TJ low-rider - 2010 Scale Nats Trail rig build

[ecoli]

Let's see:

Passport - check

Hotel room - check

Permission from wife - big check

Rig for scale nats - oh yeah

So barring any major incident, I'll be in Helena at the end of May for scale nats. It'll be mostly for meeting up with a lot of the folks I chat with regularly on here and for all the scale porn, but figured I'd throw my hat in the ring and bring a rig (or two) with me.

A while back, I traded mmbackpacker an esc/bec combo for a Newbright TJ body. I fully blame Justin (Jester666) for this. Pics of his hordes of TJ builds and bodies convinced me I needed one. Arrived like so:





As many of you know, I really like the southern style buggies (like all the Coleworx buggies); big tires, low ride heights, big power I started looking around for build inspirations and found this thread:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=787917

For the clicking impaired, a picture:



Liked the stance, cage, etc., so broke out the dremel and cutoff wheel and started hacking away. Cut out the fenders, stock bumpers and dovetailed the rear end and built a cage. Ended up with this:

[ecoli]

Mocked up the body with some larger 1.9s (reduced mashers)





It wasn't really doing it for me. Not so much the tread, but just didn't like the size. So decided to throw on some 2.2 rok lox on CAC wheels on an scx frame:





Liked this stance much better, so got to chopping the frame rails and making up links (8-32 allthread with Revo rodends sleeved in 1/4" stainless steel tubing). Also mocked up some boatsides and fender wells in styrene:

[ecoli]

At this point, the cage was bugging me. It was sitting a little high and a little narrow. What to do but build a new one !













As you can also see, started on some details for the body; stick shift added and rear view mirrors from an Axial interior/exterior kit. Also replaced the windshield with a new piece of lexan and will be adding in windshield wipers. Replaced the stock seats with some older style Recaro seats I had.

At this point, needed to add in some electronics, so sent a few things to the laser cutter:







Plan is to run frame mounted steering servo, as well as a servo winch. I've burned through a few 3racing winches, so don't plan on using them again.

Broke out the dremel again and removed the servo mounting posts on the case. To replace them, made a couple of 4-link trusses:



Also made up the front bumper. Pretty simple design, but I'm not 100% sold on it. Might redo it at some point.







That's pretty much where it stands currently. Lots more to come !

[G-crawler]

Awesome start! The 1:1 is one sick TJ, looking forward to more!

[ecoli]

Originally Posted by G-crawler

Awesome start! The 1:1 is one sick TJ, looking forward to more!

Thanks. It won't look exactly like the 1:1, but similar

Out of interest, I took a look at the scale points rules to see where I stood:

Scale points: Max -30.

• 15 min. points to run in the Trail class. 30 pts max. 15 points max can go to final score.

1. Full length hardbody -7

5. 3D Interior -3

7. Functional winch (-3)

8. Led's ,must have 2 headlights and 2 taillights, and must be on during comp, (-2)

9. Bumpers -5 for both metal only. Must look like 1:1 bumpers.

10. FULL features - Full 6-point roll cage. Must be made of metal. -4 each

13. Chassis mounted steering servo .(-5)

So, without even having any accessories, it looks like I'll stand at -29 points. Should easily get the full -30 by the time this build is done

[Jester666]

Originally Posted by ecoli

I fully blame Justin (Jester666) for this.

Ok, you can blame me.




Glad to see you finally posted this build here Chris. This is one sweet low-rider build. Cant wait to see some color on it.

[JOOTZ]

looking to be a great finish to this build,,,keep it coming C

[montana.matt]

You suck Chris
TJ looks really nice, though!

Glad you are finally making it down here

[FlexdXJ]

Originally Posted by G-crawler

Awesome start! The 1:1 is one sick TJ, looking forward to more!

Looks like no lift and 42's!

[2JSC]

I really hope you are going to paint it the factory teal color like the 1:1, because I have a Teal TJ as well.

Looking GREAT so far man, keep at it!

[dubAron]

Really good start bro I like it .

[bmx_ican92]

Looks Great!!!!

[4xFord]

I think the front bumper came out nice.

[ecoli]

Originally Posted by montana.matt

You suck Chris
TJ looks really nice, though!

Glad you are finally making it down here

What, you don't like Jeeps Matt ?

Yeah, I've been wanting to make it down for a while. Things finally came together this year. Can't wait!

Originally Posted by FlexdXJ

Looks like no lift and 42's!

Yep, clearance through tire height ! Haven't done the conversion to see what size these tires would be on a 1:1, but I'm thinking more likely in the high 40s. The axles are fully beefed up Axials (from my former comp rig), so they'll handle the 5.5s no problem. They used to handle 5.5s with fully weighted VP wheels with no problem, so since these are lighter wheels (delrin) and I don't plan on adding a lot of extra weight, I think I'll be ok.

Originally Posted by 2JSC

I really hope you are going to paint it the factory teal color like the 1:1, because I have a Teal TJ as well.

Looking GREAT so far man, keep at it!

That's the plan. Closest colour I found in the lhs when I took in a pic of the 1:1 was the French blue. We'll see once it's painted how it looks.

Originally Posted by 4xFord

I think the front bumper came out nice.

Thanks. It's ok, but as you'll see from the new pics, I think it's a little narrow. Time will tell.

Thanks to everyone else for the compliments too

[ecoli]

Some more progress pics.

Modified winch servo + anti-drift servo winch thingy (technical name) = one strong winch servo which won't drift. It takes place of the centering pot in the winch to ensure your winch doesn't drift over time. I don't know how it works, I just let my electronics buddy come up with these nifty ideas ! The servo is currently on its way to him to get him to solder in the unit and send back with my lights.





Main filler has been done and sanded down. Starting to work on the details:



New door hinges, door handles and key locks started (why do you need to lock a Jeep with no roof?). Need to pick up some more styrene for the bolt heads and edging on the door handles:





Running a GCM t-case. Super beefy and super low profile:





Some pics of the bumpers on:







The front bumper seems a little narrow to me, but any wider and the tires hit at full steer. Have to think about this one a bit more.

[Jester666]

Great start on the details Chris, the styrene work is awesome. At first i didn't know I was looking at the back of a recaro seat. I thought you were showing us a pic of a small worn out childs shoe bottom:? ha, just messing with you. Great work

What are you going to do for headlights? I know Al is make a set up for you, I was just wondering of you going to drill a hole in the centre of the headlight and push the light through or are you going to cut out the centre and put in headlight buckets?

[ecoli]

Originally Posted by Jester666

What are you going to do for headlights? I know Al is make a set up for you, I was just wondering of you going to drill a hole in the centre of the headlight and push the light through or are you going to cut out the centre and put in headlight buckets?

Probably go with full buckets and the stock TJ lenses if I can find something that will work. Looks a bit more scale that way. The rear ones I'll have to think on a little bit more how and where I want to mount them up. Trying not to overthink these things

[Burntnuts]

I dont recignize the Teal TJ. But I know the club its in and that it is pictured at Kansas Rock Recreation Park. The white TJ next to it is one of the BOD members as am I.

Would you mind if I tell him about this if I see the jeep?

[montana.matt]

Originally Posted by ecoli

What, you don't like Jeeps Matt ?
Yeah, I've been wanting to make it down for a while. Things finally came together this year. Can't wait!

Nah, I like Jeeps and yours is turning into another one of my favorite Jeep builds
I'm working on a street class JK now, but it won't be anywhere near as nice as yours

[braceysdad]

I say paint it OD green!