1.9 semi-Basket Case

[Duuuuuuuude]

A couple of weeks ago I traded for what I thought was a lightly used, relatively clean Wraith kit roller, which I promptly tossed up on the shelf until I could get to it. Today I finally got to spend a little time eyeballing it and decide what I wanted to do.

The first thing I noticed was that it had a very funny off-balance feel when you spun the wheels. Pulling them off I found them half full of water, one hub blown out, and a really, really bad glue job. I peeled the tires off and let them sit to dry.

Then I started disassembling the chassis. There was no consideration of bolt length when this thing was assembled. Long bolts where there should be short ones, short ones only grabbing a thread or two where there should have been a long one, and even a few chrome plated phillips head screws.

Out came the transmission, and as I was removing the front driveshaft I noticed a little too much movement out of the front output shaft. Apart came the transmission, and immediately I found the problem: no front bearing. Of course that caused the gear to contact the trans case and booger both of them up. There was also a water line inside the case where it was holding water. Brilliant. Why would someone do that? I cleaned it all out, replaced the bad gears, found a bearing, and reassembled it.

I haven't yet torn into the axles, but I can probably guess that I'll find more of the same.

At some point my gaze went up to my old, tired Honcho. I always wanted to do a scx axled Wraith, so I pulled it down and tore it apart.

The rear axle is more or less stock, with the addition of a homemade no-slop locker (now just slightly sloppy), the front axle also got a matching locker and a short time ago it also received XR shafts/knuckles/carriers to replace the craptastic MIP cvds that keep spitting out pins.

I whipped up some delrin links to bring the wheelbase in to about 12" or so, and wa-la! Here it is.



1/4" delrin rod with Traxxas ends...



XR conversion...



And of course it got the full Wraith Riser kit...




Shocks will be some Ofna units I've got laying around. Pretty decent shocks and they don't leak.

Still thinking on the steering...I'd like to do a cms but the reduced wheelbase makes space pretty tight.

Power will either be the Mag Mayhem out of the Honcho or possibly a sensored brushless setup. This is just going to be a fun trail rig, so nothing too crazy. Maybe a 17.5 or so...I've got a new 25.5 Novak, but at 1550kv it would be a snore.

[Lentsnh2012]

Why in the world did someone DRIVE that Wraith with all of those problems?!?!

Great start though, Duuuuuude! I look forward to see how you'll finish it up.

[Cmarcan167]

If your intetested I have a novak timbuk2 wraith edition 13.5 combo. I'm moving up to a MMP, so I will ok longer need it. PM me if it peaks your interest for this truck and maybe we could work a power deal that involves some risers...

[Duuuuuuuude]

Originally Posted by Lentsnh2012

Why in the world did someone DRIVE that Wraith with all of those problems?!?!

Great start though, Duuuuuude! I look forward to see how you'll finish it up.

Yeah, I dunno. I got it from a guy who got it from a guy and traded for it the day he got it. Still...I ain't mad. Did I mention that it appears that the builder used wd40 instead of loctite? Nothing was tight and all the metal parts were coated in crap. Shameful.

I think I'm going to do the fastback mod too. Always thought that looked cool.

Originally Posted by Cmarcan167

If your intetested I have a novak timbuk2 wraith edition 13.5 combo. I'm moving up to a MMP, so I will ok longer need it. PM me if it peaks your interest for this truck and maybe we could work a power deal that involves some risers...

I typically run away from Novak, but I've taken a liking to their motors. If you'll split the combo I'm sure we can work something out.

[Lentsnh2012]

Originally Posted by Duuuuuuuude

Yeah, I dunno. I got it from a guy who got it from a guy and traded for it the day he got it. Still...I ain't mad. Did I mention that it appears that the builder used wd40 instead of loctite? Nothing was tight and all the metal parts were coated in crap.

I think I'm going to do the fastback mod too. Always thought that looked cool

It could have been robbed off of mannnnnyyyyy times while going through those trades. Jeez... No wonder he traded it off! Nothing would stay together. Poor fellow.

It does look cool, especially with a nice product to finish it off. Are you going to use DMG or that new company? Or make it yourself?

[2JSC]

Think you can give me some link measurements? I've got a Wraith chassis sitting here and that's almost exactly how I want it done. Even the XR mod.

Just the length of the link itself, not eye to eye.

Looking towards more updates. You may just be a good source of inspiration on this one.

[Duuuuuuuude]

I'll make something myself. Probably just break out the heat gun and start bending.

[Duuuuuuuude]

Originally Posted by 2JSC

Think you can give me some link measurements? I've got a Wraith chassis sitting here and that's almost exactly how I want it done. Even the XR mod.

Just the length of the link itself, not eye to eye.

Yup. Next time I walk out there I will do that.

Originally Posted by 2JSC

Looking towards more updates Pat. You may just be a good source of inspiration on this one.

Who is this "Pat" person, and why are you talking to them in my thread?

[ROWDY RACING]

Totally radical bro!

So does this mean the tired honcho will become a wroncho or whatever stupid name they have for wraith axled honchos?

[Duuuuuuuude]

Originally Posted by ROWDY RACING

Totally radical bro!

So does this mean the tired honcho will become a wroncho or whatever stupid name they have for wraith axled honchos?

At some point the axles will meet the frame, but it won't be a Wroncho.

[ROWDY RACING]

Originally Posted by Duuuuuuuude

At some point the axles will meet the frame, but it won't be a Wroncho.

Scrotally looking forward to it.

[STANG KILLA SS]

exactly why in 8 years ive never bought a single used rig, axles, parts etc. no way to know condition and not worth the risk.

definatly looking forward to this. I always wanted to build one of these

[allanon1965]

Nice start!

My used wraith cage I bought here had many of the same issue...so I did the same thing, tossed some scx axles under is and threw in a spare brushless vanguard system out of an exo terra...my trans had issues as well...no shaft or bearings on the plastic idler gear..it lasted about 2 minutes under that 2900kv brushless motor!

the idler gear welded itself to the trans case...took forever to get it apart lol

you can see pics of the mess here

1.9 Wraith, experiment 626

[Duuuuuuuude]

Originally Posted by 2JSC

Think you can give me some link measurements? I've got a Wraith chassis sitting here and that's almost exactly how I want it done. Even the XR mod.

Just the length of the link itself, not eye to eye.

Links are 2 3/4 and give it a 12 1/4 wheelbase.

[2JSC]

Originally Posted by Duuuuuuuude

Who is this "Pat" person, and why are you talking to them in my thread?

Hard to see where I'm posting on the phone when looking at multiple threads at the same time... plus you got me before me stealth edit.

Originally Posted by Duuuuuuuude

Links are 2 3/4 and give it a 12 1/4 wheelbase.

All 8? Thanks!

[Duuuuuuuude]

Yep, all 8. I may adjust that later, just didn't want to think too hard about it today.

[skidtoy]

id really like to do a 1.9 wraith to go with my 2.2 but far to expensive to get another and parts etc down here in nz

[TSK]

,an, I hope the JK you traded for isn't in such poor shape!

That is, if it arrives... *knock on wood*

Can you post a front view pic showing the track width? I was just looking at my wraith the other day thinking about Ax axles and 1.9's under it so my wife can have something durable, semi scale looking and not quite so wraith sized.

[Duuuuuuuude]

Originally Posted by TheSCorpionKing

,an, I hope the JK you traded for isn't in such poor shape!

That is, if it arrives... *knock on wood*

Can you post a front view pic showing the track width? I was just looking at my wraith the other day thinking about Ax axles and 1.9's under it so my wife can have something durable, semi scale looking and not quite so wraith sized.

No kidding...I think it must be coming via canoe.

I will post a pic for you later today. I was surprised how the axles make the entire rig look smaller. My other Wraith looks like a monster truck in comparison.

[Szczerba]

I've always thought 1.9's and AX10's look better on this chassis than the AR60's and 2.2. Yeah, I said it