13 replies to this topic

[Lone Wolf]

Just picked up a Toronado slot car. The chassis is bare except for the drop arm and body mounts. When I first looked at it I said to myself looks like a decent amateur job that someone mounted a Johan body on.

After looking at some stuff on the net I realized it's actually a UHP factory made car Anyway, since no wheels or axles are present can someone show a closeup of the front " differential " as they called it. I will try to duplicate it if possible. Thanks

[don.siegel]

'tain't simple Joe! Here are a couple pictures I had in stock on the front "differential" - a very odd setup! You'd probably do better to put on something normal, but if you're a glutton for punishment, maybe this will help...

Don

PS: can't seem to get a link up, will try again...

Look at the end of this thread:
http://slotblog.net/..._+uhp +toronado

The image icon still isn't responding...

[don.siegel]

Found the magic button...

[Lone Wolf]

Thanks alot Don. A few questions.

1. Do all those parts go just as they are laid out? For some reason in my mind I pictured the parts would be next to the crown.
2. Is it only on the left front or both sides?
3. On the right front, the hub extends out of the back of the tire. Is this the actual wheel or something else or the washers and junk like the left side.
4. Do you know if this had AMT tires all around? If so, are they marked AMT ( rarer version ) or just DM ?
5. Knock offs on front only ?

Thanks for your time.

[don.siegel]

Hi Joe,

Glad to help - this is such an odd car, but very fascinating! Mine seemed to be new when I got it, but without the box, so am not sure if all were original parts.

Don

1. Do all those parts go just as they are laid out? For some reason in my mind I pictured the parts would be next to the crown.
Yes, as shown: nut next to the plastic bearing, then the fairly thick aluminum disk, about 1/16" I'd say, then the wheel, which is plain, not threaded, then the spring, washer and knock-off. The wheel is held by pressure between the disk and the spring, which is what I guess gives it that "limited slip differential"!

2. Is it only on the left front or both sides?
Both sides

3. On the right front, the hub extends out of the back of the tire. Is this the actual wheel or something else or the washers and junk like the left side.
That's the thick aluminum disk.

4. Do you know if this had AMT tires all around? If so, are they marked AMT ( rarer version ) or just DM ?
Can't read for sure, but it seems to be marked AMT on one set and Buzco on the other - I don't know if these were the original tires. Car came like this.

5. Knock offs on front only ?
No, seem to be for both front and rear, but I had removed the rear knock-offs for some reason.


Thanks for your time.

[Gary Bluestone]

I rebuilt a couple of these but even with new rubber they were no match for a standard AMT, not to mentions the rear end fishtailing wildly . In between the wheel and the aluminum disk, there is a thin rubber disk (shown on the wheel) which is meant to provide traction from the driving disk to the wheel in a limited slip fashion, which is dependent on the spring pressure. Everything in the photo looks the exactly the same as the ones I worked on. I have never seen these wheels sold seperately or used on any other cars except the UHP cars. There is also a vacuformed Mako Shark by UHP. I guess you would need to find a wreck to get the parts or you could just fit a washer inside the front wheels , to recreate the look.

[gluebomb]

Just looking around for info on differentials and found this, the original patent for the above system as filed in early 1966 by William T Donofrio.

 

http://www.google.co...tents/US3304652

 

Interesting in that it shows a different chassis from the back-to-front AMT used by UHP - all the other bits appear similar though.

Nice big drawings if you click on "original image", a good write up on the thinking behind it also.

[don.siegel]

Thanks GB, excellent find. 

 

In fact, the chassis in the patent looks a lot like a Rannalli, with the long drop arm... Maybe the inventor tested his idea on that, and then got a deal on a bunch of AMT chassis! 

 

Don 

[Gary Bluestone]

Seem inconsistent that so much effort was made to create front wheels that spun at different speeds and no effort was made to make independently rotating rear wheels. Essentially the faster spinning inner wheel will force the outside wheel to slip, causing fishtailing which is a known problem with these chassis.

[gluebomb]

Yep, good point Gary - a bit of weight and grip at the back to help keep things in line also perhaps.

i'd love to play with one of these - any chance you could put yours in your box for our next night out ?

[Gary Bluestone]

I was just making some new friction discs for the front, and new tires, freshened up the rear, didn't make them freewheeling though. I hope to bring it out soon to see how it compares to the AMT hardbody originals.

[Bob Beck]

Still have mine from when I was a kid. Bought it new...LOL... was a gift.

[don.siegel]

Great stuff Bob. do you remember how it ran? 

 

Also, how is your body attached? Mine has aluminum angle brackets attached to the chassis, with the body rather crudely screwed into those... figured it was factory, but now I have some doubts. 

 

Don 

[Gary Bluestone]

Sounds like the factory body mount to me. After I made new tires  and new friction discs the UHP kept up with the AMT version. I cut the new discs out of the same foam that I use for tires.