Hey all.

I was wondering, since I can't get the newer Fia GT series cars in HO scale.....can I modify a Hot Wheels car?

Has this ever been successfully done? I understand that the body is diecast, therefore it'll be slower, but if I put an SRT or SG+ chassis under it, it can't be any slower than an...XT, let's say...could it?

I just bought a Hot Wheels Corvette C6-R....and thought since the newer Fia GT cars weren't being done in HO scale, I'd try and see if this type of modification has ever been attempted. Just hoping for a light at the end of the tunnel. :(

Any info or advice would be appreciated.

Mike

I've done diecast conversions very successfully, primarily with NASCAR body cars.

However, I have also done Ford Escort rally cars, old muscle cars, various sports cars and even a minivan. :p

I use the Tyco HP7 chassis even though most people pan that chassis for being a dog (it just depends what kind of chassis you end up with, the earlier Hong Kong ones are pretty good, though). Really you could put whatever chassis you want underneath it so long as you figure out a way to mount it. I know others have used sticky foam tape or velcro. I just notch the inside of the door panels to "snap" over the HP7 mounting tabs.

You really have to adjust body tension on the chassis to make sure you are not binding up the chassis and motor. Also, the fender wheel wells will most likely need to be enlarged slightly fit the tires.

All in all it is great fun and very do-able.

http://photos.hobbytalk.com/data/500/ARA-2004-15-170-0032.jpg

'doba

Cordoba,

Thanks! I noticed (after I started the thread) that wheel base on my corvette is longer than on an XT and SG+ chassis. I would have to dremel out the wheel wells in order for the wheels to even fit, much less to accommodate the wheel size. Have you seen this too or is the HP7 chassis longer than most?

Mike

Cordoba,

Thanks! I noticed (after I started the thread) that wheel base on my corvette is longer than on an XT and SG+ chassis. I would have to dremel out the wheel wells in order for the wheels to even fit, much less to accommodate the wheel size. Have you seen this too or is the HP7 chassis longer than most?

Mike

don'y know about the HP7 but my guess it must have a wheelbase the same as one of the Tyco Pan wheelbases as many of the bodies swap:

Tyco 440X2 narrow 1.480''

Tyco 440X2 pan 1.480''

Turbo/SRT wide1.484'’

Tomy SG+ 1.484''

Marchon 1.510''

Turbo/SRT narrow 1.60''

Tomy SG+ 1.625''

Marchon 1.677''

Tyco 440X2 pan 1.690''

Cordoba,

Thanks! I noticed (after I started the thread) that wheel base on my corvette is longer than on an XT and SG+ chassis. I would have to dremel out the wheel wells in order for the wheels to even fit, much less to accommodate the wheel size. Have you seen this too or is the HP7 chassis longer than most?

Mike

The HP7 and the 440X2 pan chassis have two wheelbase settings. I believe the Super G+ is the same.

The long wheelbase seems to fit most diecast cars. Usually it comes down to a little dremeling of the fenders for clearance at that point.

'doba

Cool. I'll check that out. Thanks!

How do you separate the body from the hot wheels 'chassis'?

Mike

take a small drill bit and cut off the rivits that hold the body to the chassis. Just don't drill too deep

What happens if I drill too deep? A I trying to keep something intact under the body? Are the rivets attached to a screw post or something?

It's not like I can't go get another $.97 hot wheels car, hehe. Just wondering.

Thanks,

Mike

The rivets are usually attached to screw post.... and you will also probably need to removethese posts too for clearance when mounted on your chassis (or only shorten them half. So it's not so important if you drill a little bit too much in the screw posts IMHO.

With Hot wheels cars, the longer the chassis, the better it looks. But you can use sometimes short chassis too depending of the die-cast car chosen.

Some examples here:

Standard T Jet chassis, with a lot of dremeling and thining the inner sides of car:
http://slotcar.zanzaman.com/images_slotcars_big/261.jpg


Standard Faller chassis (same wheelbase as a T-Jet):
http://slotcar.zanzaman.com/images_slotcars_big/110.jpg


My only attempt with an AFX chassis:
http://slotcar.zanzaman.com/images_slotcars_big/162.jpg


I forgot to mention that the 2 first die-cast are Schucco and the third is an Hot Wheels

Thanks all. I'll let you know how I do and post pics later. If this works out, my Fia GT woes will go away since Hot Wheels makes most of the newer GT cars.

All I'll have to do now is find an Aston Martin DBR-9 and the Porsche 996 and I'll be set!

Mike