Re: Tommy's Class 1 Jeep
 

Cuts are done and I may be well on my way to making the narrowest AR60 axles mankind has ever known! :ror:

Before (technically, I'd already made one cut):
http://tommyr.smugmug.com/Hobby-Stuf...2_115238-L.jpg

After removing approximately 66mm (just mocked up):
http://tommyr.smugmug.com/Hobby-Stuf...2_120232-L.jpg

Re: Tommy's Class 1 Jeep
 

Glued and drying now. Looks like the link mounts should be okay with an SCX10 from a width standpoint, but the shocks will likely need to be mounted outboard of the mounts.

I clearly used too much JB Weld, but that's okay. This is primarily for proof of concept. I can make a cleaner housing if it all works out. :mrgreen:

http://tommyr.smugmug.com/Hobby-Stuf...2_130206-L.jpg

Re: Tommy's Class 1 Jeep
 

That's really narrow, nice and clean... Kinda looks like a tlt axle now.

Re: Tommy's Class 1 Jeep
 

Thanks, Dean. Yeah, they're tiny! Should be within 1mm of the overall width of a K44 when I'm done. Based on the fitment, I'll determine if I want to keep this width or if I should go a bit wider.

By the way, if anyone has stock Wraith axle stuff, please let me know! I'm looking for C's, knuckles, bearings, etc. Pretty much everything to complete these axles. I'm willing to pay for them, too. Not looking for freebies....necessarily. ;-)

Re: Tommy's Class 1 Jeep
 

So how you going to run the links? With it that narrow, you might have some steering issues. I 'll look to see if I can find my stock Wraith stuff. It's somewhere I know, just not sure where...

Re: Tommy's Class 1 Jeep
 

I'm hoping to use the stock locations for the links. The shocks may need to be outboarded so they clear the framerails. This may limit my steering (tires contacting the shocks), but I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

Thanks for the offer, Dean! I've got some C's, knuckles, and rear lockouts coming. I still need some shock mounts and locker end caps (inside the housing), as well as some bearings.

Meanwhile, here's a pic of the "Stubby" next to a built SCX10 axle: :mrgreen:
http://tommyr.smugmug.com/Hobby-Stuf...2_225655-L.jpg

Re: Tommy's Class 1 Jeep
 

If you have (or know someone with) a TIG, just add some tabs to the top of your C's, then you should have no shock tire contact.

Re: Tommy's Class 1 Jeep
 

Is that an offer, big guy?? :ror: I don't have a TIG (yet!), but I may definitely consider that if it helps me get the track width I'm after. Thanks, Dean!

Re: Tommy's Class 1 Jeep
 

Subscribed! This is exactly what I plan to do so can't wait to see how or if this is do-able! =) What is that aluminum piece currently sitting the 'stubby'? Looks like some sort of link mount using existing holes on the housing.

Re: Tommy's Class 1 Jeep
 

Yep, that's what it is. I made a deal with ROWDY RACING for some, but I don't know if they're available for sale right now. Here's a marginally better pic...

http://tommyr.smugmug.com/Hobby-Stuf...2_225637-L.jpg

Re: Tommy's Class 1 Jeep
 

Sorry, no TIG here either. :cry:

Wish I did, I'd do it for you for sure. The guy next to my shop does though, full sheet metal/welding shop, I'll ask if it's doable.

Re: Tommy's Class 1 Jeep
 

With some C's and knuckles mocked up it doesn't look quite so stubby.

http://tommyr.smugmug.com/Hobby-Stuf...7_211935-L.jpg

http://tommyr.smugmug.com/Hobby-Stuf...7_211959-L.jpg

http://tommyr.smugmug.com/Hobby-Stuf...7_212020-L.jpg

One issue is that it appears it'll only end up being just a little over a 1/2" narrower than the stock SCX axles. I think I was looking for about 1" narrower overall. It would certainly still be an improvement, though. Of course, one thing I forgot about is that the C's aren't pressed on all the way. They hit some of the excess JB Weld, which prevents them from fully seating on the axle housing. So I might be able to get a little more width out of them.

When time allows, I'll finish mocking these up as an assembly and then I'll look into what it'll take to install them under the Jeep.

Re: Tommy's Class 1 Jeep
 

Looks good, to make it narrower would you be able to get rid of that ~1/2" space between the housing and the link mount holes on the passenger side to make it more like the driver side?

Re: Tommy's Class 1 Jeep
 

Yes, I certainly could. My concern with doing that, however, is that it's really going to move my shock mounts inboard pretty far....possibly too far. I'll know more once I do a mock up installation. "thumbsup"

Re: Tommy's Class 1 Jeep
 

damn nice axle hack bro!
are the pumkins bigger/lower than a SCX?

Re: Tommy's Class 1 Jeep
 

Thanks, Cory! I'd have to take a closer look to verify, but they appear to be the exact same height, but the pumpkins aren't as wide. And the axle tubes are smaller, too. Add the scale appearance and it's definitely a winner in my book...

Re: Tommy's Class 1 Jeep
 

wow great news. i assumed everything was much bigger on those axles. but i should have known you would have done your research first.
they look killer.

Re: Tommy's Class 1 Jeep
 

...and if you want them to have even better clearance... Since they have a threaded boss in the bottom of the pumpkin, it makes shaving them pretty straight forward. You can use the boss to attach the new bottom plate after the shave.

Re: Tommy's Class 1 Jeep
 

I took two short sides ended up with what I like, I had the same issue but clearly not THAT small of a issue.. my opinion would make a 3 link to just under the servo and put a panbar making it easy to clear your drive shaft. also the ability for chassis mounted.

Can not wait to see how they hold up had this exact idea rattling around but no where near the ability to do this "thumbsup"

Re: Tommy's Class 1 Jeep
 

ANy updates? Want to see these short axles under something =)

Re: Tommy's Class 1 Jeep
 

So do I! :) Unfortunately, I'm severely lacking time right now. For the last few weeks I've been working like gangbusters on my 1:1 Jeep getting it ready for a big event, which was last week. Since I've been back I've had a nasty sinus infection. Now this coming weekend is the biggest weekend of the year for me, the Lone Star Round Up. Anyone who is into vintage hot rods will know what I'm talking about. 8)

Long story short, I'm hoping to get back onto this sometime next week, but probably no sooner than that. :cry:

Re: Tommy's Class 1 Jeep
 

Understandable =) make sure to post pics of the hot rods and hope you feel better

Re: Tommy's Class 1 Jeep
 

Thanks! I sure will. I usually take tons of pics to share.....and to get inspiration for my Model A build. "thumbsup"

Re: Tommy's Class 1 Jeep
 

Dang, we are still a few weeks or more out from any shows in our little damp hole we call the PNW. Jeleous for sure,cant wait to see some pics.

Speedway just sent me the t-bucket catalog....hmm, if the nova ever gets totalled I thing a BB bucket is in order:mrgreen:

Re: Tommy's Class 1 Jeep
 

ah...does your wife know you stole her sewing machine bobbin?:lmao:

Re: Tommy's Class 1 Jeep
 

LOL, if I had one, she might be pissed! :ror:

Lol!

Re: Tommy's Class 1 Jeep
 

Been a while since I've posted an update, but some goodies finally showed up in the mail today and I had to mount them up.
http://tommyr.smugmug.com/Hobby-Stuf...1_234422-L.jpg

I love my 1.9s, but I think these 1.55s look so much more accurate, scale-wise, on this size rig.
http://tommyr.smugmug.com/Hobby-Stuf...1_234359-L.jpg

Agreed! Those wheels are one thing I keep talking myself out of.... Jeep looks good man!

What axles are under it right now? Scx10 or the narrow wraith?

Re: Tommy's Class 1 Jeep
 

Thanks!!

Standard SCX10 for now. I started doing some work on my narrowed Wraith axles the other day, but still have quite a bit of work to do. In fact, I think I'll have to start over with a new housing to cut up since I used too much JB Weld on the first one and it's preventing me from being able to fully install the C-hubs. :roll:

Re: Tommy's Class 1 Jeep
 

Ah ok. the scx10's arent too bad under there. Front shot so I can see how much the tires stick out? Also I've got my narrowed axles almost done enough to mount up. Will keep you posted. Jeep is turning out great though! "thumbsup"

Re: Tommy's Class 1 Jeep
 

These are the best pics I can come up with at the moment. The front centerline of the tire is 1/8" outside the fender's edge. The rear is closer to 1/16" or so. Certainly too far for Class 1. I'm running some spacers up front to get the tire/wheel to clear the tie rod, otherwise, it would be quite a bit narrower. I wonder if VP makes non-Zero Ackerman knuckles for the 8* hubs? But regardless, I'm going to follow through with narrowing the Wraith axles so I'l need all new hubs/knuckles anyway, right? :)

By the way, which axles did you start with? Standard Wraith axles and just cut them down?

http://tommyr.smugmug.com/Hobby-Stuf...2_104525-L.jpg

http://tommyr.smugmug.com/Hobby-Stuf...2_104512-L.jpg

Re: Tommy's Class 1 Jeep
 

Yeah just standard AR60 axle housings. Got a build thread somewhere lol. Thanks for the pics.

Re: Tommy's Class 1 Jeep
 

Oh, I know that. I was asking about the axles themselves, not the housings. :ror:

Re: Tommy's Class 1 Jeep
 

LOL I is a fart smeller. the axles right now are just some spare dog bones I had that I cut down to the length I needed and I am planning to use my sweet Grip-fab no slop lockers. In the future I intend to just cut the middle section out, sleeve it and braze it so I can keep the axle tang and still use traditional lockers instead of fancy no slop ones. I'll post pics of what I mean when I get home, did this sleeve method on my brute.

Top is new universal, bottom was custom welded cvd that broke at the weld. You can see the sleeve in the middle of the new universal. Friend took some chromoly tube, bored the ID to press fit over the axle, brazed and voilà! It stupid strong now :lmao:

Let's me use the stock locker or any other non no slop locker since it keeps the stock tangs at the locker end instead of filing it flat/ugly lol. :)

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z...psd5975745.jpg

Here's a pic of my ar60 vs a k44. They are the same pin to pin hex to hex. I have done some work to the ar60s since just no recent pics on my phone currently.

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z...ps99e88b83.jpg
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z...pse3425528.jpg

Re: Tommy's Class 1 Jeep
 

So the last time I was wheelin' this rig, something broke in the transmission. After a few months I finally took it apart to see what's up. Turns out it was the "spur" gear which, as you can see, is the main transmission gear from an Axial trans since I'm using the Dinky Divorce setup.
http://tommyr.smugmug.com/Hobby-Stuf...6_161815-L.jpg

http://tommyr.smugmug.com/Hobby-Stuf...6_161827-L.jpg

As you can see, the pinion's set screw prevents the pinion from fully meshing with the spur. I've run a metal spur, but it's crazy loud and I hated it so I tried the plastic one. I was romping on it pretty hard when this happens and after I make some tweaks to this truck, I won't plan on driving it so aggressively. So hopefully the plastic spur will be okay in the future....
http://tommyr.smugmug.com/Hobby-Stuf...6_164439-L.jpg

Re: Tommy's Class 1 Jeep
 

Yeah, I know it's been a really long time, but I'm finally back to working on this hoopty. It's currently all torn apart. I'm going to finish painted the fabbed parts, do some interior work (like replacing the seats), install the production Dinky Split Skid, waterproof the electronics, and maybe repaint the entire body. As some of you may know, the body got a little scarred when I was trying to remove the original stickers and a fresh coat of paint will really help with that. I'll likely paint it gloss black so when it scratches through, it won't be so obvious. The fender flares will be flat or satin black, as will the cage and suspension bits.

Lastly, I'm not sure exactly when I'll do this, but I still plan on reducing the track width. Performance be damned, I want this thing to look right! :mrgreen: I'm not ruling out the idea of narrowing Wraith axles, but I'm currently leaning toward some RC4WD Yota II axles instead. Even thinking of making the rear a leaf setup, but not sure about that.

Re: Tommy's Class 1 Jeep
 

Here's another thought..... What about making this into a Class 2 rig? I've got some neat ideas for a different Class 1 rig and even a Class 0 rig. And this Jeep could easily be a pretty cool C2 truck, IMO. I really don't want multiple rigs in the same class.

If I did convert this to C2, I would keep the same low-ish ride height, trim off the fender flares, but would NOT comp cut the back end. Tires would likely be the 1.9 Pit Bulls I've got that have never really been used. Otherwise, there really wouldn't be a lot of changes, but the convenient thing about it is I could keep the Axial axles. The 1.9 wheels tuck better than the 1.5's so it might look pretty sweet.

Thoughts?