Wild, Tople$$ and in a cage! Project FJ40

[CruiserHead]

I used to run Delrin frames that I cut on a CNC mill at school, but felt the desire and need to braze my own cage, sliders and bumpers....So, I bought the SCX10 frame and went to town!! I used solid 3/16" rod and Harris 56 Silver Solder(plus safety silv flux).

I started the build on Sunday Dec. 20th and this is where I am now. Feels like it's been a month!


I will be tying the rear bumper in with the cage and back part of the bed for strength but have not figured out how i want it to look. There are so many routes to take since I chopped the back off. I will be making a working tail gate as well.

Any comments or questions are welcome.

Thanks.

All pictures have been moved to http://www.flickr.com/photos/49314553@N02/

[CruiserHead]

Here she is with the top on....The top will be getting some body work and fresh, but the same color, paint. This body is obviously hammered dog poo!!! I love it though. My 1:1 was never a grocery getter and neither is the 1:10.



Thanks!!

[CruiserHead]

Mandatory flex shots! Well are they not?





JB

[ronnie187]

SWEET

what shocks are those?

[CruiserHead]

Originally Posted by ronnie187

SWEET

what shocks are those?

Thanks!


The shocks are the RC4WD X10's. I wanted to be a little different and the fact that they were blue and 91mm from middle of ball to middle of ball was perfect....They seem to work very well, but the true test will be how they perform on the trail. It worries me a bit that no one ever uses these but I am thinking it is because the reservoirs are real and functioning(Axials are non-functioning and for looks only). That makes it a bit harder to get the air out and for initial set up..

I am not into competitions so hopefully they will perform well enough for my use. $30 for 4 I had to try...

Back to the garage for me...i am missing a kick ass GTG today too. Might have to buy an SCX10 kit as well!

JB

[Aaronb]

looks good, im doing almost the same thing with my cruiser.

[PinchFlat]

Oh that is looking great.. I like the direction you are going in. It is turning out great.

[CruiserHead]

Originally Posted by PinchFlat

Oh that is looking great.. I like the direction you are going in. It is turning out great.

Thanks!! You really helped me get the brazing rolling....I am finished with the rear section's design and the working tail gate. Other than adding a few more points for looks and strength I will be starting on the rear bumper and possibly the front bumper after dinner.

Originally Posted by Aaron

looks good, im doing almost the same thing with my cruiser.

Thank you....I would love to see your rig. I have a soft spot for FJ40's. PM a link please.

More pics later tonight or if it's morning when I give up for the session, then...lol

JB

[Rig Rocker]

Lookin Pretty Bad Ass

[CruiserHead]

Originally Posted by Rig Rocker

Lookin Pretty Bad Ass

Thank you sir...That really blows that you could not make it to the gtg. I wonder when the rain hit them up there? Made it to the valley close to 2P.M. or so.

It's real slick and challenging when it rains. Its compared to Moab I guess. Plenty of traction when its dry, even though the rocks are smooth.

Late!

JB

[CruiserHead]

Had as close to an all-nighter last night as i wish to get. Time flies when you are having fun.... Packed it in at about 3:30 am.

Next pictures are in sequence, I hope anyway. I decided on a squarish main cage and a roundish bed with tail gate.

Hope you like, thanks for looking.
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Bed taking shape



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Unfinished tailgate fitment



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She's getting there. My dremel shredded it's internal coupler once again at about this point. I went to hand cutting and filing from about midnight to 3:30 am.

[CruiserHead]

One more angle on the view and then it's off the the front bumper.



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I modeled the front bumper after a bumper/ brush guard I saw installed on an FJ40 online. Mines a little different in design and has an added winch plate.




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Stinger angle



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Completed front bumper with strengthening truss's. Last 3 pictures before paint





Looks like the shell of something that came out of Star Wars without the body. Can't wait to see it painted. Just going with semi-gloss black.

Thanks!

JB

[Racer4Life]

Make me one too while your at it.

This is going to look good. I really like the tubed FJ40's.

I have a body here that could really use a cage like this.

[CruiserHead]

Originally Posted by Racer4Life

Make me one too while your at it.

This is going to look good. I really like the tubed FJ40's.

I have a body here that could really use a cage like this.

Thanks!
I have a new respect for anyone who has made a cage for their rig. I'd be happy to make you one, just send me a blank check.


Paint pics coming soon...Just need one more coat of paint to cover the spots where it stuck to the cardboard. Guess the paint didn't dry as fast as the can says?

JB

[CruiserHead]

Painted the Cage semi-gloss black and repainted the body the same original color(a very fast touch-up indeed). No need to go way overboard on new paint but I will be adding headlights, taillights and LEDS.

Hope you like it....Assembly time!








Thanks for looking...

JB

[Rig Rocker]

That turned out great! Are you going to put a scale engine under the hood?

[CruiserHead]

Originally Posted by Rig Rocker

That turned out great! Are you going to put a scale engine under the hood?

Not at this time. I cut the hood so i could mount the body and not have to remove it to change batteries and monitor my ESC and such. I thought it would give the rig a bit of a scale appearance, but until I master the art of mini hood latches, it kinda looks funny flopping around. I do have tiny screws mounted that I wrap a fine piece of wire around to keep it closed for now, but it's not realistic.

On a dark note: When I did a test fit for the wheel base I wanted, everything was fine. Now I am going to have to either shorten the Wbase to just under 11" or hack the back up to change the wheel wells(the tires are flexing right into the rear of the well).....I don't know how it would perform with such a short base and the shock hoops are already mounted on the inside holes.

Any suggestions anyone has is welcome. I was shooting for an 11.5" WB originally but it would be much "easier" to shorted the base than to cut and resolder the wells...Also, how could I shorten the base and not have the shocks leaning outward instead of inward seeing i am maxed on the hoop???

Thanks!

JB

[quinn_thercdude]

nice welds. keep up the great work

[CruiserHead]

Originally Posted by quinn_thercdude

nice welds. keep up the great work

Thanks a lot Quinn....I am going to find out real fast how well my re-weld skills are going to be after i cut the back off to fix this problem...

Peace from the Coast...lol, love your "location" under the avatar!We have plenty of hippies here though..

JB

[bikeman]

Ya, jim that looks awsome. That thing is gonna work really well for you. I have seen those tires in action and they hook up really well.
I cant wait to see that thing destroy the rocks at the next gtg.