El Nino 2 Prototype Hits the scene...
 

I have run the original El Nino for quite some time, first with an axial rig and then with the Berg. It has been one of the best chassis i have personally used and now im glad to say im here to test and show off one of the first El Nino 2's.
There were a few changes that i noticed right off that i really liked. The chassis itself is a full 1/4 taller for a little more shock travel. The skid is a little bit shorter and is 45mm inside width for use of an axial standoff. The skid now raps under the chassis and is channeled in the center for maximum clearance.
I cant wait to get this build up and running to see just how well the new El Nino 2 Performs.

Specs of my build:
Enroute Berg axles...front clocked 20, rear w/ fubar lockouts, axial stub shafts, tamiya locking Hexes
2 40t Holmes hanwounds
jr ds8711
CC BEC
Punk Rc Dig
Tekin FXR
Losi Crawler shocks
Mayhem UCW wheels... Aluminum 5/8 supports up front, delrin 5/8 supports in rear
Panther Cougar tires w/ stock mems (possibly will try Lepords)


Here are a few Starter pics so far. Will Update as it advances....

http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/o.../newbuild1.jpg
http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/o.../newbuild2.jpg
http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/o.../newbuild3.jpg
http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/o.../newbuild4.jpg
http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/o.../newbuild5.jpg
http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/o.../newbuild6.jpg
http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/o.../newbuild7.jpg

ti versions???
 

ant titanium versions in the works...

Looks killer boost! Is this the secret you Tuna boys are talking about?

I don't think so. The cost is too high and there was really no strength benifit. This new niño 2 is designed with strength in mind and I'll be the first to say it's ten times stronger than the ti chassis I once ran and broke.

Thanks. No secret. Just an untested but exciting new set up tuna can't wait to try.

Looks good man.
I will be starting on mine this afternoon!

Building up a new berg with this chassis, I'm super excited.

looks sweet and simple....nice job dudes...8)

I'm thinking I would bevel the edges of the skid so if you need to move side ways while crawling a ledge or something the sharp 90* does not cause any hang-up.

it's hard to notice from the picture but it's actually all rounded up. Plus the channel is less than an 1/8 inch deep. I don't think it will be too much of a problem.

Looks killer boost!"thumbsup"

can't wait to see it finished!
I know all your builds are always very clean and well thought out!"thumbsup"

and I hope to see more NiNo 2's on the rocks soon!:mrgreen:

You got my number :mrgreen: "thumbsup"

Well i picked up a set of the new Panther Leopards. Since i was tearing down my wheels i will post up some pics to show you the wheel im running.
They are the Mayhem UCW wheel. All four are aluminum but the rears have the 5/8 delrin supports and the fronts have the 1/2 aluminum supports with stick on weights all around it for added weight.
http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/o.../newbuild8.jpg

Pic of the new tires installed
http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/o.../newbuild9.jpg

Here are few shots the chassis mounted up with links and axles. I will provide lengths and types of links with product numbers once i am positive they are the ones i will use. I am currently just fabbing it up.
http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/o...newbuild10.jpg
http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/o...newbuild11.jpg

Looking good. Whats ride hight going to be.

I'm planning on putting it at 2 1/4-2 1/2. That's where we run it out here in Utah.

So i have it all up as a roller....Im extremely satisfied with all my links and measurements. With the nino 2 i have noticed i get much more use out of my losi shocks over the old nino....

Shocks:
Fronts i put a half of a tcs internal medium spring inside with 30wt oil with a red outer spring. For the rear i put about a 1/2" fuel tubing limiter inside then put 60 wt oil. I like my rear tight so it will track nicely.

For my front lower links i used a Losi turnbuckle (part #losb4001) and put a Traxxas long rod end on one side (part #TRA5525) and a short rod end on the other side (part #TRA5468.) then i adjusted them in so it measured 4 5/8" eye-to-eye. I have used these links before as you will notice from the picture and they have never seemed to be an issue with sliding over and sort of surface.

For my rear lower links i was originally going to just run the Losi turnbuckles again but decided to go with some bent links. So i started off with some STRC aluminum bent links (part#STA30445) and cut them down and re-drilled and tapped them with 4mm studs for strength. I then used the shorter Traxxas rod end on both sides and it finished measurement at 4 5/8" just like the front.

The upper links were extremely easy. I bought the Traxxas 61mm turnbuckles (part #TRA5538.) with the longer ball ends included and I adjusted the fronts to be 3 3/4" E-T-E and the rears to 3 7/8" E-T-E. I used 1mm spacers on the chassis in the rear to make it just a little bit wider to fit my dig unit in at a later date.
I am happy with my motor angles, steering castor link geometry and ride height. Its sitting just under 2 1/2" and it can compress down to 1 3/4" and can droop out to 3 3/8". With just a little longer spring and some slight shock adjustment it could be a much higher belly clearance(for you east coast guys).

Well on with some pictures:

http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/o...newbuild12.jpg
http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/o...newbuild13.jpg
http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/o...newbuild14.jpg
http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/o...newbuild15.jpg

I dont like it:|...

But the tires look great "thumbsup"

Um....ok :flipoff::flipoff:

These tires make the old cougars look good...haha
Panther sure doesn't want to win a beauty contests any time soon...its just too bad they works so good...

foams?
 

so what cha runnin for foams with your ucw's

Its coming along nicely, what made you decide to use reds up front?

:lol:

I think they are better looking than the Cougars but thats not saying much...:lol:

Okay ill admit, it looks nice"thumbsup"

EDIT-Its ALOT better looking than Mac's :lol:

k9=asshole!!!:mrgreen: hahaha

looks good boost, guess I better get building on mine now!"thumbsup"