The WL Toys 144001 is an excellent low cost hobby grade RC buggy that I ordered from Banggood. I've already taken free and low cost steps to improve performance in part 1 and part 2 of my upgrades guide. This upgrade guide here is dedicated to installing a powerful and efficient 2838 brushless system that is optimised for balance, handling and efficiency. It will also be much faster and reliable that the stock system. This upgrade is fully compatible with the new 124019 and 124018 as well and an excellent option to improve performance and battery life. As mentioned above the brushless upgrade I am doing here is based on a smaller, lighter more powerful motor than stock so I can get the best handling by reducing weight and improving balance. For this reason I have chosen a brushless 2838 sized motor (28mm diameter, 38mm can length) that runs at 4500kV. This is the same spec powertrain used by the premium LC Racing EMB-1 on which the 144001 is based. The objective is to optimise handling by removing the extremely heavy and power hungry but inefficient brushed 550 motor. I have not gone with a brushless motor the same size as the brushed 550 (3650, 3652, 3660) as these are really only suited to speed runs - see my speed run build guide if that is the kind of build you are looking for Benefits from this 2838 brushless setup over stock will include:
Click on any picture in this article to Embiggen or go to product linkMotor size comparison: The stock 550 weighs 271g and the new, more powerful 2838 weighs 95g. Damn! I strongly recommend looking at the first 2 articles I've written on mostly free or very cheap upgrades that significantly improve the handling and life of the EMB-1 before you upgrade the powertrain - you will enjoy it so much more and will get to know the car better. They are here: Parts needed Unfortunately upgrading to brushless power is not simply a matter of changing the motor. If you want to use a brushless motor your will need a brushless ESC. The stock ESC has a receiver built in so you will also need a new receiver and transmitter. Lastly the stock servo is a 5-wire servo that is incompatible with regular receivers so you will need a new receiver too. There are some other minor parts too, I've listed everything I've used below:
The following can be considered optional although I would stongly recommend:
For tools you need a drill, a fine needle file (<3mm diameter) or dremel, 1.5mm hex driver, + screwdriver and some good double sided foam tape. I also used the tools below to make the install cleaner but are not crucial:
Step 1: Remove the old gear All the old gear will need to come out - the motor, the ESC and the servo. Follow the steps below:
Step 2: Motor install This is the hardest step as you'll need to drill out the pinion and slot one of the motor holes on the mount. Moving to the smaller 17t pinion is a critical part of this upgrade and a big reason why it performs so well.
Step 3: Servo and receiver install If you use the PDI-1181MG servo as specified it will not require any modification and install is simple. If this is out of stock then the Emax ES3054 is also a direct fit
Step 4: ESC install and wiring I'd recommend taking a bit of time here, it is worth fixing everything down securely so things do come loose in action. Move things around and do a lot of test fitting before you fix things in place
Step 5: (optional): Tidy up the wiring As an RC car guy I'd leave the wiring as is and just run it. As a quad guy I know that tidying up wiring is pleasing to my eye and I know it will be better to make sure I don't accidently damage wires or connectors and can fit the body on cleanly every time
Here are the results. The cable ties make it look a but ugly but everything is very sturdy and will not get in the way of moving parts. I may plan to shorten the battery cable later on and will probably change from a t-plug to XT30 at the same time. Step 6: Get it running Now that everything is in the right place it's time to get it running.
So how does it go? The performance has improved in every single way you can consider performance. Immediately the punch off the line is just incredible and it goes on to a much improved top speed but that is not even the best part. Massively improved efficiency means I get about double to battery life out of even the stock 1500mah 2s pack. Significantly less weight means handling is much more nimble and it jumps way more evenly. Rear suspension is no longer undersprung and under dampened with the decreased weight (ok maybe slightly undersprung and dampened). I've already had a few tumbles and so far as I can tell the lighter weight means I am bending and breaking less. Now that this upgrade article has been out for sometime and has become very popular, this setup has been GPS measured at around 60-64KM/hr on 2s and 96-100km/hr on 3s with stock tyres. That is certainly no slouch! Why not just buy the EMB1? Given all the gear you need to complete this build you are no longer less than half the cost of the LC racing EMB-1, which begs the question - why didn't you buy the EMB-1 in the first place? Well I have both and I'll tell you why I prefer the upgraded 144001 over my EMB 1 - because I love to tinker and I made it. Objectively this makes no sense because the EMB-1 is superior to even an upgraded 144001 but it is the customisation and pride in build (as well as encouragement from the community) that makes this car really special to me, Not that special though, after all this is still a basher that loves to be run! Update: I've done a direct comparison on this upgraded brushless 144001 vs the more expensive LC racing EMB-MT - article is here Exact Parts used in this build to replicate mine:
What's next? I still have lots planned for the 144001. I'm planning on simplifying the upgrade process as I look for unicorn pinion gears that allow you to use the stock motor mount 380 holes (completed - here). I'm going to look at a number of aluminium parts to see which are worthwhile (completed - here) and which cause more trouble than good and lastly I will build my 3rd 144001 as a road-only speed buggy (completed - here) and see how fast we can go for cheap and minimal modification. Update! I've found some unicorn pinion options that allow you to bypass the slotting of the motor mount and using the stock holes instead, full article here WL TOYS 144001 BRUSHLESS 2838 UPGRADE EASY NO CUT OPTION If you want to stay up do date with my very lastest guides and articles, check out my new facebook group here - QuadifyRC 144001 124018 124019 Modders' group
Other parts worth looking atI'm trying to keep a running list of parts I use and think will be useful. For those parts that come from Banggood please try the code "parts8" for an 8% discount. It works on some products and not others otherwise check my coupons and discounts page as I'll add any 144001 cars and parts there if they get discounted.
65 Comments
lance young
25/6/2020 04:29:13 am
hi will this set up work with the DumboRC X6FG transmitter and receiver?
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Quadify RC
25/6/2020 08:38:16 am
Yeah for sure but not sure if the receiver will fit between motor and servo as I've done here.
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Erik
29/6/2020 10:12:57 am
What are you using for a battery tie down? The stock Velcro piece seems to be the right length for the half size batteries only.
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Quadify RC
29/6/2020 11:58:02 am
I haven't moved to the larger batteries as I've only every run my car with brushless and the little ones are fine. I will be going to larger batteries with my son's car (which is stock) for reasons you've already found. I intend to use these - narrow and long straps: https://bit.ly/2NAFh4X
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Quadify RC
29/6/2020 12:00:03 pm
Actually there are a lot more size options here: https://bit.ly/2NCgIon
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Davide
30/6/2020 11:35:48 am
I want to install the same brushless system to my 144001. Can I use original LC emb-1h 17T and LC car brushless motor mount? Thanks
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Quadify RC
30/6/2020 12:46:39 pm
Unfortunately no. The EMB-1 motor mount doesn't fit and it runs a different modulus pitch (0.6) vs 0.7 on the 144001. I'm currently working on a solution to make this easier, parts arrive soon. I can say the mod I've done here has a very good gear ratio but does need some filing to the motor mount.
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Daagel S Fossati
5/7/2020 02:48:36 pm
What length of silicon wires do you use?
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Quadify RC
9/7/2020 08:59:06 am
Hi Daagel
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Thomas B.
20/7/2020 07:05:30 am
Thank you for this great detailled overview - a great timesaver for anyone looking to take this on. My little boy crashed my 144001 and broke the stock motor - it tore clean of the mounts. Never waste an opportunity to upgrade so your recommended parts are now on their way!
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Quadify RC
20/7/2020 09:22:09 am
Hey Thomas
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Emi
18/8/2020 02:59:05 am
I've done the mod follow yours.but the problem I'm facing is the motor sound louder..like f1 engine..
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Quadify RC
18/8/2020 09:00:35 am
It should definitely not be loud - do not run it if it is. Brushless motors should actually be quieter in operation. First, have you got exactly the pinion I linked? There are very few that are compatible. If that is ok then I'd look at your mesh again. PS you shouldn't need to lube pinion or spur. Good luck
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laz
18/8/2020 07:40:22 am
Fantastic guide, thank you.
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Quadify RC
18/8/2020 09:03:41 am
Awesome! Yeah I reckon overall with the stock tyres the 17t pinion is the best. The 15t pinion from the other article is a little short unless you change the gears or go up to 3s. There are a couple of pictures in my guide showing how much I slotted the mount. Click on them to expand but you can see it is not a lot. If you go too far it shouldn't matter because it is slotted rather than having a fixed hole. Best of luck!
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laz
10/9/2020 05:53:21 pm
Upgrade done!
Quadify RC
10/9/2020 10:03:55 pm
Well done, it's a good accomplishment getting the upgrade done. It shouldn't really be clicking, check the pinion mesh but I'm a little worried it may be your diff starting to let go. Mine doesn't have any extra noise from the brushless setup.
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Vince
18/9/2020 03:41:21 am
Hi! This is an awesome piece of work. Thank you soo much. As always I’m looking for a cheat... too scared of hard work. Can I use a 19t pinion and avoid the mount modification? It seems to be just that little bit larger than the 17t and might fit... but I’m sure you would have just done this if it worked!
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QuadifyRC
18/9/2020 10:32:40 am
Thanks Vince. If you want a pinion that fits without modding the mount, check out this article: https://www.quadifyrc.com/rccarreviews/wl-toys-144001-brushless-2838-upgrade-easy-no-cut-option
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Vince
19/9/2020 12:13:07 am
Thanks. I’m going to try that first. Just ordered the 15t pinion.
SteviePie
1/10/2020 12:03:40 pm
Hi, I have just ordered two of these cars for my son and I and looking forward to tinkering with it. Thanks for all your information it is brilliant. I have a noob question about the radio options for the brushless upgrade. What is a gyro in the FS-GT5 and what does it do?
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QuadifyRC
1/10/2020 12:41:22 pm
Hey there!
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BenLandel
6/10/2020 03:26:22 am
First, as it's my first comment I must thank you for your amazing website.
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QuadifyRC
6/10/2020 09:19:39 am
Hey there
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LDIZZ
9/10/2020 05:24:05 pm
I'm having a problem my reverse is running like it was in foward with a tremendous force and my forward is quite tame what did i do wrong or what can i do to fix it
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11/1/2021 09:11:23 am
Your wiring is crossed from the esc to Brushless motor.
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QuadifyRC
11/1/2021 09:14:19 am
Crikey I'm sorry I didn't see this earlier. I guess you have it ficed by now but yes, you need to swap the connectors on any 2 of the 3 wires that go from motor to ESC and potentially reverse the servo on transmitter as well.
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QuadifyRC
9/10/2020 05:26:54 pm
I know exactly what is wrong. Both your motor and servo reversing are the wrong way. First swap any two (of the three) wires that go from the esc to the motor. Next you'll need to reverse (or unreverse) to throttle channel - basically the opposite of what it is now. Please let me know if this works.
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Randy G
11/10/2020 09:09:28 am
I want to be a really solid version of the 144001. I don't care if it goes more than 45mph just want something that will last and possibly put on bigger tires for bashing in the grass, park, and possibly some dirt. Any thoughts on motor / ecu and the gearing?
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QuadifyRC
11/10/2020 08:49:32 pm
If you want my favourite setup I'd say the Remo P6973 in my wheels guide and this brushless combo after setting the shocks and diffs up correctly as per my starter guides. That setup was fast enough, accelerated quickly, would last ages on the stock battery and was very reliable. Furthermore the bigger and better wheels and tyres offered better grip off road and on. Happy bashing :)
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Ariel Silbert
3/11/2020 05:01:40 pm
Hi - I am wondering if you can help me. I followed your tutorial for my WLTOYS 144001 and installed a new 2838 surpass motor and 35A esc. I have actually tried two different receiver/transmitter combos (Flysky fs-gt2b and fs-3gt-3e), but the throttle in both forward and reverse is stuttering before acceleration, and sometimes not responding in reverse. I know something is wrong, but for the life of me I can't figure out what. Obviously not the receiver(s) and the mesh between the 15t pinion (hobbyking like you suggested) and the main gear on the driveshaft is fine, not too tight or loose. What am I doing wrong? It sounds like cogging, but it can't be I'm sure. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thank you!
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QuadifyRC
3/11/2020 11:46:07 pm
Hi Ariel
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Stefano
4/11/2020 08:16:39 pm
Hi!Your pages are great,finally some no-nonsense and trustable info,I stopped following all the misleading videos on youtube thanks to this! I see there is an alternative red version from surpass hobby named KK on BG. Apparently it incorporates a capacitor. Do you know whether that could be any better than the blue one?
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QuadifyRC
5/11/2020 09:00:59 am
Hi Stefano, thanks for the kind feedback. I try to make the guides as helpful as possible but sometimes I get a little caught up on th detail. I only have direct experience with the blue surpass hobby one in this article so that's what I recommend as it has been bulletproof for me. Although I don't think it needs it, it is easy to add a capacitor bank if you want. Also that included servo is too big for the 144001
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Josh
15/11/2020 01:14:24 am
Can I do this brushless upgrade with JUST the motor and esc and/or do I need anything else for the upgrade (sorry if this question is answered I had limited time to find it)
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QuadifyRC
16/11/2020 09:46:10 am
Hi Josh
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Troy
25/11/2020 06:07:12 pm
Hmmm. Just realized in my haste that I have ordered the 3600kv version of the 2838 motor and not the 4500kv. What sort of impact will this have on the swap? This is the only part that has arrived so far. Would you suggest not using the 3600kv or making changes to the build?
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QuadifyRC
25/11/2020 09:50:14 pm
Hi Troy
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Troy
26/11/2020 12:12:13 am
You did, indeed, answer me on Facebook. Thank you for being awesome. I appreciate all the work you have done and the continued input. Cheers!
Rcguy
26/11/2020 12:40:11 am
Fried the ESC on 3s. Starting smoking and lit up. Was pushing the car hard but I guess the esc can only take short bursts from 3s cells. Ordered a hobbywing 60a esc as a replacement.
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QuadifyRC
7/12/2020 08:55:47 am
Sorry, notifications to posts seem to be broken at the moment. Sorry to hear it fried. These ESCs are solid on 2s but I've seen the odd one cook on 3s. The ESC you've ordered will be a big improvement - as well as handling 3s reliably you'll probably find it faster on 2s as well.
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ETX
5/12/2020 05:28:44 pm
Two questions: Is there a screw upgrade kit for this buggy? Is there a manual on rebuilding this if I take it apart?
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QuadifyRC
7/12/2020 09:01:25 am
Hi There
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Jefferson
6/12/2020 08:49:34 am
Hi and thanks for this tutorial! Could you tell me where to find the 3.2mm flat head screws that hold the motor down? The wltoys screw kit doesn't seem to have any.
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QuadifyRC
7/12/2020 09:02:58 am
M3 diameter but can't remember the length sorry, doing another conversion soon so will measure. You may need to drill the small holes on the mount from 2.5mm to 3mm - I had one that was fine and one needed drill. QA non-existant!
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Jefferson
7/12/2020 09:09:10 am
Thank you much!
Zombie2Monster
17/1/2021 12:50:54 pm
this combo will be good for basching?? https://www.banggood.com/Surpass-Hobby-3650-Waterproof-4Pole3_175mm-Unsensed-Brushless-RC-Car-Motor60A-ESC-For-1810-Vehicle-Models-p-1550371.html?p=4818154699821201605X&utm_campaign=4699821&utm_content=3312&fbclid=IwAR00DawhLaLvjTzWrvGZ7xIR630Ta47_F2d20kKhrp2ebRYiWO3mJCWLsrI&cur_warehouse=CZ&ID=521372
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QuadifyRC
18/1/2021 09:15:06 am
In this car no, it would be fast but have no control and would cog terribly at low speed. It would also generate a lot of heat. I'd recommend the motor/ESC combo in this article instead
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Zombie2Monster
30/1/2021 10:20:58 am
but you have reccomended this motor in this article only esc i take
zombie2moster
30/1/2021 10:22:33 am
sorry my bad please delete this
batracio
6/2/2021 04:54:08 am
Hi there! This little beast is the ultimate evidence proving that brusless motors are no really needed in most of cases. This brushed 550 offers lot of power and torque.
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QuadifyRC
6/2/2021 09:52:42 pm
Hi Batracio
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Jens
3/3/2021 09:22:19 am
What 3S battery did u use?
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QuadifyRC
3/3/2021 10:36:17 am
It's not an easy fit but this one: https://bit.ly/37XYZBv
Jindřich Beneš
9/2/2021 09:03:29 am
Hello. Thank you for the great reviews. You are great. I have a question how much will the speed and overall driving characteristics change with this upgrade? Then what ESP would you recommend for this new engine to be reliable? Next, if you think the upgrade will pay off for quite a bit of money ... Then, if you would recommend some other nice car body. Thank you for your answers and I apologize for my English. I'm writing through translator ;-)
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QuadifyRC
9/2/2021 11:48:32 am
Hi there, my pleasure. Top speed is about 50% more the the brushed motor and very noticeable but the most obvious benefits are through acceleration and battery life - so much more efficient. To be honest the ESC in the kit I've recommended here is fine - start with that and then upgrade to one of these ones later on: https://bit.ly/3rD31sc or https://bit.ly/38Dgngr
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batracio
9/2/2021 12:28:39 pm
Hi again Quadifyrc! In my case, using a denser/thicker silicone in the shocks have not solved the issue, on the contrary what I´ve obtained is a worse side effect; instead of absorbing the iiregularities of terrain, the car tends to rebound.
Jindřich Beneš
12/2/2021 07:50:06 am
Thank you very much for your answer. I ordered everything I needed, except for the radio. I don't know if I need a 6 channel for this car. What do you think? And is it necessary to order a programming card for the motor? Please help. thank you very much.
QuadifyRC
12/2/2021 10:30:40 am
Hi Jindrich! Congrats I think you'll really like this mod. You're right - you do only need 2 channel (steering and throttle/brake) but it just happens that radios like the dumborc have 6 available. Stock settings on the ESC are fine but if you want full control a programming card is a handy tool. 3s is possible but would recommend 2s because it's actually very fast as is and physically fitting a 3s battery in the car is very tricky with the dip in the top deck. Good luck with the install 😁
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Paul A walczak
12/2/2021 06:15:21 am
I notice a vw body on your 1440001 where can i find one like that
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QuadifyRC
26/2/2021 02:35:50 pm
Sorry, think you may be confusing me with someone else? I haven't had a VW body for mine before
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Peter Hampshire
17/2/2021 06:24:54 am
Hi what over pinnan can I use as well as the one your using on that motor
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QuadifyRC
26/2/2021 02:36:33 pm
Sorry not sure I follow, maybe a little too heavy on the autocorrect?
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John
26/2/2021 02:33:31 pm
Wow this is about the best written, most thorough article I've read on ANY topic! Thank you so much for going through EVERY detail of this project.
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QuadifyRC
26/2/2021 02:37:10 pm
Cheers John, very kind of you to say, Check out my other nerdy articles as well!
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