DaddyJeep's class 2 IFS Crawler

[DaddyJeep]

Since I have my son's crawler working it's time to get started on my own. Mine will be loosely based off my 1:1 Jeep. Of course mine is going to be complicated with slash IFS and I will be building my own arms to match a wraith width rear axle. This build needs to be done in about a month for the Keystone Crawlers TTC.

Here is my 1:1.

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This is far as I got today. At least it is a start.

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[rcjeepbuilder]

Looks like you have it all planned out this should be good!

[DaddyJeep]

Started putting together the chassis today. Everything will ultimately tie into the 16ga skid plate.

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[DaddyJeep]

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A little more chassis progress tonight. I need to find me a donor truck soon so I can start laying out electronics and suspension.

[joe122]

Going to be a killer build, love those IFS projects. Nice tube work so far! Will follow....more please.

[DaddyJeep]

More chassis work tonight. I am real happy with the cowl. The cowl is 22 gauge steel welded to the brake line. I also added some more tube in the rear and added a light panel.

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[Javi84]

Looks great bud , I can't wait to see it finished!

[DaddyJeep]

I picked up a Wraith as a parts donor.

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The width of the Wraith axles are perfect. They match up to the IFS Slash front pretty well. I made a mock up grill so I could start the tube work up front. I think I have a plan on how to marry up the upper chassis to the lower. I am going to make them so I can take the top chassis off. That way if i decide I don't like the IFS I just have to build a new lower chassis.

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The wheel base is going to end up right at 12"

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[DaddyJeep]

I made a die to form the steel hood.

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The first attempt cut the steel on one side so I had to file some more to get enough clearance.

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Second try worked much better.

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Then I needed to figure out a hood hinge. I spent a bunch of time trying to figure out an internal hinge and then I realized, the only way to do it is the right way. So I made me some somewhat scale hinges out of .020" stainless. Tomorrow I will get some piano wire and bolt them in place.

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[joe122]

Got some sick fab skills Sir! NICE - liking that hood.

[DaddyJeep]

Thanks Joe,

I got my body panels made tonight. I welded tabs to the chassis and drilled and tapped them to secure the panels.

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I guess I could have got a few more pics. I made my frame rails and welded them to the skid plate. Hopefully that keeps me class 2 legal. It's still going to be a stretch to fit into class 2, but we will see. I also started thinking on how to make my suspension arms work. I am goingto use the Wraith knuckles for my spindles. The Slash drive shafts fit in them even. Hopefully it will be a roller tomorrow. If not, definitetly by Monday.

[DaddyJeep]

I didn't get nearly as much done today as I hoped. I at least got the lower control arm mounts built and welded to the frame.

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[joe122]

Man, some serious fab work here, can't wait to more progress on your build.

[DaddyJeep]

Thanks Joe,

I didn't get it into a roller like I had hoped, but at least I got one conrrol arm put together. I still need to plate the top and bottom and weld on the shock mount.

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And the attachment points at the frame.

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[DaddyJeep]

I got lots done last night. I welded a plate on one side of one control arm. woohoo, I feel accomplished.

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[DaddyJeep]

I finished up a control arm tonight and mounted it to the Wraith knuckle using a Jato rod end. I don't think it's going to work. I need to redesign the lower links and make them more accurately. I am going to build a jig to make them more precise next time and I'm going to change the geometry a little.

I never expected this build to be easy and was probably a little over optimistic to think I could complete it in a month. I was reallt hoping to run it in TTC next weekend. Maybe I should throw the Wraith back together so I can at least compete.

[DaddyJeep]

I pulled the plug on the IFS for the moment. I built a solid axle lower chassis so I can get wheeling. I will get back to the IFS later. I'll post up some pics later.

[DaddyJeep]

New lower chassis with bumpers welded together.

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Body mounts. They will look much better after a little grinding and blasting.

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I wonder if my son will let me steal his big block Chevy. It looks right at home in my chassis.

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I built a 4 link for the rear and 3 link for the front. I built the links a little shorter this time, but they should still perform just as well. The geometry is very similar to my 1:1 and it flexes great.

[DaddyJeep]

You can see the links better in this shot.

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[cooper_xl]

100% scratchbuilt...loving the fab skills..