Mini-Z Bodies

Mid motor (MM) and rear motor (RM) chassis:

Using stock parts, rear motor mount is adjustable for 86-94mm wheelbase bodes, and mid motor mount is adjustable for 98-106mm wheelbase bodies. Using modifed motor mount, mid motor mount can be installed on as short as 94 mm wheelbase bodies, and rear motor mount can be used on as long as 98mm bodies. See motor mount section.

Alternate source for bodies and wheel offset:: AtomicMods.com Body Chart ; Also: Mini-Z forum body chart

Wheel offsets are listed after car name in front/rear format. Also, "N"=Normal Width Rim 8.5mm, "W"=Wide Width Rim 11mm.

Offset with ??? behind it means it needs to be confirmed. If you have the body, and know the actual offset, please email me benmlee at yahoo dot com.

86mm Wheelbase

MR015		MR020
Porsche 934 - Offset: 1.5N/1W	Porsche 935 - Offset: 2.5N/3W
Porsche-934-RSR-Turbo-1976 Jaegermeister Offset: 1.5N/1W	Porsche-935-Turbo-1977- Jaegermister Offset: 1.5N/1W
1976 Porsche 934 RSR Turbo- Offset: 1.5N/1W
Lancia Stratos - Offset: 0N/0W	Lancia Stratos (78 San Remo No4) - Offset: 0N/0W

90mm Wheelbase

94mm Wheelbase

(Can be converted to MM chassis using shortened MM motor mounts)

98mm Wheelbase

(Can be converted to RM using lengthened RM motor mount)

MR015		MR020
		Ferrari Enzo - Offset: 1N/3W	Ferrari Scaglietti - Offset: 0N/0W
		Lamborghini Murcielago - Offset: 0N/2.8W	Lamborghini Diablo - Offset: 0N/2.5W
		Ford Mustang GT - Offset: 0N/0W	Ford GT - Offset: 0N/2.5W
		BMW M3 GTR - Offset: 0N/0W	Chrysler 300C - Offset: 0N/0N
		Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren - Offset: 1N/1W	Mclaren F1 Earo Ver Silver - Offset: 0N/0W
		Mclaren-F1-LM-Kokusaikaihatu-Racing - Offset: 0N/0W	Mclaren F1 - Offset: 0N/0W
		Mclaren F1 LM - Offset: 0N/0W	Ferarri FXX - Offset: 1N/3W?

102mm Wheelbase

106mm Wheelbase

MR015		MR020
Toyota Estima - Offset: 1.5N/1.5N	Toyota Alphard - Offset: 1.5N/1.5N

90mm Wheelbase

MR015		MR020
VW Beetle - Offset: 0N/0N	Toyota Vitz RS - Offset: 0N/0N
Mini Cooper - Offset: 0N/0N	Honda Fit - Offset: 0N/0N

94mm Wheelbase

MR015		MR020
VW Golf GTI - Offset: 0N/0N

Facts about mini-z chassis widths:

Mounting points for MR015, MR020 and MA010 are all the same and interchangable. However:

MR010 and MR015 chassis width is 48mm wide both front end and rear end. Width defined as width of the wheel mounting surface. For total vehicle width, add width of wheel, 8.5mm for normal, and 11mm for wide to the chassis width. MR020 chassis on the other hand is 5mm wider in front (53mm), and have same width (48mm) as MR010/MR015 in the rear. Therefore, when using a MR015 body on a MR020 chassis, decrease each front wheel offset by 2.5mm. Rear wheel offset stays the same.

In reading the charts, for a MR015 chassis, if you have 2.5N/0W offsets (normal width wheel with 2.5mm offset front and wide wheel with 0mm offset in rear), then front and rear have same vehicle width. For the MR015, the front 2.5mm offset compensates for the narrower front rim, so front and rear wheels line up. Having 0N/0N (0mm offset on both ends with normal width wheels on both ends) will allow front and rear wheels to line up. For an MR020 chassis, if front and back offsets are 0N/0N, then front wheels will actually be 5mm wider than rear, because MR020 chassis are wider in the front. You need 0N/2.5N for the front and rear to have the same width. For typical racing configuration with narrow and wide tires combination, 0N/0W on MR020 will give same vehicle width front and rear; because the wider chassis in front compensate for the narrower tires in the front.

For MA010 AWD, the wheels are different than the MR015/020 series and are not interchangable. Offset for AWD wheels are measured differently. However, if you are using MR015 chassis with an AWD body, use 2WD wheels with the same numerical offset as the AWD wheels. And for MR020, subtract 2.5mm to the front offset value.

Chassis width and offset are confusing, but there is actually a method to the madness.

MR020 is accepted as the better handling chassis because of the flat battery placement the gives a lower CG. Unfortunately, many mini-z bodes are too narrow for the MR020. It use to be you have a choice between nice bodies or racing bodies. Recently, PN made a narrow front adaptor that lets you have a narrow front stance using the MR020 chassis. Now you can install a MR015 body with 0 offset on a MR020 chassis.

For the LM chassis which use the LeMan bodies, the front chassis width is the same as MR020(53mm wide). The rear chassis however, is 2mm wider on each side at 52mm instead of the usual 48mm for MR015/MR020 chassis. Therefore, for the Porsche 962, when the wheels offset is .8mm, it is actually equivalent to 2.8mm offset for MR02 chassis.

Body Preparation:

Certain areas of bodies are weak. For running bodies, reinforce weak areas prior to running with other cars.

It doesn't take a stress analyst to see where the weak spot is on this body. Most Kyosho bodies have a separate light bucket that is installed on the body using two or three plastic posts that are mushroomed with heat to hold on to the light bucket on. Needless to say the joint is very weak. On some bodies, the light bucket is part of the body like on the McLarens. Those bodies are very strong. To make bodies with separate light buckets as strong as one piece bodies, run a bead of epoxy glue fillet all around the light bucket on the inside. Put some epoxy glue on the edge of the headlight glass cover as well if you don't mind having some glue on the outside. Now the light bucket becomes a structural member. Glue a piece of stiffener on the inside bottom lip of the body to make it stronger. As for what glue to use, super glue is too brittle, and they crack on impact. Epoxy sticks ok to the plastic. Shoe glue might be the best because it has some flexibility to it.

Good driving bodies:

Racing:

Enzo- For modified class, the Enzo is popular. It has a +3 offset in the rear that gives it stability. Quick manuvers does not upset the chassis. Give plenty of warning before the rear end lets go.

Mclaren-For stock class, Mclaren is popular because it is light weight. The tail tends to come loose quickly though.

Lamborghini Murcielago-Like the Enzo, it has wide rear track. Smooth body lets it bounce off walls.

Open Interface Tom's SC430- This is even lighter than Mclaren by a hair. Has good sharp turns in. 94mm gives good traction during acceleration. The air splitter with winglet in front and spoiler in back gives it an aerodynamic edge that is noticeable on the track. The front end of the car slops up like a pan car, so it has good down force in the front. However, the sharp air splitter in the front also cause trouble when it snags the wall. Car comes to an instant stop. Takes some careful driving. Is the new favorite for racing.

Ferrari 360 GTC-Like the SC430, shorter 94mm wheelbase gives better manuverability. Nice stable predictable car to drive for modified. Does not have as much aerodynamic downforce than the Tom's SC430.

Takata Dome NSX- Suppose to be a popular race body in Asia countries. Overhang on front and rear slows down response, and make it easier to drive. The 2004 series have 0N/0W wheel offset. The 2005 series have 2N/2W wheel offset. If available, get the 2005 series rather than the 2004 series for a wider stance.

Beginners:

Ferarri Testarosa-Forgiving car to drive.

Ferarri F50-Like the Testarosa, forgiving car to drive.

Other Bodies:

Porsche 935-Pretty stable car for a short 86mm wheelbase. Can be driven pretty fast. Looks great.

Ferarri 250 GTO-Looks great, but maybe the most difficult to drive fast. Is ok if you keep speed down by useing stock motor with 6T pinion. Classic body style means it has high center of gravity. High CG with lots of body roll translate to great turning that is very sensitive. More turning than any other mini-z. Kind of similar to the Overlands. Corner limitation is the roll over. That you have to be very careful of.

Porsche 934-Body looks great, but during cornering, the rear wheels tend to rub on the fender flares that cause understeer. You can break off the body mount and glue them back on in slightly different position to lift the body higher. Handles better then. Roll over is a concern on this body. A guy at the track used carpet tires in the front to limit cornering force, and prevent roll over. He was quite fast with the body then.

Lamborghini Jota- Wide rear offset gives it a competitive edge. Body is heavier than other cars. Is a beast to handle. Rear tends to spin out if you are not careful and can roll over as well. But once you get use to it, is pretty fast. Wide rear wheels with weight up high means there is more weight transfer to the rear during acceleration. Great accelerating out of corners with a modified motor and slippery track. Should take off the roof spoiler before running it so there is not so much weight up high.

Hints:

With the current production runs, sometimes bodies are hard to come by. You will see popular bodies be available for a month or two, and then most stores will be out of stock. Then you will find them on sale on ebay for a premium. If there is a body you like, when they are available, stock up with a spare. Just don't go crazy. I had to spend an hour explaining to the wife that I have not gone nuts when I got 3 McLarens.

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