spring saddle to get it on with the shocks so short. These days, I'd just use super-mini CVA 2's with little spacing.

Rear, Soft springs, 30wt oil, 2 hole pistons.

The reason I did this, was with the engine hanging on out the front, when you enter a corner hard, the mass out front would try to lift up and over the outside front wheel as the g's built up. With not much weight in the rear, you want it to grip up and be silky smooth so it won't let go when holding a fast line.

However, turning in hard near the end of the brake application would step the back out neatly, but to get away with it, you had to be sure that you had enough rpm's left in the motor to pull it out straight or it get's real ugly!.

If you can find one, the Tamiya FRP chassis kit is good, it allows for ball bearing steering which is vastly more positive. I used to use a HPI chassis for the TA02, it mounted the battery inline. Much more balanced, much less bodyroll.

I used to use Yokomo YR 080 and 081 tyres, with the harder on the front.

A set of even firm Ufra foams would last one race, and didn't handle all that great anyway.

If I remember any more, I will post it up!.

Oh, mine started out as a JACC's Civic too. Long since sold off. But, the mother-in-law spied one new in box at a hobby shop near her house for the equivalent of $100 last year... Guess what I got for Christmas 2008

I'm building it up as a replica of my old racer.

[zabbe]

Thanks buddy!
I don't have a track nearby, so I'll mostly be doing the parkinglot with sodacans routine. That often results in tight, slow cornering and a lot of lowspeed acceleration.
That would yield softer front suspension to get tracktion out of the corners (I think). Will use your notes as a startingpoint and take it from there.

Thanks again!
Oh, scirocco body is ordered

[OldSchoolRC1]

I have one as well, these are GREAT cars. Very underrated cars imo. Very efficient drivetrain, a super low CG and very easy to drive fast. One thing I would add to Badmuthatrucker's set-up is to make the front diff nice and tight. You might lose a little steering, but power out of turns is vastly improved. It's a fine balance between steering and keeping the inside front wheel from spinning in tight turns, but boy are they fun.

[BADMUTHATrUCKER]

Oh yes, I used AE Stealth ball diff lube

[tpliquid]

nice to see some of you still have em!

I just bought a used one off craigslist and it was beat to death. Both the front and rear shock towers are cracked where the shocks mount up. Gearcase is cracked bumper is cracked in 1/2.

Too bad there no more replacement parts out there

I made some CAD drawings thats about it haha.

[zabbe]

Lots of parts are the same as ta01/ta02. Dont know bout the shock towers, but I'll check...

[tpliquid]

Originally Posted by zabbe

Lots of parts are the same as ta01/ta02. Dont know bout the shock towers, but I'll check...

shock towers are different on the ta02 and ff01

I have a rare shocktower for the TA03 that fits on the ff01 but the camber links dont fit

[mdoffroad]

wait, you need this tower?

I only have the rear but as you see. its allthere what ya got to trade?

[tpliquid]

thanks for the offer but i already have replacement for the rear. I just wanted to make another replacement out of alum.

[mdoffroad]

no problem... I figured I'd offer, as I have 5 uncompleted chassis here