Rock Racer: Daisy Cutter

[johnnyh66]

I just started working on this, using what I had on hand.
It's wheel base is currently at 13" but I'm thinking it'll end up around 14.5"... maybe 15".

I'm not sure about the dig either... I had 2 extra transmissions, both with dig. A cheapy one and this VP dig. I figured the VP would hold up better.

I'm going to start this rig out with the VXL I had in Buxom Melons before she went brushed.

And, I need to paint the chassis!
It came this way and I can't stand looking at it. I'm thinking black or red... or both.

[johnnyh66]

And here she is resting on 1.9's, no hex's.
I have a set of 2.2 Super Swamper TSL's, I just need to find a set of wheels I can actually mount them on

[junkyardc10]

Looks bad ass ...I have seen a rea l one that kinda looked like this love the tuber and the wheels are Awsome ...good jobman

[thzero]

I dunno, I kinda like the yellow and black look.... reminds me of a badass Yellowjacket.

[johnnyh66]

Originally Posted by junkyardc10

Looks bad ass ...I have seen a rea l one that kinda looked like this love the tuber and the wheels are Awsome ...good jobman

Thanks man, I've always liked this chassis. I bought it a while back and thought it was way to big for the scx/ax 10 axles.

Originally Posted by thzero

I dunno, I kinda like the yellow and black look.... reminds me of a badass Yellowjacket.

Hmmm, it looks good in the pics but it's a rough paint job.
It's not so much the color I can't stand but the paint is uneven and all the mount holes are painted over. That stuff just bugs me.

[thzero]

Originally Posted by johnnyh66

Hmmm, it looks good in the pics but it's a rough paint job.
It's not so much the color I can't stand but the paint is uneven and all the mount holes are painted over. That stuff just bugs me.

Ah yeah.. can understand that.

You know, it sorta reminds me of a southern buggy actually.

[johnnyh66]

Originally Posted by thzero

Ah yeah.. can understand that.

You know, it sorta reminds me of a southern buggy actually.

yup, I planed on putting in a Tamiya driver or the 2 from the HPI Mini-Trophy but I don't think they're gonna fit with the trans. Maybe if I loose the dig.

[thzero]

Originally Posted by johnnyh66

yup, I planed on putting in a Tamiya driver or the 2 from the HPI Mini-Trophy but I don't think they're gonna fit with the trans. Maybe if I loose the dig.

Good idea...

[johnnyh66]

Got some work done today.
Extended the wb to 15".
Currently 2" of ground clearance. I may go w/longer shocks. These are 3.5".
Borrowed the trans and front long drive shafts from my FOFF for a test fit.
Ordered MIP drive shafts for this rig.

I had to mount the trans .25" above the skid plate. The footprint of the Axial trans doesn't fit between the bottom tube work... and even if it did, the motor plate hits the tube.

I'm currently using Traxxas link end hollow balls as spacers between the skid and base of the trans
I'm going to get some aluminum spacers from ACE tomorrow... or a block of something I can drill through.

This same tube, above the skid, is binding up the lower link ends too. I had to mount them under the skid... for now. More spacers.

The VP knuckle arms showed up today and I bought some styrene to make some mounting space. I'm going to try and build a trunk to hold the electronics.

[Harvo]

Well... you had me all the way up until you streched it out that far.

I liked it shorter. Why are you shooting for 15"?

[johnnyh66]

Originally Posted by Harvo

Well... you had me all the way up until you streched it out that far.

I liked it shorter. Why are you shooting for 15"?

just experimentation, I ended up bringing it in a .5" and put 4" shocks on the back last night. I figured I'd start with the max and work my way back.

[klcrawler]

The tube body looks really cool! Looking foward to seeing it finished!

[johnnyh66]

Thanks klcrawler, I've always liked this chassis.

I decided to name it Daisy Cutter... maybe I should move it to the 2.2 section?

I took it out yesterday for the first time...
It was fun. I got 17mins run time from the VXL with two 900mah 3s 45c lipos in parallel.
It's currently got a dig which I may get rid of if/when I get the parts to remove it. Right now I'm pretty much just using it as a hold brake.

It handles pretty good but I'm going to unclock the knuckles some. It turns to sharp... I didn't even need the dig.

The big Traxxas shocks really soak up the bumps which made high speed driving a lot of fun.

I did end up bending a 8:32 threaded rod lower link... it wasn't sleeved yet.

Things to do:
Bend rear links/shorten wheelbase another .25"
I think I'm going to run 2.2 Mayhem Double Fatties.
I need 32 pitch spur/pinion.
Paint the chassis.
Make some panels.

[johnnyh66]

ok, I was down to a 14.25" wheel base and I felt that was pretty good with the 2.2" ProLine TSL's... but then, on Christmas day, the servo for the dig shorted out.

So, I removed the dig which left my rear MIP driveshaft way to short.
I installed the extra MIP Summit shaft that I bought.
At the 14.25" wb, the Summit shaft was binding really bad.
So I extended the wb a .25".
Still slight binding on full flex.
I thought about cutting a .25" off the MIP but I really hate to do that...
So, I extended the WB another .25"... no binding, but I'm back to a 14.75" wb

I installed all Robinson Racing gears in the trans.
And I stole the Spur/Pinion (50/16) from my FOFF rig, F'n Bastard!
The VXL works much better with this gearing.
I took it out last night in this new configuration... I like it!

[johnnyh66]

I installed an open diff in the Rock Rider last weekend. It can actually bash now! Handling and turning at speed is so much better... and now it can jump baby!

I packed it full of grease but it totally losses traction as soon as 1 wheel hits a vertical. I'm going to pack it full of Silly Putty

Today I ordered the Wraith MIP's.
I was going to just get the 2 longer hubs but they were almost $30 with shipping and the whole set was $55 shipped from Phil's Hobby Shop (love that store).
So, now I should be able to move my rear WB back in a little.
It is getting hung up a lot with the long WB.

[thzero]

Originally Posted by johnnyh66

I packed it full of grease but it totally losses traction as soon as 1 wheel hits a vertical. I'm going to pack it full of Silly Putty

That is the life of the open diffs...

[johnnyh66]

Originally Posted by thzero

That is the life of the open diffs...

Right after I installed the open diff., I took it outside for a little backyard trashing... the first lap around the yard and I thought to myself, "Zero is gonna build one as soon as he see's it run"

It's really fun... way more than my F'n Bastard!.
Although, I did originally buy the open diff. gears for the F'n Bastard!.

[thzero]

Thats cool... I dunno, I still have the RC8Te

Originally Posted by johnnyh66

Right after I installed the open diff., I took it outside for a little backyard trashing... the first lap around the yard and I thought to myself, "Zero is gonna build one as soon as he see's it run"

[johnnyh66]

I ordered a driver last night

[johnnyh66]

I'm loving this thing with the open diff.
I took it to a grocery store parking lot late Sunday night when it was empty to jump the snow banks... DAMN it was fun! It can finally turn at high speed without flipping

I bought some Silly Putty to bind up the front diff a little. I'm going to start with just a little bit and add more if I need to.

Last night I started mocking up body panels.
I think I'll lower the door line a little, it feels a kinda fat at the moment.
I like the window shape.

I need to get better rear lower links, these bend after every run.
I sleeved the front lowers with stainless steel, I'm going to sleeve the front tops with aluminum.

The wb is now at 14.125"