Yea really enjoying my first mini. Now it's about perfect. In r/c it's never perfect! lol Just picked up a rc18t off ebay for my son. I have a big unfinished basement to drive them till the snow is gone. I made a track with a couple jumps so were gonna have some fun.

I was pretty upset with my sc18 when I forst got it as the motor got very hot with little driving and the suspension travel hardly let it drive on anything but my garage floor, I set out to fix both of those issues.

Stock electronics

Got this in the mail from hobbypartz

By jkvandal at 2011-01-30
Motor comparison...much smaller can but oh so much more power

Looks nice now


So I have the power now I have to get some better suspension travel
Stock suspension travel sucks:


Ordered some RC18T shocks that are much longer

And much better travel now



Next upgrade looks to be some of the RC18T tires, which might require some trimming of the body but I think it will work much better over rough terrain that way. I'll have to give it a solid run with these new shocks first though, maybe I will be very happy.

I can gurantee you will be happy with the long shocks, it makes the car so much more forgiving wherever your running! Did you order the new front diff case, that may be your promblem of your motor heating up so much?

RC18t wheels and tires are to big they will hit chassis and I think you will need new stub axles.

They will hit the chassis? Yeah I knew about the longer stub axles and figured I would have to trim the body

No I haven't ordered the front diff case yet, I figured the belts would break in with the brushless and I wouldnt have to worry about it anymore...should I get it anyways?

Thats what it looks like to me. I haven't tried it but the rc18t wheels are alot bigger and when you turn the tires on the sc18 it looks tight. Just email AE support for the front diff case. Yours might have the fixed one already mine did so now I have an extra.

I was going to use the buggy front wheels and tires. you also have to add stub axles.

you will definitely need to trim the body, but it definitely allows it to go so many more places. i am at the stage where i am also thinking of the rc18 suspension bits to turn it into a belt driven rc18t basically, looking good so far, also may want to think of trimming down the rear diff, as mine rubs on my spur gear.

The belts really dont loosen up from running, the thing that makes the biggest diffrence is the front diff case. It will make your car roll a couple more feet, and keep your motor temps even lower:nod

Email Team Associated, (Use there kit email) and they will send you your front diff case!

Got a a 13.5 Novak mongoose system in a 18r right now and I never use it anymore. Thinking of buying a sc18 to race around my neighborhood and ocrc mini track on a 3s lipo. How much is a roller? And do the steering slop still apart of the 18 line? (IE bad servo saver)? Also will the mongoose fit in? As well what is this whole from diff deal?

Associated only sells the RC18T2/B2 as a roller, the SC18 is only available RTR. You may be able to find a used roller but not sure. For off-road use the T2/B2 would be better anyways.

The steering is much improved in my opinion, but still pretty sloppy. The saver itself is alot better, but the bellcranks have slop in them and people have been breaking the bellcranks and draglinks. Aluminum pieces are available if you need.

The Mongoose will take a little work to fit. It will bolt right in but the pinion will rub the belt because of the larger shaft size. I trimmed the chassis a bit and mounted the motor offset in the lowest holes to gain clearance around the belt. Others have milled down the pinions to get the clearance.

The first releases had a very tight front belt, causing many to burn up motors in just a few minutes runtime. Associated's "fix" for this was a revised front diff case that moves the diff back appx. 1-2mm. Most kits currently on the shelves should already be updated, but Associated will send you the new piece for free if you need it, just call or email them.

Say if I were to get the t2 or b2. I'm assuming I'll have to trim the chassis for that as well?

Yes its the same chassis and drivetrain.

I just got my SC18 and I wondering what temps you guys are getting off the stock motor & ESC?

I running 5 min heats to & 8 min mains getting 120 off my motor and 100 off the ESC, is this what everone else is getting?