Project Guido: Bruiser Crawler (w/1:1 pics now)

[Grizzly4x4]

Well after dreaming of owning a Bruiser since the HiLux first came out, I finally got a set of axles. I picked these up off Ebay am hope to get started on this project soon. This rig will be a totally scale rig. I plan to duplicate everything on my 1:1 Bronc including the James Duff radius arms, winch, lights and bumpers. The front end will be coil sprung but I have not decided if I will use the leafs in the rear. They are so stiff I may do a 4 link coil spring rear because I fully plan to drive this. Not as hard as I drive The SuperDuke but it will see plenty of rocks.
This ones gonna take a while and I have several projects ahead of it but I just couldnt help but post some mockup shots.

http://img66.exs.cx/img66/9509/156_5686_R.jpg
The body is borrowed from my daughters Clod but it will be a Bronco of course. The axles need to be rebuilt.

http://img67.exs.cx/img67/5407/156_5687_R.jpg
Rear end view. Man I love those axles. The Masher 2000 are perfect 40"s tall in 1/8 scale.

http://img67.exs.cx/img67/1438/156_5688_R.jpg
The frame is a 1/2" steel one, the second one I ever built. The shock hoops will be replaced with coil spring buckets and shorter hoops. The chassis tub will have seats, hopefully. Well see if my drivetrain idea werks out or not.

http://img67.exs.cx/img67/5787/156_5689_R.jpg
The Mark Thompson wheels came from FullmodTXT, thanks again man. :D I love them.

Hopefully I can make progress on it in the next month. Hope you guys follow along.

[jinx]

bitchen bronco :twisted: nice work

[JohnRobHolmes]

oh wow. this is gonna be one nice, nice scale rig. how have bruiser axles escaped my attention for so long? oh well. i suppose parts for them are not cheap. good luck on the build, you have a wonderful start.

[JohnRobHolmes]

a high turn motor with a planetary 7:1 would probably mount up supurbly and give gobs of power. have one going directly into each axle. at least thats my guess on what you have in mind. now i want to try that on my tlt!

[fullmodtxt]

Great looking start on things, Griz! Oh boy am I glad that I sold those wheels! I would have had to spend a bunch of money to build a truck around them! Nice to see that they got a good home!

[Nomercy]

looks nice bro. the leaf springs arnt that stiff if take out the pin and just use a mono leaf set up, but they offer very little travel.

[Team-FSU]

thats one hell of a bruiser wannabe! man i see the bronco in the backround :flipoff: lets see some pics of your 1:1 bronco!

[CWDU]

Hope you guys follow along.

Heck yes I'll follow along!! You are going to build the truck I wanted to but couldn't due to limited money and ability. Keep the pics coming.

[CrawlinForLife]

Yeah I removed the bottom leaf on my spring packs, made them a ton better.

[jinx]

thats one hell of a bruiser wannabe! man i see the bronco in the backround :flipoff: lets see some pics of your 1:1 bronco!

I agree being an owner and lover of broncos :flipoff:

[th67ss]

I agree snap some pic's of the 1:1 Bronco!!!


Oh yeah the RC one looks cool too!!


...Tom

[Grizzly4x4]

OK already! You guys are killin me. :lol: :lol:
Here are some pics of the 1:1 Bronc, named Guido. The inspiration for this project.

Pimpin with the 39.5" IROKs. The top of the fenders where they meet the windshield is 58" tall. 4" National springs and 3" body lift.
http://img93.exs.cx/img93/4298/a0-157_5738_R.jpg

Here's the 302 w/ Holley fuel injection. Everything is covered with white dust from sanding the body. The 302 will come out and be replaced with a built 351W soas I can build the 302 for the roots blower. :twisted:
http://img93.exs.cx/img93/240/dd-157_5739_R.jpg

I cut out the innner fenders and radiator support and built my own out of square tube. This gives more room for a larger radiator and helps with cooling. I mounted the batteries on the firewall for better weight distribution.
http://img93.exs.cx/img93/3377/40-157_5741_R.jpg
http://img93.exs.cx/img93/6402/64-157_5742_R.jpg

Here is one of the James Duff radius arms and the 78 Bronco D44R w/Detroit Locker, 5.13:1 gears, Warn Chromo shafts, and CTM U-joins.
http://img93.exs.cx/img93/7928/f0-157_5747_R.jpg
http://img93.exs.cx/img93/7928/f0-157_5747_R.jpg
Drivers side shot showing the BBK ceramic coated Mustang headers and West Texas Off-Road modified steering box. It has been modified for ram assist steering.
http://img122.exs.cx/img122/8792/ce-157_5748_R.jpg

Thanks Jinx, I appreciate it.

Thanks John, Bruiser axles are the best as far as scale goes and I'm not telling on the tranny yet. :lol:

Thanks FullMod, I'm glad you sold them too. I'll take good care of them.

Thanks NoMercy and CFL, I'll pull apart the springs and see what one leaf feels like.

Team-FSU, CWDU, the66ss, thanks guys glad you like it. 8)

[SlinkySam]

Very nice scale rig Griz. YOur 1:1 Bronco is looking sweet too. When you are done with yours, I have my stock '69 ready for you to start on :)

On that James duff lower link, are the 3 through bolts enough to not damage the frame? It seems like you would want to sleeve the frame at least or weld that bracket on. I know many people who have knocked off or really damaged the solid brackets (on other rigs though). Just curious. It looks awesome though man. Keep the pics coming.

-Sam

[Grizzly4x4]

Very nice scale rig Griz. YOur 1:1 Bronco is looking sweet too. When you are done with yours, I have my stock '69 ready for you to start on :)
:lol: :lol: :lol: I dont think my wife would appreciate another project. :lol:

are the 3 through bolts enough to not damage the frame?
I have been debating that myself. I am leaning towards welding it to take stress off the bolt holes. I will also build angled braces on the backside of the bracket to keep rocks from wedging against it. My transfer case hangs down about even with the bracket so I will also build the skiplate to help protect it. All that said, this rig is mainly built for snowbashing and rock trails like Montrose and Independence. I wont even preted that I can keep up with rigs like yours or the buggies, so I think I can make it werk. 8) Thanks Sam.

[th67ss]

You are da man!!!!

I can't get enough of seeing these early Bronco's!!! If I had that sitting at my house I would be out of r/cing until I was done with it!!

I saw a show on cable (2 years back I think) this guy was building an early bronco's with a bunch of trick parts. For some reason the name steel horse comes to mind. Anyway's the thing looked like it was going to be the coolest thing on the street imo!!!

Thanks for sharing you 1:1 project also....Tom

[SR5Dave]

I wont even preted that I can keep up with rigs like yours or the buggies.

:lol: You say that now....

At our last comp in AZ, we had a two part course set up, one hard, one easy. Fireman was doing the hard one, and was having a rough time..

"Why don't you just take the easy one?"
Fireman: BECAUSE I'M A MAN!!!

:lol: We've all been guilty of that a few times....

That bruiser looks sick! I wish I had the money to do a bruiser, it'd go GREAT under my Willys body :( Maybe if I save for another 6 months.... :roll:

As for the 3 bolt radius arms... Leaf springs are held with two, that being said I approve of overdoing EVERYTHING :lol:

[Grizzly4x4]

You are da man!!!!

I can't get enough of seeing these early Bronco's!!! If I had that sitting at my house I would be out of r/cing until I was done with it!!

I saw a show on cable (2 years back I think) this guy was building an early bronco's with a bunch of trick parts. For some reason the name steel horse comes to mind. Anyway's the thing looked like it was going to be the coolest thing on the street imo!!!

Thanks for sharing you 1:1 project also....Tom
:lol: :lol: :lol: Thanks Tom. It has been sitting for a few months because I had to save for a down payment on a house. R/C's have filled the hole until I could start spending money again. :lol: Hopefully it will be running again in the next few months.

Was that Project Crazy Horse on the show Trucks? It was purple and white? That Bronc is sweet. 8)

[Grizzly4x4]

:lol: You say that now....
:lol: :lol: True to some extent, I have owned this Bronc for 17 years now. The last few years were spend destroying it trying to do harder and harder rock trails and follow the big dogs of 4wheeling. I've grown tired of that and it's hard to take the family when you might roll it over.
My 1:1 will never be the greatest rock crawler, but it is pretty good and there aint gonna be many rigs that can bust snow trails like it. Plus I can still drive it on the street. 8)

Thanks for the compliment on the Bruiser and while I dont build things to be bombproof, I do shoot for bulletproof. :lol: :lol:

[GeoffSFAs10]

cool truck.

CMT's = bling :D

[Grizzly4x4]

cool truck.

CMT's = bling :D

CTM's? bling? Yes, because they are $185 each 8O But they are strong. 8)
Thanks Geoff

[SlinkySam]

Hey Griz, your rig will totally be awesome man. My rig is a fun only rig. It in no way performs like a well designed buggy or trail rig. However, I have a blast in it and go most places that I want to go, so it fit my original build criteria. Also, there is nothing like stupid flex. Just the funniest thing to see and feel while driving. I also drive it on the street around town, but not very far. Nothing like 2 feet of body roll and hydraulic steering to attract the attention of cops :)

Keep up the awesome work and I hope to see more pics of both Broncos. As SR5 said, if we can only afford those Bruiser axles, a super scale looking rig would be in the works. My TLT-1 Willys is the closest I will get for now.

Anxiously waiting for more pics
-Sam

[Grizzly4x4]

Yup, we all build what makes us happy. 8)

Thanks for the compliments. :D

[rckjeep]

I hope you are going to ditch the 44 and 9" axles with 39" tires. There's a guy that wheels with us sometimes how's on 38's and he has destroyed so mnay parts. The last time he, busted the gears in his T-case, a front axle, and ripped the track bar mount off the frame. All with in 20 feet of trail. I dig EB's but you need to lighten them up or overbuild the drivetrain

[GeoffSFAs10]

cool truck.

CMT's = bling :D

CTM's? bling? Yes, because they are $185 each 8O But they are strong. 8)
Thanks Geoff


Thats exaclty the point of them being bling. :D

[SR5Dave]

I hope you are going to ditch the 44 and 9" axles with 39" tires. There's a guy that wheels with us sometimes how's on 38's and he has destroyed so mnay parts. The last time he, busted the gears in his T-case, a front axle, and ripped the track bar mount off the frame. All with in 20 feet of trail. I dig EB's but you need to lighten them up or overbuild the drivetrain

Wait, he should upgrade his axles so he doesnt break his T-Case and Tear off the track bar mount? :lol:

Griz is building a 44 right... He is not just one of those people who doesn't know any better.

[Tuffguy]

Griz with that fullsize bronco and all your other sweet rc's you are officially my hero!
you have got some serious money in that 1:1

[Grizzly4x4]

I hope you are going to ditch the 44 and 9" axles with 39" tires.
Thanks for the reply rckjeep. I dont know if you noticed by my r/c stuff by I go out of my way to do things different than the mainstream. :P :lol:
The D44/9 inch setup is going in there for two reasons, light weight and 'cuz everybody says "that wont work". I am building the axles as
stong as possible. The 9 inch will have 35 spline axles and a detroit. If that breaks I will run 40 spline axles and a spool. If the front warn axles break too often I will switch to the CTM 300M axles. I am trying the warn's first because my friend has a set of the 300M axles in his D60 Bronco and they cost $3000, but if I have to, I will put them in. :twisted:

Like I said before, I am trying to build a well engineered rig without overbuilding and adding unnecessary weight. In the snow and sand lightweight is key and that is my primary purpose. I imagine it will break occasionally on the rocks but I think overall it will be pretty reliable. The 40" IROK's weigh the same as my old 36" TSL SX's so that should help too.
All the guys I wheel with are excited to see if I can make it werk and think I am doing it right so I dont have to worry about holding anybody up. :D

Griz is building a 44 right... He is not just one of those people who doesn't know any better.
Thanks Dave, and no I didn't just fall off the turnip truck. There is a method to my madness. :lol:

Griz with that fullsize bronco and all your other sweet rc's you are officially my hero!
you have got some serious money in that 1:1
Thanks Tuffguy, :lol: :lol: in aint a budget project, that's for sure. 8)

[SR5Dave]

The weight may be the same for the larger tires... but two words:
LEVER ARM :flipoff:

[Grizzly4x4]

The weight may be the same for the larger tires... but two words:
LEVER ARM :flipoff:
Right, but in snowbashing, where tire speed is king, rotational mass is a factor as well. :flipoff:

This is an experiment, most people dont want to experiment because they want to spend the money once and be done. I can afford to try this and if it dont werk then RokJok 60's may be next. :twisted: :D

[SR5Dave]

This is an experiment, most people dont want to experiment because they want to spend the money once and be done.

hence my 60! So, back on track.. How is the Bruiser comin along? Does it hurt to know they were modeled after yota axles? :flipoff:

[Grizzly4x4]

No progress on the Bruiser lately :( . Finishing up a crawler for someone and werking on a top secret project for a tech writeup.

Does it hurt to know they were modeled after yota axles?
Yes! :flipoff: :lol: I was thinking of cutting the housings or running it upside down so that I could get the front diff in the "correct" side. Broncos have the front diff on the drivers side. :(

[SR5Dave]

Yes! :flipoff: :lol: I was thinking of cutting the housings or running it upside down so that I could get the front diff in the "correct" side. Broncos have the front diff on the drivers side. :(

I was wondering if you were going to deal with that.

If you flip it upside down, it'll run backwards. And you'd be on the coast side of the gears? (Does that matter in RCs?)

[SR5Dave]

FYI:
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=196490&highlight=flipped+housing

[Nomercy]

hey if you dont want those stock bruiser shocks, ill take them off your hands. i really need 4 more. ill pay ya 35 shipped.

[Mnster]

Man your truck looks similar to mine.
http://invis.free.anonymizer.com/http://images.ofoto.com/photos852/1/76/99/33/60/8/860339976105_0_ALB.jpg

[Grizzly4x4]

Well, last night I flipped the front axle upside down to get the pinion on the correct side for a Bronco and swapped the knuckles from side to side. Looks like everything will be fine, definately the way to go. :D
The pinion is pretty much in the center of the axle (vertically) so there will be no change in driveshaft angle and the gears are straight cut so there is no strength difference in what direction the gears turn.

NoMercy, that’s a fair offer, but until I find another scale looking shock I’m planning on using the stockers. Any ideas? :wink:

Mnster, nice rig, I’ve seen the pics of yours before and like it a lot. 8) Yup they look similar now but when I am done with the Body they should look different.
:wink: :lol:

[Ace]

Watcha gonna do to reverse the front drive shaft direction?

Flippin the axle should reverse it's direction right?

[SR5Dave]

Well, last night I flipped the front axle upside down to get the pinion on the correct side for a Bronco and swapped the knuckles from side to side. Looks like everything will be fine, definately the way to go. :D
The pinion is pretty much in the center of the axle (vertically) so there will be no change in driveshaft angle and the gears are straight cut so there is no strength difference in what direction the gears turn.

NoMercy, that’s a fair offer, but until I find another scale looking shock I’m planning on using the stockers. Any ideas? :wink:

Mnster, nice rig, I’ve seen the pics of yours before and like it a lot. 8) Yup they look similar now but when I am done with the Body they should look different.
:wink: :lol:

Its going to run backwards :P

Flipping the rear upside down would probably be the easiest solution.

[Grizzly4x4]

Its going to run backwards :P
I know, I had that covered. :wink: :lol:

Flipping the rear upside down would probably be the easiest solution.
Duh :oops: I didn't even think of that. :lol: The drivetrain I have planned will be custom anyway so making the front driveshaft spin backwards is not a problem, but flipping the rear axle gives me some other options.
Great thinking Dave.
8)

[Mnster]

TLT shocks are kind of real looking longer travel and stuff. I run my truck shock less you can't really find shocks that look real with that much droop and travel.

[Grizzly4x4]

Watcha gonna do to reverse the front drive shaft direction?

Flippin the axle should reverse it's direction right?

I'm not tellin until I get started on it. :P :lol:

Yes, flipping it reverses the direction the driveshaft must turn to move the vehicle forward. 8)

[Grizzly4x4]

TLT shocks are kind of real looking longer travel and stuff. I run my truck shock less you can't really find shocks that look real with that much droop and travel.

Shockless wont be an option with the coil spring suspension, it'll be too bouncy. I have been considering Mini-T shocks, they look to be the right diameter and with some creative mounting may offer enough travel. I'll have to see if I can find the OD of a TLT shock. Thanks Mnster. 8)

[SR5Dave]

Great thinking Dave.
8)

Thats why I'm here :D Keep us posted, sounds like a neat rig 8)

[egdinger]

hey griz the OD of a tlt shock is ~11mm and ~94mm from eye to eye.

[BigBaller]

...and then what happened? Come on asshole, where's Guido? :evil:

[dieselfuel]

wow... "thumbsup"