Mugen MBX8TE Truggy

[0verkill]

Bright mica red (Ferrari)

 

[0verkill]

I dremeled and drilled out the body posts and used a 4mm screw in order to use the Proline thumbwashers.

Much better

 

[0verkill]

Found these cool little adhesive backed wire holders from McMaster.

I was out of space in the receiver box for the fan wires, so this holder keeps the wires from flopping around.

5/16” fiber washers

Gorilla taped

Proline thumbwashers

And finally finished, with kevlar belted Badlands.

 

[Dutch213]

After years of building Tekno truggies, I wanted to try something new, so I picked up a lightly used Mugen MBX8TE roller. I haven't seen anyone build one of these for hard bashing, so this will be a new challenge.

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Tekno stock (left) vs Mugen (right)

Both are 7075. The Mugen chassis is only 3mm thick compared to 4mm on the Tekno, however it doesn't have a bunch of milled out pockets, is wider, and has side bends. Nothing compares to the aftermarket offerings from M2C but it does look like a good stock chassis. It's nice to see Mugen finally keyed the chassis for the steering posts unlike the older 7 series.

View attachment 47604

Mugen (left) vs Tekno (right)

The biggest change with the MBX8 series is the new beefy arm construction and inserts. The older 7 series always had issues with their arms breaking. The arms come with plastic inserts and they also have carbon fiber as an option.

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Mugen (left) vs Tekno (right)

Both are 7075. The Mugen front shock tower design is a good bit lower and the Tekno is a little thicker.

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Mugen (left, 4.15mm thick) vs Tekno (right, 6.6mm thick)

Both are 7075. The Mugen rear shock tower has quite a range of adjust-ability in the wing height and the Tekno is quite a bit thicker.

View attachment 47607

King Headz Associated RC8B3 Rear Chassis Brace Mount (7075)

For whatever reason King Headz does not make these for the MBX8 series, only the 7 series. The difference in parts is the 8 series changed to M4 holes in the gearbox, whereas the 7 series used M3. Associated copied Mugen with their car so some parts can be made to fit, and King Headz makes this mount with M4 holes.

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I had to trim the rear section for the proper fitment.

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King Headz Mugen MBX7 Rear Chassis Brace (7075)

Again, King Headz does not make these for the MBX8 series truggy, only the 7 series buggy. So, I had to drill a countersunk hole in the chassis for the slightly shorter hole distance.

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The Associated mount positions the chassis brace just a hair to the side, you don't go by the original hole location.

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And there she is, it's bash worthy now. I like the King Headz design with the captured nut, the nut cannot rotate.

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Connected.

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M2C made this very nice aluminum steering top plate for the 7 series. Again on the MBX8 series, I had to trim the underside for the proper fitment and drill out the 2 holes that connect to the gearbox to 4mm.

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Connected.

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The Mugen CVD driveshaft's are only 3.5mm thick. So I discovered the ability to use the Losi LST 5mm driveshafts, much thicker indeed. I also tried the Arrma 5mm driveshafts which is what I use on my Teknos, but they were too long.

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I use 2 shims over the stub axle in order to have the correct dogbone depth in the outdrive.

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Uses all stock bearings.

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Then I used a 8.7mm wide spacer behind the hex, the Losi stub axle is longer.

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Connected.

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Fits like a glove.

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Damn, that was a really well done thread! good job @0verkill !

Found these cool little adhesive backed wire holders from McMaster.

View attachment 52627

I was out of space in the receiver box for the fan wires, so this holder keeps the wires from flopping around.

View attachment 52628

5/16” fiber washers

View attachment 52629

Gorilla taped

View attachment 52630

Proline thumbwashers

View attachment 52631

And finally finished, with kevlar belted Badlands.

View attachment 52632

so clean.

 

[Notorious J]

Found these cool little adhesive backed wire holders from McMaster.

View attachment 52627

I was out of space in the receiver box for the fan wires, so this holder keeps the wires from flopping around.

View attachment 52628

5/16” fiber washers

View attachment 52629

Gorilla taped

View attachment 52630

Proline thumbwashers

View attachment 52631

And finally finished, with kevlar belted Badlands.

View attachment 52632

So amazing to watch from start to finish. Makes the idea of running RTR seem empty. Can't wait to find out how it all holds up when you start throwing it around.

 

[0verkill]

First runs went great, handles very well.

 

[Brandon]

Work. Of. Art.! Nice job.

 

[0verkill]

2 month update

This truggy is a beast, still haven’t broken or bent anything. I would say it’s basher approved after my last MX track visit.

 

[Klappars]

2 month update

This truggy is a beast, still haven’t broken or bent anything. I would say it’s basher approved after my last MX track visit.

I would love to know how it compares to the ET48.3 in terms of handling and durability

 

[Mongoose]

Any updates @0verkill ? How does this compare to the ET?

 

[0verkill]

I would love to know how it compares to the ET48.3 in terms of handling and durability

Any updates @0verkill ? How does this compare to the ET?

They both handle amazing. The stock Tekno chassis has a very "flick able" feeling since it's skinnier. I'm running the M2C Tekno wide chassis on the truck in the above video. I have yet to find a weak point on the Mugen, it's a very solid built truck. So far the durability looks just as good as Tekno. The stock chassis is proving to be very durable with all the braces, which is very refreshing. The differential gear wear rate etc won't be known until later on down the road.

FYI, RCMart sells this kit for $560. http://www.rcmart.com/mugen-seiki-e2024-mbx8t-truggy-offroad-p-80507.html?cPath=420_1165

Amain sells it for $730. I'm not sure how they're able to do it but that's a major price difference obviously and parts are cheaper there too.

 

[Mongoose]

They both handle amazing. The stock Tekno chassis has a very "flick able" feeling since it's skinnier. I'm running the M2C Tekno wide chassis on the truck in the above video. I have yet to find a weak point on the Mugen, it's a very solid built truck. So far the durability looks just as good as Tekno. The stock chassis is proving to be very durable with all the braces, which is very refreshing. The differential gear wear rate etc won't be known until later on down the road.

FYI, RCMart sells this kit for $560. http://www.rcmart.com/mugen-seiki-e2024-mbx8t-truggy-offroad-p-80507.html?cPath=420_1165

Amain sells it for $730. I'm not sure how they're able to do it but that's a major price difference obviously and parts are cheaper there too.

Wow, thats a huge price difference. Thanks for the link. You were a big reason I bought the Tekno so I’d say I will eventually but the Mugen too lol.

I’m glad to hear it’s been treating you well. All of the design work up front on both platforms has been greatly appreciated ?

 

[0verkill]

Wow, thats a huge price difference. Thanks for the link. You were a big reason I bought the Tekno so I’d say I will eventually but the Mugen too lol.

I’m glad to hear it’s been treating you well. All of the design work up front on both platforms has been greatly appreciated ?

Thank you

 

[mdot88]

They both handle amazing. The stock Tekno chassis has a very "flick able" feeling since it's skinnier. I'm running the M2C Tekno wide chassis on the truck in the above video. I have yet to find a weak point on the Mugen, it's a very solid built truck. So far the durability looks just as good as Tekno. The stock chassis is proving to be very durable with all the braces, which is very refreshing. The differential gear wear rate etc won't be known until later on down the road.

FYI, RCMart sells this kit for $560. http://www.rcmart.com/mugen-seiki-e2024-mbx8t-truggy-offroad-p-80507.html?cPath=420_1165

Amain sells it for $730. I'm not sure how they're able to do it but that's a major price difference obviously and parts are cheaper there too.

Awesome writeup thank you! If you had to choose just one box stock, which would you take? I’m not going to be doing any racing just bashing around a medium size track with some size-able jumps.

 

[gotnitro]

Excellent work on the best IMO Truggy you can buy! Thread was dug up though I see but none the less very nice!

 

[0verkill]

Awesome writeup thank you! If you had to choose just one box stock, which would you take? I’m not going to be doing any racing just bashing around a medium size track with some size-able jumps.

Stock vs stock, I would probably choose the Mugen. This newer version Mugen has some nicer features over the older ET48.3.