free mods

[bigblazerboy]

what are some mods that are free and would help the stock wk out?
i put thr battery in the front and my dad got all dweebish on me and siad if i break this truck a cant get another one.

[duleonar]

Here are some (not all) threads on this site that have free templates. All in all they aren't free, because you need to purchase materials unless you have some already. But they are free in the sense that you didn't pay someone else to design, fabricate, and ship it to you.

I would suggest reading all of both threads, so you know what has worked out in the end for each part.

Servo Mount
http://www.rccrawler.com/forum/showthread.php?t=64145

Awesome Chassis (Widow)
http://www.rccrawler.com/forum/showthread.php?t=69539

Alterred Transmission Mounting Plate
I would suggest you take the tranny and motor off. Put the plate onto some thick paper and use it as a template to trace the design you have previously seen or something you thought up on your own. Then transfer the paper to your final material.

Tire Grooving
Take a silver sharpy and draw out your design (maybe use a pencil til you got it like you like it) hobby knife, dremel, or whatever you have and go to town cutting away.

[theshimonator]

Move the battery forward and lower!

[bigblazerboy]

i am going to reverse the chassis and make a new rod for the steering.

[pickup1]

turn the tires around for more"bite".

[bigblazerboy]

no ones said about the link mounts.
imm about to reverse my chassis and make a new bent steering link.
i also like the stocl gearing so will be keeping that but need to get 4wd conversion after christmas.

[Filibuster]

what are some mods that are free and would help the stock wk out?
i put thr battery in the front and my dad got all dweebish on me and siad if i break this truck a cant get another one.

Hey BBB, why don't you ask your dad to read on this forum with you so he can understand what this is all about. Ask him to help you out with your project. He will soon get addict and might want to provide funds for your truck ! He might even want his own truck, so you guys mods and ride together... That would solve your problem (but then you guys will get challenged by your mom:shock:) éhéhéé

[bigblazerboy]

my mom doesnt really care. and i keep telling him about putting the servo on the axle and i tell him its easier but he says its not and im reversing the chassis, so a servo on the axle is the easiest instead of makeing new links to use the stock steering set up. and i want to extend the wb for a blazer body.

[jbrandt]

no ones said about the link mounts.
imm about to reverse my chassis and make a new bent steering link.
i also like the stocl gearing so will be keeping that but need to get 4wd conversion after christmas.

look here - this is what everybody is referring to when you hear "I did the phase 1 mods":
http://www.hpiracing.com/news/2007061801/

one thing, though, is this site forgot to mention that you also have to lengthen your steering linkage, unless you go for an axle mounted servo setup...

lots of really good info. This is the link setup I went with at first, it requires the least amount of work for good performance. I eventually went to a true 4-link, though. I just made new upper links and kept the same lowers... But you'll need to get the longer drive lines if you extend the wheelbase (obviously). If you're going to be crawling with it, I'd definitely look into axle mounted steering. You can make a mount plate relatively easy with a thin piece of sheet metal or aluminum. See above for the templates.

cheers and good luck!"thumbsup"

[Locked Up]

my mom doesnt really care. and i keep telling him about putting the servo on the axle and i tell him its easier but he says its not and im reversing the chassis, so a servo on the axle is the easiest instead of makeing new links to use the stock steering set up. and i want to extend the wb for a blazer body.
I didn't quite follow all that are you reversing the chassis or your pops won't let you?

Putting the servo on the axle isn't necessarily easier than making a longer steering link. In fact, I think cutting a piece of 4-40 for a longer steering link is probably a lot easier than cutting out a servo mount. In the long run though, the axle mounted servo will be easier and probably cheaper, especially if you reverse the chassis.

[bigblazerboy]

yes, im reversing the chassis, and now i got him to let me put the servo on the axle so i can extend the wb in the future for a blazer body.
i was going to buy the bellcrank off of ebay, but if i wanted to extend it i would have to make a new link.

[duleonar]

Hey BBB, why don't you ask your dad to read on this forum with you so he can understand what this is all about. Ask him to help you out with your project.

I totally agree.


I mean there are many other things you (BBB) could be doing:evil: (besides picking up an awesome hobby) that could have your dad much more allerted.:shock: Let him know you need his help and would love to work on the truck with him rather than behind his back.

Sorry for a minute there I turned into "Dear Abby".

Hope it works out for you"thumbsup"

[bigblazerboy]

he helps me out sometimes, but i have to ask him alot. maybe after we go to some of the gtgs he will understand, and maybe he might want to get on too.
right now im waiting till christmas or if i can order the servo mount now from rcguy.com. atleast now i can extend the wb without to much mods all i would nee would be new drive shafts.

does any one else have any more cheap tricks, i dont think ill be getting a new chassis for awhile, but i want to get the cx trail chassis.

[YAKIMA RC RACER]

i would also shave the knuckles and axle c's until the axle c's touch the axle housing than just make a bent steering link you will get more steering just my .02 cents

[bigblazerboy]

ok will try that"thumbsup"

[Filibuster]

he helps me out sometimes, but i have to ask him alot. maybe after we go to some of the gtgs he will understand, and maybe he might want to get on too.
right now im waiting till christmas or if i can order the servo mount now from rcguy.com. atleast now i can extend the wb without to much mods all i would nee would be new drive shafts.

does any one else have any more cheap tricks, i dont think ill be getting a new chassis for awhile, but i want to get the cx trail chassis.


Look at this link : http://www.rccrawler.com/forum/showthread.php?p=965838#post965838

look post #122, this is my WK. Very cheap mods. Very effective for trail.
You will be able to wait before asking for the trail chassis you want.

Just PM me if you would like some more picture of the chopped frame, or batt holder."thumbsup"

[duleonar]

I forgot to mention that the widow chassis doesn't have to be made out of delrin or even aluminum for that matter. There are several of us that have made it out of a $3 cutting board from Wal-Mart.

[bigblazerboy]

Look at this link : http://www.rccrawler.com/forum/showthread.php?p=965838#post965838

look post #122, this is my WK. Very cheap mods. Very effective for trail.
You will be able to wait before asking for the trail chassis you want.

Just PM me if you would like some more picture of the chopped frame, or batt holder."thumbsup"

thanks.
i dont think ill be getting a new chassis anytime soon.

[edman87k5]

The axle servo mount takes 5 minutes to install, so if pops don't like it, take it back off. They are easily made for free.
Weight in the right places helps a lot too. I added 2oz to eash front rim and an oz or so to the axle mount servo, again free tire weights. I had some old stick on flat weights laying around, glued them to rims and bolted to mount plate.
Extending the wheelbase is well under $20, mine cost about $15 for link ends and driveshafts, all easily put back to stock if needed.
Cutting and thinning tires is another free mod that helps a lot.
Gearing is also cheap and easily changed, under $10 to make it crawl much better. You will want the lower gearing to add crawl ability once you get the 4x4.
Money well spent on a powerful servo is also 1 of the best mods. A strong servo can be had for $20. I have the mg945 and it is 1 of the best mods so far.
The first thing needed for this hobby is the understanding that you will always be adding to it or modifying it, it will never be completely done!

[bigblazerboy]

im getting the 4wd kit tonight along with a aluminum bellcrank(wanted to do servo mount but dad would let me buy one or help me make one).
after christmas i want to get some losi rock claws and rpm crawler wheels.
do you think the stock steering lever would e strong enuff as lower links?
i also might buy the rc4wd wb extension lit and use half of the kit to get 11"wb.
does this kit look good?http://www.teamstrc.com/ebproductdetail.asp?catmainid=13&id=118i (http://www.teamstrc.com/ebproductdetail.asp?catmainid=13&id=118) might use half of the kit and need to get rod ends and new drive shaft.
what are some good cheap rod ends?

[lesannatrevor]

Check your PM bigblazerboy.

[bigblazerboy]

Check your PM bigblazerboy.

just did thanks"thumbsup"

[Locked Up]

im getting the 4wd kit tonight along with a aluminum bellcrank(wanted to do servo mount but dad would let me buy one or help me make one).
after christmas i want to get some losi rock claws and rpm crawler wheels.
do you think the stock steering lever would e strong enuff as lower links?
i also might buy the rc4wd wb extension lit and use half of the kit to get 11"wb.
does this kit look good?http://www.teamstrc.com/ebproductdetail.asp?catmainid=13&id=118i (http://www.teamstrc.com/ebproductdetail.asp?catmainid=13&id=118) might use half of the kit and need to get rod ends and new drive shaft.
what are some good cheap rod ends?
What do you mean would the stock steering lever be strong enough for lower links?

Watch out for the aluminum bellcranks ... make sure the ball is tight enough. I've seen some come too tight and some way loose.

I like Dubro links & I normally get them from my LHS or Towerhobbies.com. You can find a nice assortment of Dubro links that will work with different rod & ball sizes too IE, You can use 6-32 allthread as the rod and the ball will fit for 4-40, etc. You can also find K&S round tube to fit the 4-40 & 6-32 all thread. That's howe I made my links and new steering linkage.

If your dad won't let you do anything with a dremel, or do it for you, the RC4wd kit on just the rear isn't a bad idea for links. You will still need to put on a longer driveshaft and you will probably need to cut that down. But, you can do that with a hack saw no problem. I used Traxxas driveshafts & yokes ... part#s are 4951x & 4928x. You can save some money by reusing your stock Yoke but you'll need to drill it out. If pops won't let you near a dremel, I assume the drill is out of the question too though.

[bigblazerboy]

never mind what i said about steering rod.

the aluminum bellcrank i will use untill i get my servomount for christmas.
i am right now frying to see how long of lower links i need to stretch my wb. migh buy that kit though because it looks nice and has extension for upper link, but rc4wd is kinda spendy and im tryin to spend the least amount of money as posible.