Finally.
 

I had gotten this kit 3 years ago built it and then never went back always wanted to but didn't have the time nor money. But finally she lives. Most fun I've had in RC love this rig. She's pretty basic now but looking forward to doing some things with it. http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/06/27/gehyde6u.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/06/27/pube8eve.jpg

Nothing special mostly stuff I had laying around. Other than motor and ESC running Tekin FXR 35t hand wound with ESC. Traxxas 2055 steering. Hpi receiver and transmitter. And turnigy 2s 5000 mah lipo. Looking forward to spending more time on the site. Thanks.

Re: Finally.
 

Nice color on that Ford. I'll keep an eye on your progress. Welcome to the fun."thumbsup"

Re: Finally.
 

Get ready to max out your credit cards...

Thanks 18. Lol yeah I see my self spending cash on this one. What upgrades do you guys like to do right off the bat?

Re: Finally.
 

I went with the Blue Monkey links, upper, lower, and also their steering linkage. Axial aluminum c hubs, knuckles, and universals. Aluminum servo horn on a 208# torque servo. R2J sliders. Very reliable now and lots of fun.

Ok appreciate that I'll be looking into some of those things. Any particular reason you swapped links out?

Re: Finally.
 

Yes, I didn't like the drive line angle. My pumpkins were pointing downward at a very drastic angle and the drive shafts were hitting the rocks and other things I was trying to get over. The Blue Monkey links allowed me to get them pointed up and away from obstructions and also relieved the strain on the drive line. Many people here make their own links from all thread and brake line. The BM link kit also comes with a metal front servo/link mount.

My Honcho was the ready to run version and I didn't have the ability to change link length. On my Rubicon kit, I still found the axial aluminum links too short to get the angle I wanted.

Ok good to know I appreciate all the info you've shared with me race. My kit came with 6x91mm aluminum lower links. I like I mention earlier I got this kit around the time they came out with it. Don't really know what they are offering now. But at any rate defiantly have some reading to do.

Just looked since you mentioned servo mount and mine is also aluminum.

Re: Finally.
 

I'm not sure but yours may be a black aluminum servo mount as mine was. With the Blue Monkey set up, the upper links mount to this plate also. Is your upper link a Y set up; mine was before I made the change.

Re: Finally.
 

Yes its a Y, and both ends are connected to the axles. Oh and yeah its black aluminum.

As I'm looking through what they offer now the RTR's are definitely hurting for mods can't believe links are plastic. Anyway I was wondering about wheel/tire weights pros cons?

Re: Finally.
 

Good and bad news. Good news, lowers COG for climbing. Bad news is that they add weight which puts a strain on the entire drive train and the motor. I think you'll find that the guys who enter competitions swear by them. I don't use them for the type of crawling/trails that I do.

Yes, plastic links on the RTR. That's why I went to metal links. But, I got the radio, lights, ESC, and servo with the truck. As you know, I've changed the links, and servo on my Honcho. Still using the radio and ESC. I've also changed the links on my Rubicon along with the c hubs, knuckles, and lockouts which was a kit and came with plastic. Pros and cons to both RTR and kits IMO due to the narrow price spread of the two.

Re: Finally.
 

muh momma taught me to never swear (out loud) :mrgreen:

And I've never signed up for any crawler competition.

But I really appreciate my wheel weights.

Not something I'd want for bashing around the street...
but for crawling... they make a huge difference.

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Besides the upgraded metal link/steering rod upgrade...

I would recommend replacing the servo for a HT MG servo...
and while yer at it... an alloy "clamping type" servo horn.
The stock plastic junk strips easily... and is kinda short.
24mm eye to eye would be best for improved steering throw.

BTW... the original plastic servo horn is only about 20mm eye to eye.
And though a 25 tooth splined horn like the Futaba servos fit...
the Futaba spline pitch seems a little off. (hence the clamp style servo horn)

My AS-3 RTR servo's output shaft became sloppy
within the first 4 hours of run time. grrr.
The AS-3 has a metal output shaft...
but the internal gears are plastic :roll:

No worries tho' 'cause Justin @ Axial says he's gonna take care of me...
2 each all metal geared servo's on their way.
great customer service and warranty "thumbsup"

Another thing...
I suggest installing the 4 link system up front...
and adding the smaller spacers into the upper link rods.
This will cant the axle forward slightly...
and improve the front drive shaft angle.

Speaking of drive shafts... Here's a cheap trick that works...

Insert some 6mm thread-all rod into the male side of both drive shafts
this will minimize the possibility of twisting those into pretzels.

Re: Finally.
 

Thanks TacoCrawler, it's all been done.