DesertBoy-17 Flux Conversion by GCM Racing.

Updated August 2010

Please see the Assembly video below for a detailed assembly and description of the DB-17. The video also shows battery setups and esc mounting options.

Been 'Fluxed'? This monster offering from HPI Racing is sure to please. A strong, capable and fffffast 1/8 scale truck with a history of strength and parts support trailing behind. This truck is a long time contender in the Monster Truck class racing and a huge hit with the basher crowd alike. Now it's even better.

GCM Racing got a hold of a pre-order truck, and received it just in time. Within a couple of runs on the stock truck, it was VERY clear that this truck frame was no where near capable of handling the available power and putting it on the ground. Not even close. The stock Flux on 4s Lipo battery power did a DOUBLE back flip on carpet in 16 feet of ground and single backflips on cement with the right traction. That's just crazy power right out of the box. Also to note, the stock chassis length lacked the ability to get the bumps absorbed, feeling a bit bouncy at times. The shocks are really good for a stock unit, but something was missing in the handling.... Enter GCM Racing design and the DesertBoy.

Designed specifically as a direct platform conversion for the strong and capable Savage Flux, the DesertBoy from GCM will transform your stock Flux into a REAL monster. With a wheelbase of 448mm (17.6 inches) it's a beast and makes the strong powertrain get that energy transfered to the ground as it should. On 4s your backflip is history, and your wheelie bar won't be needed either. It's power that's immediately translated into speed with control. A total shift of focus from the stock Flux. If you are running a 6s lipo setup with this truck, hang on! The ability to plant the power to the ground will make you giggle when you slam the trigger. And then you'll have to replace the tires. It's a long run down the straight with a very light front end in your future. No more feathered trigger finger for you, just roll on the power and watch the beast come to life.

With no ESC or Battery straps:

The GCM DesertBoy-17 platform now uses stock Flux Battery trays, or it's 5 side protected internal battery bay. Between the chassis plates you can hold a whopping huge battery stack, and with the full width of the chassis available to use for the purpose. We are talking 184mm x 74mm x 60mm or more in height and velcro strap slots all along the way. The DB-17 options have a mid mounted Battery Tray floor kit available that will make battery mounting even more simple. The batteries will be protected and brick packs will be easier than ever to mount, thanks to the centered velcro slots all around. Simply velcro the battery to the side plate or lower plate and add a safety strap, and you are off to the dirt again. No mess, no worries.

The chassis strong enough for any punishment short of a train wreck, and yes, we have tried to break it. The servo is mounted on billet anodized aluminum mounts inside the chassis plates and makes rock solid steering in any conditions. The ESC is mounted on top of the Flux motor mounts with tape and strapped to the side of the chassis over the motor for simple and clean wiring, or you can use the Traxxas 5626 clamp for holding the esc to the side plate. Both options are shown below. All new DesertBoy-17 kits include a new upper steering post brace as well, to replace the radiobox steering brace.

Other engineering upgrades include mounting the whole drive line package in the exact opposite of the stock truck, which makes the spur gear rotate the proper way to keep the slipper nut from backing off, a problem we found on the stock Flux.

This conversion includes front and rear heavy duty dogbones, billet servo mounts, and a complete hex hardware kit for the chassis screws. You can re-use the Flux battery boxes or supply some velcro or tie straps to secure your battery pack inside. All the parts included in each kit are shown below.

As the DesertBoy-17 was designed to be a Flux conversion, we made the assembly a no-mods-required switch over and keep hassles at a minimum. All the conversion parts for the driveline, steering brace and servo mount, and new Hex hardware is included in each kit also. You need to supply a body and velcro or tie straps to secure your battery pack. Shown below are some mounting options for batteries, Rx and ESC positions. We have had great success with all of these setups.

Be sure to check out the DesertBoy body gallery for some body shell ideas here.

With some special thought out GCM-only changes to the suspension geometry and a solid component mounting design, this DB platform is a great performer! Even though wheelbase is stretched considerably over stock, the turning circle is still around 6 feet- not too bad for a vehicle this size. The handling is amazing also. Many users have found that with the improvement in handling from the chassis alone, the use of extended arm suspension is not needed as was originally thought. The truck handles great with a half offset wheel and good tires. Using the basic layout from our capable RB3 platform, we have brought good handling and bump eating performance back into the same monster. A simple design for a better truck. That's all. Now go empty your batteries on your DB.

See the shopping page for pricing and availability.