Highmark's Class 2: The Marmot
 

I bought a house in January and it came with a Ground Hog:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7068/...09f96695_b.jpg

So there you go - build inspiration!

I need a rig for Axial Fest and Class 2 competitions since I've decided to use WarPig's range rover for Class 1 and I've always wanted a mid 70's Chevrolet truck because they're awesome - so let's do this.

This will be my first build using stainless tube - it's expensive but light and very nice to work with. I learned how to fishmouth tube:

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5021/...4c282c41_b.jpg

Get some flux goin':

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7340/...cc616367_b.jpg

Then some heat:

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5502/...83f40c0d_b.jpg

That was my first joing using tube - It's much more like painting that silver soldering solid rod.

Class 2 rules allows for boatsides - I consider them to be a big advantage, so I built some big ones.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7397/...46c52963_b.jpg

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5566/...d1b04db5_b.jpg

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2938/...3c3d35b0_b.jpg

You can see the upper link mounts on there in anticipation of a TSS smooth skid.

Body fits okay - need to trim about an inch out of it to get it down to ride height. Heavy fender trimming awaits. :ror:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7407/...2a70edc9_b.jpg

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5478/...5c2ca2b1_b.jpg

And some goodies for Axial Fest:

MORE 5" - got a U4 style 4" for the back.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7422/...a22f5223_b.jpg

Chino63 sand ramps:

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5510/...792e1d3e_b.jpg

Re: Highmark's Class 2: The Marmot
 

Lookin good Jon! Being a pickup guy I tend to like build like this.

Re: Highmark's Class 2: The Marmot
 

Nice truck man. PLEASE tell me you aren't going to cut those rear fenders though :shock:. I've been wanting to make a mold for those stepside fenders for a while now but my mold making sucks.

Re: Highmark's Class 2: The Marmot
 

Thanks Sam! Hopefully it will be competitive - I would like to come back out to the PNW sometime next year.

Thanks! Actually I'm not 100% sure I'll use the bed at all. It's worth another -7 scale points (drop bed and full hard body), but I think I'll hit 50 without them anyway. In any case, never freat I've got two more of these and this is by far the roughest one I have. "thumbsup"

Re: Highmark's Class 2: The Marmot
 

Nice looking forward

Re: Highmark's Class 2: The Marmot
 

Your building a ghey truck and have others:shock:Thats what stiffy was built from and I have an extra black one also:mrgreen:

Cant wait to see were you go with this. Nice silver solder joints"thumbsup"

Re: Highmark's Class 2: The Marmot
 

Thanks man! "thumbsup"

Yessir! When I got back from NWSC (after I asked you about it) I set up a google search for "Gay Chevrolet Toy". My Dad shares a ebay account with me - he was confused. :ror:

Many thanks for the compliment!

Re: Highmark's Class 2: The Marmot
 

I ran out of tube so I spent some time working on the suspension tonight. I immediately made the front end about 15mm to long but I have that all fixed now (ignore the front end in the pics).

Ride Height (ish):

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5496/...bc855c41_c.jpg

Full Bump:

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5540/...92e037da_c.jpg


https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7336/...7a039704_c.jpg

On dubs (Remember - front ignore the front. :ror: I went to straight lowers and took out about 15mm):

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2931/...93103e16_c.jpg

Re: Highmark's Class 2: The Marmot
 

The gays are nice. Excellent upper rear link mount idea, gonna have to borrow that one. You'll love the chino sand ramps if you haven't tried them already.. perfect size, sticky footing and light as all hell.

Good start "thumbsup"

Re: Highmark's Class 2: The Marmot
 

Thank you! Yea I love those ramps - I haven't used them but I'm looking forward to using them.

Re: Highmark's Class 2: The Marmot
 

Those sand ramps suck. But everyone needs some awesomely functional suck on their rig.

Awesome work so far, hurry up Jon, I need more pictures. "thumbsup"

Re: Highmark's Class 2: The Marmot
 

Man you crazy! :ror: Thanks for the compliments - are you gonna make it out to AxialFest this year?

Re: Highmark's Class 2: The Marmot
 

Got a little work done today.

It's always important to start out right:
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2930/...202b4ebd_b.jpg

Got my tube in:
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2914/...db742d74_b.jpg

Bent up some tubes for shock towers:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7417/...52a18f44_b.jpg

Setup with some Carter Fab shock tabs. I used a rat tail file to clean up the inside hole, and my drimmel to clean up the outside:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7296/...3ab7b3b3_b.jpg

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5333/...07f5356a_b.jpg

Instead of doing the "Ow that's hot!" dance I just use my temp gun - yeah it's still hot:

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5469/...855d63db_b.jpg

Checking my shock angle.:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7392/...f6125518_b.jpg

All done:
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2928/...be9cc302_b.jpg

Unfortunately the other one was an exact copy instead of a mirror copy so it won't work. The good news is I can use it on the front. :ror:

Sorry for all the portrait pictures - I got lazy and used my phone. ;-)

Re: Highmark's Class 2: The Marmot
 

Nice work on the towers

Re: Highmark's Class 2: The Marmot
 

Thank you!

Re: Highmark's Class 2: The Marmot
 

Another day another shock tower .... :ror:


Again, always important to start your day off right.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7333/...794b75c7_b.jpg


My build inspiration was out again today - I think he's telling me I need to mow.

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2920/...6cae24f9_b.jpg

Built some twins.

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2924/...92ed0ced_b.jpg

More tabs.

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5443/...625507b4_b.jpg

Silver soldered to the chassis.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7431/...62717dd6_b.jpg

Two Pro Silver-Soldering tips.
1. Buy Holmes Hobbies Flux and Silver Solder
2. Store the flux upside down - it keeps it from drying out.

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2934/...3c721597_b.jpg

Hoping to get a lot more done this weekend - I think things will go faster once I'm done with all the shock and link mounting stuff.

Also got this guy in the mail, so many builds so little time.

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5271/...e2ef1613_b.jpg

Re: Highmark's Class 2: The Marmot
 

choco taco!

LOVE the towers!

Re: Highmark's Class 2: The Marmot
 

Heck yeah man! Thanks.

Re: Highmark's Class 2: The Marmot
 

Getting my first glimpse of something that actually looks like a truck. :ror:

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2915/...024f848d_b.jpg

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5512/...36bb2232_b.jpg



I de-bedded and de-bumpered the body today. I think I need to take about 1/2" - to 3/4" out of the body. I'd like to keep the headlights if possible, but I'm also worried about the COG. Any thoughts on how much to take out? Some 1:1's

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...download-3.jpg

http://image.4wheeloffroad.com/f/ult...nture-2010.jpg

Re: Highmark's Class 2: The Marmot
 

Tube work is looking great Jon! 8)

I would try to keep the body as much like the green rig as you can but you may need to trim a bit more out of the front fenders then he did for tire clearance.