Mudsy's MT Wraith Build Thread

[Mudsy]

When Axial came out with the Wraith, I been wanting one ever since. However, I didn't want the run of the mill Wraiths that I seen everywhere on the forum.

One day, I was trolling on CPE, Crawford Performance Engineering website, I came across the Barbarian Chassis made for Wraith axles. I knew right then that I would be building a wraith based Monster Truck.

Why not? My father took me to a local truck jamboree one day back in the mid eighties. There she was, the Awesome Kong II, slowly thundering around the field seeking cars to be destroy. I fell in love with the Monster Trucks that day. Thanks, dad, for the memories.

Anyhow, onto the build. I been gathering parts for the last 2 months, scouring the eBay and the forum.

First up is the chassis. I ordered the Barbarian chassis from CPE along with the Rc4wd Rumbles, Onfa wheels and HPI D1-T Trophy Truck body.

The chassis arrived in the mail already assembled which was nice, but unnecessary. I had to take it apart to drill holes for the battery tray. I used AX10 Scorpion plastic battery tray mount and an aftermarket CF battery plate.

The battery tray mount was a bit too wide. I used an emery board to file approximate one millimeter off each side. The process only took a few minutes.



After the holes was drilled, I assembled the crosses to the side plates using the thread lock adhesive. I left the motor skid and the radio tray alone. These will be thread locked at a later date.



Next is the axle assembly.

I'll be using the aluminum Hot Racing exo differential cases, Axial HD 38/13 rings & pinions gears, and HPI differential bevel gears #86014. Assembling them was a breeze.






I will be keep updating the build thread as I go.

Any questions or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

[Mudsy]

Continuing on the axles build.

The logical next step would be strengthening the axles for oversize tires. The Vanquish Products Stage One Kit and Beeftubes were the answer.




I also had the Vanquish Products VVD Heavy Duty axle shafts and CBRB Ti rear axle shafts installed.

However, I had to shorten up the tang on both front and rear axles shafts to clear the differential bevel pins inside the differential case. I shaved off one millimeter at a time using Dremel with cutoff wheel until it clears.

Almost completed assembled axles.



The long Beeftubes was a bit difficult to install, but figured out quickly the easiest way was using the short tubes as a driver, placing it on top of the long tubes and gently hammer it down until the holes lines perfectly.

[Mudsy]

Added the Dlux Fab front and rear "sporty" Truss/Upper link mount and orange aluminum servo mount.

The spacers I used were from Supershafty. These spacers were used for axial transmission motor mount. They looked a lot better than using the Revo ends hollow balls.



To mount the tires on, I used the MIP-Moores Ideal Products 17mm Hex Adapter kit made for the Slash. It is kit #10115.



Luckily I able to grab the Chaotic Crawler Ti steering link set from one of his final closeout sales. Also mounted was a pair of A.M.F. differential guards affixed with Monster Jam decals.



Mounted onto the front axle is the Protek 350 servo, undecided if I going to use it yet. May switch to a Hitec servo later on.

[allanon1965]

is it me or does the steering servo look like its on the rear differential?

[Mudsy]

Originally Posted by allanon1965

is it me or does the steering servo look like its on the rear differential?

No, perhaps I didn't stage it correctly for photographing the axles. The pumpkins will be on the non-driver's side. Hopefully it'll reduce the torque twist somewhat.

[Mudsy]

Now, I have the Wraith axles built and out of the way. Gathered up goodies for the transmission assembly.

Orange Vanquish Products and DNA a.k.a. BWD motor plate.




Some awesome stuff from Supershafty.com.

Wraith Beefy Top Shaft, 6mm BOMB PROOF outouts (extended) and Hot Racing steel gears, also used the shims from HPI bevel gears kit.




Robinson Racing Gen3 slipper kit with 54T steel spur gear.



Installing gears into the case. Placed a shim from the HPI bevel kit on each side of the output gear to eliminate the play it had. Worked like a charm.



Poser shots of the complete BOMB PROOF built transmission.





With Wraith MIP drive shafts. A pair of MIP #08137 6mm drive hubs and Traxxas 4mm Screw pins (TRA5145) was used to attach to the 6mm extended outputs.



It weights a ton, but sure is Beefy.

[A7000X]

Wow, this looks pretty sweet so far. I can't wait to see what else you do with it.

[tedo]

Damn,
Impressive list of bullet-proof parts so far!Have any idea what rubber you are going to run (Clod or Rumbles)?

[Mudsy]

Originally Posted by tedo

Damn,
Impressive list of bullet-proof parts so far!Have any idea what rubber you are going to run (Clod or Rumbles)?

Thank you, sir. Will be using the rumbles.

[tedo]

Originally Posted by Mudsy

Thank you, sir. Will be using the rumbles.

I run the Rumbles mounted to the Onfa MT wheels (which use a 17mm hex).

Perfect for those hubs you got there.

Just out of curiosity, what were you thinking for wheels?

[Mudsy]

Originally Posted by tedo

I run the Rumbles mounted to the Onfa MT wheels (which use a 17mm hex).

Perfect for those hubs you got there.

Just out of curiosity, what were you thinking for wheels?

I already got those Ofna MT wheels. It was mention my first post.

Ordered these along with the rumbles and the barbarian chassis from CPE.

[tedo]

Originally Posted by Mudsy

I already got those Ofna MT wheels. It was mention my first post.

Ordered these along with the rumbles and the barbarian chassis from CPE.

doh! Face meet palm.

Sorry man for skimming the thread.

Looking forward to the build!

[Mudsy]

Custom Upper Ti links made by Jcplante.

It's Awesome and beefy at 5.5" long and and 1/4" thick with Revo ends.




Also Jcplante Ti lower links, 5.25" long attached to Hot Racing Wraith aluminum lower shock/link mount.



Links mounted onto the axles.




Many thanks to Jcplante for the Ti links.

I will be using these custom Ti links on all my future monster truck builds.

[Mudsy]

Did some researching on the forum and the internet for Shocks that would be suitable for my Wraith MT.

Decided on Pro-Line Power Stroke Shocks #6063-01. It is 102mm eye to eye which is a tick longer than 4", which is perfect length.

The beefy 3.5mm Nitrate coated shock shafts was also another reason why I got these.



Applied liberal coating on the shafts with Slime Green and filling these shocks with Team Losi shock 30wt oil which was the easiest job I ever had working with any shocks.

[axial 4x4 crawler]

If you want total bulletproof axles then you should've gotten the "F.I. Spool" from Lockeduprc, there much more stronger than that HR locker and they don't have any play in the gears. That's what I would've gotten instead of the traditional Hot Racing...

Here's a link to them:
http://www.lockeduprc.com/FI-Spool-_p_282.html

[tedo]

Originally Posted by axial 4x4 crawler

If you want total bulletproof axles then you should've gotten the "F.I. Spool" from Lockeduprc, there much more stronger than that HR locker and they don't have any play in the gears. That's what I would've gotten instead of the traditional Hot Racing...

Here's a link to them:
Locked up RC - FI Spool

Um,
Those diffs are "OPEN". Not locked.

[Mudsy]

Originally Posted by axial 4x4 crawler

If you want total bulletproof axles then you should've gotten the "F.I. Spool" from Lockeduprc, there much more stronger than that HR locker and they don't have any play in the gears. That's what I would've gotten instead of the traditional Hot Racing...



Here's a link to them:

http://www.lockeduprc.com/FI-Spool-_p_282.html

RC monster trucks are traditionally run on open differential gears, so it can drive in tighter radius than it normally does on a locked gear.

[Tgates]

The open diffs will also help save the axle shafts and such from breakage as they will not give the same amount of strain a fully locked drivetrain would

[Mudsy]

Got some free time today. Will try to complete the build today.

In preparing to attach the axles to the chassis, I had to make notches on the sway bar, otherwise the collars will be moved under pressure.

A few minutes with the Dremel and it's cutoff wheel. Did all 4 corners.



Chassis with sway bar links.



With axles and shocks attached.

[Mudsy]

Electronics up next.

Radio Tray as is from CPE.



Drilled radio tray for my CC ESC.



Castle Creation 8th Sidewinder esc/motor combo.



ESC bolted on the tray.



Castle Creation BEC and Receiver Bypass Adapter from CeationFab.



Slit small openings near top of ESC battery wires for BEC to be soldered into.



Castle Creation 6.5mm connectors.



ESC with connectors.



ESC, BEC and Bypass adapter all neatly placed with double sided tape. I really hate rat nest wiring jobs.