MCE Hammer Jeep

[MCE Jason]

As a kid I ran a RC10 for years, loved it but always wished it was 4x4. The TH seems like the right rig for me and my boys, low, fast (with the ability to go brushless), 4x4, with a crawl option.I picked up a used Vaterra Twin Hammer in a trade for some jeep parts to begin the build.I make jeep parts for a living so I wanted to build it up with a jeep body.Part of my job is going on lots of 4x4 trips and to off road events.This rig will be built to keep me and my kids entertained during the down time.
I am so impressed with the RC world and what it has become in the last 20 years.I am very excited to be doing this stuff again and now doing it with my 2 boys.My boys got some Slick Rocks a while back.We now have an area of the yard built up for RC’s, we add all there favorite obstacles from the 4x4 trips we go on.They run the slick rocks almost every day and need new tires about every 4 to 6 weeks.One more reason I think the TH will fit my needs, I can keep the kids in 1^st and or turn the throttle down on the top of the remote if needed.
Jeep body is a 1/10^th Pro Line 09 JK 2 Door.With some, one off MCE fenders and rear corners. I did not want to add bumpers or rockers.I also wanted to mount the body as low as I could.I am also strongly considering a Blue Monkey 1” WB stretch with new rear corners.

[MCE Jason]

Steering was upgraded with a Blue Monkey upright shock tower, Traxxas Bell Crank, Savox high torque servo.Works great, very smooth and powerful combo. I cut out the front of the cage which weekend it, one more reason to beef it back up with the BM upright shock tower mod.I also like the added room.

[MCE Jason]

Locker was added to the front end, stock it was open front locked rear.With the full size jeeps I build, lockers are always a must.I figured the same logic should apply, ARB needs to make a 1/10 selectable. Until the selectable lockers come out I will be running a Vaterra spool.With the new servo it has no problem moving the front tires bound up or not.

[MCE Jason]

Shocks, I used RC4WD Kings 80mm in front 110mm in the rear.It came with 100mm’s in the rear, but with the jeep body I had to limit up travel from stock.The 100’s were just a bit short.I added some O rings to the shafts on the rear for bump stops. Set at ride height, the rears have 1.25” of up travel and 1” of droop, giving me 2.25” travel.

[2JSC]

Sweet! I like it!

[MCE Jason]

There is just not much room in the TH for a big battery.There are mods to put a full sized bat in the rear, but I did not want all that weight in the rear.I set the rig up with a battery tray in the front and in the rear.This way I could run 2 (small 2000mah LiPo) batteries wired together with even weight distribution.I also have the option to run one or two in front for weight forward or one in the rear for weight rear.

[MCE Jason]

I also discovered that the dust shield was not keeping sand out of the gears.I added some foam to plug the holes on the sides of the motor mount.Seems to keep the crud out now.

[MCE Jason]

[MCE Jason]

[MCE Jason]

[MCE Jason]

[a48jeep]

Looks great on the RTI ramp Jason. I told you the little crawlers can be an illness! Not like that is a bad thing.

[MCE Jason]

Shake out run.

[MCE Jason]

Upgraded the cross pins and hex’s to Axial. Drilled out the Vaterra axle shafts for bigger Axial pins. Drilled out the Axial hex’s for Vaterra shafts. Worded out well.