Yeah, I'm just messing with you. The point I was attempting to make is that the TA03 diff was not originally intended for the M chassis, but became acceptable when people wanted a ball diff for their minis. Maybe this one will gain that status as well. Really, how much of a difference is it going to make, except to Tamiya's bottom line.

okay, the jokes on me. ..embarrassed. :O
work lately has obviously been making me take myself too seriously!

that is some funny and interesting history (thanks for sharing that Monkeyracing)

We had TCS races back then in the Bay Area when I started this thread. One of the most active thread. Thanks to all for that. Looks like we will get a TCS qualifiers in our area in June . Which is good.. I love racing the M chassis class. So I'm back posting and trying to get updated. Yet alone having an M chassis expert (J.Bakatico)close by really helps to get these cars starting at the right track

Sipaboy, that's awesome! my how time flys! i'm such a fan of the Tamiya Mini.
you know, i'm getting back into it also...after many many years of my cars sitting on the shelves, i'm tempted to dust them off and rebuild my minis to TCS legality.
i have so much tamiya mini chassis stuff...too bad my local club race don't race tamiya minis... they use the Traxxas LaTraxx....as the mini car of choice.....
yuk! i will never own a traxxas.

M03,M04,M05,M06, Active hobby A210, ABC Genetic (4wd)... got them all.
but i never could get my hands on a HPI RS4 mini Pro or the tamiya TA05 M4.

I'm glad to hear we will be getting a TCS race in the Bay area. I've always wanted to race my mini. So in anticipation of this race I just ordered a few parts to do the Ver II conversion.

Yeah, the only problem we have is that our only allowed spec ESC is discontinued

The manta ray ball diff was always listed as a compatible hop up on the original Mini Cooper M03 box. The TA03 diff was basically the same part, I imagine it was easier to just allow it rather than requiring a teardown during tech to figure out whether it was the manta or TA03.

Edit: The TA03 ball diff is actually listed as an official upgrade in the original M03 Cooper manual (fine print on the back page).

I have the M05 ball diff(54194), is that good enough or should I replace with the TA03 diff?

that's perfectly fine

Wait....
The JCW body is illegal?
It's the body that came with my car. How the hell can it be illegal? It's a Tamiya body from a Tamiya kit.
Someone please explain.

They've stopped making it. When they do that, they cease to be legal. Clubs usually let you run them anyway, it's the big races where it becomes a problem.

It's actually a much better diff, much lighter as well.

i honestly couldn't believe this... i looked it up and read the TCS rules again, and nowhere does it state this... only the Subaru Legacy body is illegal.... probably because it's too much like the proline Mazdaspeed 6 in design.. i suppose is the reason.

but i believe every MINI body ever made by Tamiya is legal in MINI class. and if it's not....then they they should be

what blows my mind is that the TCS rules state the M04 is NOT legal.

If it's discontinued, it's not current.
The M04 has a different FDR, it caused some problems back when it was legal as it had a speed advantage.

It'll break if you try to tighten it as much as the TA03 can go. The FWD cars often favour a tighter diff. For the M06 then yes, it's the better diff.