Devil Inc's Class 2 TJ

[Devil Inc]

So after seeing a few of these builds pop up on here and the TJ body being budget friendly among the other bodies out there. This is hopeful going to be and stay Class 2 legal. So a few months back I picked up a NB TJ off here for a good price with the intent of stretching it to a LJ. After some thinking I decided to leave the body as is length wise.

*Updates-Scroll Down*

Build Sheet:

Electronics:
35t Integy Motor (temp)
HH WP BRXL
X-Core XDF-7 metal geared servo

Drivetrain:
SCX10 Axles
SCX10 Transmission
GCM Transfer Case
Axial WB8s
HD Overdrives (front)
HD Standard Ratio (rear)
HR Spools
HR Steel Trans Gears

Wheels/Tires:
1.9 DC Mud Countrys
Axial Walker Evans (temp)

On to some pictures...

Body as I received it...


Body after some trimming and checking out the wheelbase...






Next was the chassis, got it bent up, and split into the two pieces...


Made the front grill hoop while I was at it before work...


More to follow...

[Die-Laughing]

Ohhh yes! What's next!? What's next!?

[Devil Inc]

I'm debating on chopping the interior out or leaving it. I need to check clearances for the drivetrain. This will be my first short wheelbase rig, sitting at 10.5ish, so it'll be a learning experience for sure.

[Devil Inc]

So did some searching and reading, the Axial-Axial divorced setup is really slow. So I've got some options, use it as planned, but use a 69t spur and 40t pinion or order a GCM or similar transfer case. I'm not even sure if the 69t/40t combo will fit, but I did find the gears online. I'm hoping I did the math correctly, it should be a hair slower than the 87/20t that I usually run. Anyone else have some insight to the setup I would like to run?

[skerb]

Originally Posted by Devil Inc

So did some searching and reading, the Axial-Axial divorced setup is really slow. So I've got some options, use it as planned, but use a 69t spur and 40t pinion or order a GCM or similar transfer case. I'm not even sure if the 69t/40t combo will fit, but I did find the gears online. I'm hoping I did the math correctly, it should be a hair slower than the 87/20t that I usually run. Anyone else have some insight to the setup I would like to run?

at this point you have to figure out how much it will cost you to upgrade the axial transmission and buy spur gears and pinions, vs just ponying up and buying the tcase. As I mentioned in my build thread you could also look into a wheely king transmission as a tcase, its not geared as low as the axial unit.

But on that build we actually just changed gears and went with a hammer tcase because the WK tranny has plastic gears and we were worried about blowing them up.

[Devil Inc]

It'd be around $20 to get a handful of gears similar to the ones I mentioned and not knowing if they'd work is a bit sketchy to me. I do have a friend that's been in this hobby for years and is an engineer, so I might get with him to see if we can whip up a t-case for a reasonable price. I do have an extra set of steel trans gears laying in my parts box, might just be easier getting a Hammer or GCM t-case and call it a day.

[Devil Inc]

Update: Not much to the body or anything, but I did order a GCM t-case just a few minutes ago.

[Lentsnh2012]

Originally Posted by Devil Inc

Update: Not much to the body or anything, but I did order a GCM t-case just a few minutes ago.

Very nice choice! Let us know what you think about it and how it treats you. I may install one in the next project...

[mudhog007]

Keep the interior, more scale points. Or most of it.

[Devil Inc]

I'm keeping as much of the interior as possible.

[skerb]

Originally Posted by Devil Inc

I'm keeping as much of the interior as possible.

if you are doing a GCM tcase you should not need to trim it at all. I look forward to seeing more progress!

[Propane]

Check out my 6x6 TJ build. I stuffed a divorced setup under a full interior with no trimming. I would definitely spend as much mock up time as needed to position the body without having to cut or trim.

[2manyprojects]

nice build!! Keep up the good work!

[Devil Inc]

Originally Posted by skerb

if you are doing a GCM tcase you should not need to trim it at all. I look forward to seeing more progress!

The GCM t-case should be in my mail box as I type this.

Originally Posted by Propane

Check out my 6x6 TJ build. I stuffed a divorced setup under a full interior with no trimming. I would definitely spend as much mock up time as needed to position the body without having to cut or trim.

I will check that out when I get the chance.

Originally Posted by 2manyprojects

nice build!! Keep up the good work!

Thanks. I hope this one turns out well, as I have a 2nd identical body that I'm going to use for a Class 1 (1.55) build when this one is finished.

I'm wanting to keep the WB short on this one, but I don't think it'll be Class 2 worth. Any insights on choosing to stretch it a little?

[skerb]

Originally Posted by Devil Inc

Any insights on choosing to stretch it a little?

I chose to go out to around dingo wheelbase, you can go shorter, but for the comps I do if I go any shorter I wouldn't be able to complete some of the steep climbs we do.

[mjc597]

Originally Posted by skerb

I chose to go out to around dingo wheelbase, you can go shorter, but for the comps I do if I go any shorter I wouldn't be able to complete some of the steep climbs we do.

I haven't gotten into scale comping yet, but if you had a winch on your rig would you get points deducted/added on for using It on a run?

[Devil Inc]

Originally Posted by mjc597

I haven't gotten into scale comping yet, but if you had a winch on your rig would you get points deducted/added on for using It on a run?

My understanding is that you get scale points for having a winch, but there is a small penalty for using the winch.

[Devil Inc]

Well, got my GCM t-case in the mail, assembled it today. I must say that thing is beef and everything fit like a glove. Hoping to get some wrench time in this weekend. First though I have to finish a set of bumpers for a friend that's headed to the RC4WD ECSC next week. Should be interesting...

[Devil Inc]

Well, I have 3 of these NB TJ bodies sitting on my bench. Rather than stretching this to LJ length, seriously considering building it into a 4-door TJ. Doing that would help increase the wheelbase to something I'm used to running. I'll save the 3rd body for a planned 1.55 Class 1 build.

[Devil Inc]

Well, I've decided it's official, gonna chop 2 of the bodies and build it as a 4 door TJ. Fresh on the list is get the bodywork done and fab a fresh chassis for it. I took the wife to Hobby Lobby today, I ended up picking up some paint for the seats, dash trim, and body. I went ahead and threw some paint on the seats, I think they look pretty good for what they are. I'm really excited about the color, the ol' lady turned her nose up at my color selection while we were at the store. Shot a test piece once I got home, and she said it looked a lot better than what the can depicted.





Test shot was done on an "in progress" Yota cab I had sitting on the bench.




Stay Tuned...