Tech Help, RC12L and later

These questions about setting up and configuring the RC12L cover the pan car from the 12L to the 12L4.
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Questions

What part numbers do I need to convert my 12L3 to 12L4?

I have a 12L30. Do you have a list of the parts to convert it to a 10L30?

Can I buy rubber tires for my 12th scale? It came with foams on it and I need something that will hook up on the road.

Can I upgrade an rc12LS with L3 rear and front axles?

What's the car dimension L x W x H in mm (metric)?

Could you please provide me with a listing of 1:12 scale car body suppliers. 

Why does the shock on the 12l3 kit appear to be too long? I have to push the dampener plate towards the rear of the car to install it on the top ball, which is tweaking the chassis. How are you supposed to get the batteries under the shock, to install them (saddle pack style)?

RC12L3 kit: When the spur gear is fitted to the axle, there is no way the 26T pinion will fit because you can't get the motor far enough forward, as it hits on the rear pod.

What effect does putting a spacer under the front pivot ball have?

Can the LC be converted to an L3 and is it worth doing?

I have the Associated 12i. I notice you have rubber tires in the 12l parts list. Will they fit on my car?

I would like to know the price of #4550, which is not showing on early catalogs.

I can't find anywhere in the 12L3 parts list any wheels without the tires.

I need to know if there is a standard starting point for ride height.

Can the VCS Micro Shock replace the Associated shock on rc10L2 or is it called the macro shock and is it a better upgrade?

I run a RC12L on carpet with very tight turns. What can I do to reduce the car hopping in the turns?

I'm in the process of building a 1/12 4Cell Oval Car and need to know what are your recommendation for the use of 0° or 10° blocks.

What parts would be necessary to convert a 12L3 to a 12L3Oval?

How would a longer wheelbase effect the 12L4's performance?

Can you please tell me what body is used in the picture of the 12L4?

I'm running my 12L4 on carpet. After few laps the front tires on my car collect a lot of "wool" on them, and the car doesn't steer anymore. I've applied sauce.

I was wondering if it is possible to convert 64p on the 1/12 to a 48p.

Answers

1 What part numbers do I need to convert my 12L3 to 12L4?

#4462, 4558, 4559, 4563, 4565, 4566, 4567, 6619, 8504.

2 I have a 12L30. Do you have a list of the parts to convert it to a 10L30?

To change from a 1:12 scale to a 1:10, you will need to change the
following:
Chassis #8460 retail $60.00
Cross brace #8462 retail $8.50
T-plate #8191 retail $6.50
Upper motor plate #8463 retail $12.00
Lower motor plate #8461 retail $12.00
Rear Axle #4355 retail $15.00
Left hub #8465 retail $13.00
Right hub #8459 retail $14.00
Inline steering blocks #8441 retail $2.50
Inline front axle #8443 retail $6.00
Front wheel bearings #6902 retail $15.00pr (you will need 2 pair) $30.00
Your total would be $179.50. It’s possible to purchase a kit for that price or close to it.

3 Can I buy rubber tires for my 12th scale? It came with foams on it and I need something that will hook up on the road.

Here are couple of ideas.
1. How about using a flexible CA glue and glue some bicycle inner tube and glue them to the foam. 
2. Or you could look at the rubber tires that fit the Tamiya F1 and see if you could glue them on, but they are bit more costly where an bicycle inner tube is cheaper. If you do the tube, make sure you check the diameter of it, it has to be big enough to fit around the tire but not so that it's loose.

4 Can I upgrade an rc12LS with L3 rear and front axles?

You can use the front axles but the rear axle will not work--different specs on side-to-side spacing.

5 What's the car dimension L x W x H in mm (metric)?

L= over all from front to rear is 26.5mm
H= 6mm
W= front 16.2mm, rear=17mm.

6 Could you please provide me with a listing of 1:12 scale car body suppliers. 

Pro-Line ProtoForm Racing
Andy's bodies
Dahm's Racing Bodies
These are three companies that come to mind which create bodies for our cars.

7 Why does the shock on the 12l3 kit appear to be too long? I have to push the dampener plate towards the rear of the car to install it on the top ball, which is tweaking the chassis. How are you supposed to get the batteries under the shock, to install them (saddle pack style)?

Check to make sure that you have the shaft end seated all the way on, and should have at least a 1/16 and 1/8 that you have to push it back. To install the batteries, you unhook the top of the shock install the batteries and then reinstall the shock, make sure that you wire that connects the cells does not interfere with the shock or the top plate movement.

8 RC12L3 kit: When the spur gear is fitted to the axle, there is no way the 26T pinion will fit because you can't get the motor far enough forward, as it hits on the rear pod.

We did not make it clear, and we apologize, but you will need to get the Kimbrough Racing Products offset ride height adjusters and/or use a smaller spur gear.

9 What effect does putting a spacer under the front pivot ball have?

Putting a spacer under the pivot ball [in the T-bar we hope?] will give you more rear steer. The camber gain is not affected by the washers.

10 Can the LC be converted to an L3 and is it worth doing?

Yes, the 12LC can be converted to an L3 by mainly converting the rear axle assembly. There are some other minor changes but that is the major change.

11 I have the Associated 12i. I notice you have rubber tires in the 12l parts list. Will they fit on my car?

The rims for the 12L will fit the 12i.

12 I would like to know the price of #4550, which is not showing on early catalogs.

It is $28.00.

13 I can't find anywhere in the 12L3 parts list any wheels without the tires.

Contact Pro-Line for wheels.

14 I need to know if there is a standard starting point for ride height.

There is no set ride height. The rule of thumb is get it as low as you can with out hitting the chassis or rear pod on any part of the track.

15 Can the VCS Micro Shock replace the Associated shock on rc10L2 or is it called the macro shock and is it a better upgrade?

The VCS micro shock is designed to replace the shock on Associated and other 1:12 scale cars or the same shocks on other three-shock 1:10 scale cars. The new VCS Macro shock is the larger center shock which can be used to replace the old 10L shock.

16 I run a RC12L on carpet with very tight turns. What can I do to reduce the car hopping in the turns?

When the car hops it is usually caused by the car riding too high, or something is binding in the suspension. Even too soft of a tire will cause this.

17 I'm in the process of building a 1/12 4Cell Oval Car and need to know what are your recommendation for the use of 0° or 10° blocks.

For oval I would suggest using the 0° over the 10° block. Using the 0° block will give you more consistent steering through sweeping corners. The 10° block increases steering on tight tracks.

18 What parts would be necessary to convert a 12L3 to a 12L3Oval?

#4509 chassis
#4557 rear chassis brace (discontinued item)
#4556 upper pod plate
#4470 (2) VCS micro shock
#4448 pivot balls

19 How would a longer wheelbase effect the 12L4's performance?

Normally, lengthening the wheelbase will make the car more stable. However, if you are changing the wheelbase and the rear axle is moving farther away from the motor, you will get an increase in steering.

20 Can you please tell me what body is used in the picture of the 12L4?

The body used is from Parma.

21 I'm running my 12L4 on carpet. After few laps the front tires on my car collect a lot of "wool" on them, and the car doesn't steer anymore. I've applied sauce.

If it's new carpet, you will get a lot of fibers. Also, be sure to clean the foam before reapplying the sauce. If you are running outside the line, there are a lot of fibers to pick up. It could also be the sauce. Here we run TQ8 and it doesn't have a lot of residue. To clean the tires, Slicket makes a cleaner, #BB1000. Or you could use lighter fluid on a range, but be VERY VERY careful around open flames or soldering irons! You can get the cleaner from RC4Less.

22 I was wondering if it is possible to convert 64p on the 1/12 to a 48p.

.There is nothing to convert. You just purchase 48 pitch gears instead of 64 pitch ones. The ones that I use are the ones made by Kimbrough. He has spurs and pinions. You can also check with Robinson Racing.