SkaldidDog's Wife's Fighter Double Agent "WiFi"

[SkaldidDog]

Great name Jake! Thanks. She'll dig it.

Comp rig, done. Wraith, done. What next?

I've always thought that the Ti/Al "Fighters" were so cool. Like anyone hunting for a classic in great condition I've kept my eyes peeled. One rig always stood out in the back of my mind as a great donor vehicle for a Fighter (Al) build. My man Kevin finally (yet sadly) decided to part with his low mileage, high love rig.







Wheels, tires and shell that came with it are not pictured and will not be used regardless of how really cool they are. New 2" ID deep dish's like mine are on tap. This will be a total rebuild. I'll keep most of the chassis, most of the axles tube components (not the axle shafts themselves), the motors and maybe ESC's. Loosely, the pile on the left (including the links) is toss, the stuff on the right is keep. Will likely use the servo as a wraith backup and haven't decided on the Egressor shocks or a full set of Kyosho velvets that I have.



The most obvious flaw in this axle design is the width. I'll make new tubes to lengthen them and use Berg axles. (Super300 CVD front, my Ti rears). This has to happen before any of the build can proceed for obvious reasons. Upper link mounts may get re-worked too. Maybe not. Gotta preserve the original look for the most part.

For a long time Kevin always wondered why the front motor mesh was weird. Look how out of flat the front motor plate was cut. Wow. The motor sits at an angle and actually touches the shaft on the right. Nuts. That plate is going in the trash.



Thanks Rob for a set of your super skidz!



Thanks YTC for my DA cabs!



Since this is my wife's rig the color will be red. She likes red.

I'll put a whole lot of time and love into your rig Kevin. If we ever attend the same comp I'll bring it for you to drive. It's a classic that I want to improve upon and I feel a responsibility to preserve such a low mileage example. It'll never get a lot of miles on my watch due to the fact that once the front trans case wears through the rig is toast. That's why it's my wife's rig. She'll be gentle on it. In the end it could become a wicked ass shelf queen for the occasional drive. Not a terrible fate for one of the coolest Berg based 2.2 Pro rigs ever produced.

Thanks a ton Kevin.

Comments and suggestions welcome. Please no requests for parts on the left pile.

J

[chicklet]

Cool! I have fondled that truck once or twice lol

Glad to see your Wifey getting into crawlers. Has she ever comped before?

[SkaldidDog]

Originally Posted by chicklet

Cool! I have fondled that truck once or twice lol

Glad to see your Wifey getting into crawlers. Has she ever comped before?

No she hasn't. She'll likely never get too serious about it but we can play from time to time. If she does get serious, her rig will not hold her back.

J

[Diamond D]

Looking forward to the progress on this build.

If you ever need any chubs for the front I have some spares laying around.

[SkaldidDog]

Originally Posted by Diamond D

Looking forward to the progress on this build.

If you ever need any chubs for the front I have some spares laying around.

Awesome! Thanks a bunch. Any idea of the thread/pitch on the tubes?

J

[Bc Paints]

Subbed, always wanted a pair of these axles, I'll live vicariously though your build

[Zarizi Tech]

Subscribed as well! Whatever thread you start, it's an instant hit. This should be cool! We need female class for next years Worlds.

[Frankenwheely]

I was curious if you were going to do a build thread. You know I have parts and 2 hands if you need help. (Probably not) I'm just a phone call and hamburger away.

[Diamond D]

Originally Posted by SkaldidDog

Awesome! Thanks a bunch. Any idea of the thread/pitch on the tubes?

J

Yup they are .5mm threads on a .375" diameter tube.

[SDheavymetal]

I saw these axles at our last comp. Very well made axles. I saw these axles for
sale a couple of gears ago. They look better in person with all kinds of crazy adjustments. Those skid plates are cool looking too.

[rob_b]

I could subscribe without posting but were's the fun in that?

Love that the first order of business is a full tear down even if it is destined to be a shelf'ish queen. I know my top shelf would have blown away a number of times if my truck wasn't there to hold it down.

[SkaldidDog]

Originally Posted by Diamond D

Yup they are .5mm threads on a .375" diameter tube.

Gracias compadre.

Originally Posted by Bc Paints

Subbed, always wanted a pair of these axles, I'll live vicariously though your build

Enjoy.

Originally Posted by Zarizi Tech

Subscribed as well! Whatever thread you start, it's an instant hit. This should be cool! We need female class for next years Worlds.

Thanks Samu. I'll see if I can get her ready for Worlds. The wife that is.

Originally Posted by Frankenwheely

I was curious if you were going to do a build thread. You know I have parts and 2 hands if you need help. (Probably not) I'm just a phone call and hamburger away.

mmmmmmburgerzmmmmmm.

Originally Posted by rob_b

I could subscribe without posting but were's the fun in that?

Love that the first order of business is a full tear down even if it is destined to be a shelf'ish queen. I know my top shelf would have blown away a number of times if my truck wasn't there to hold it down.

Gotta make sure I'm not building a house of cards. Did the PHX to Flagstaff drive last weekend. Awesome drive. I'll do it many times over the next four years.

J

[TEDROCKZ]

Sweet score for sure. Kevin took good care of that rig. Lots of great parts and pieces in that ride.

[House]

Dang Joel, Fighters are "classics" already? I don't even have mine built yet...!
Does that make me OLD, a PROCRASTINATOR, or a HOARDER?

[SkaldidDog]

Originally Posted by TEDROCKZ

Sweet score for sure. Kevin took good care of that rig. Lots of great parts and pieces in that ride.

Yes he did. Hopefully he'll get a chance to comp with it when I'm done with the build.

Originally Posted by House

Dang Joel, Fighters are "classics" already? I don't even have mine built yet...!
Does that make me OLD, a PROCRASTINATOR, or a HOARDER?

They are classics now. You are a Proldcrastinoarder.

J

[winnerone23]

Originally Posted by SkaldidDog

You are a Proldcrastinoarder.

J

[SDheavymetal]

You need to make a dictionary of of your terms.

I was at a comp one time and Joel said "Ape hang that bitch" I was like WTF does that mean? He wanted me to ride the truck with one wheel on a ledge. The words he makes up or phrase's are so funny.

[Highlucks]

Great score and you will only make this great rig better.

I am just going to leave this here.
2015 CrawlANZ Nationals

[SkaldidDog]

Originally Posted by Diamond D

Yup they are .5mm threads on a .375" diameter tube.

Any idea of the tool tip angle that was used to cut these threads? I'm trying to identify the correct cutting tool.

Also, am I correct to assume the rear axle bearing retainers just screw onto the axles tubes?

Originally Posted by Highlucks

Great score and you will only make this great rig better.

I am just going to leave this here.
2015 CrawlANZ Nationals

Thanks for the reminder Camo'. Hope y'all are doing well.

J

[Diamond D]

[QUOTE=SkaldidDog;4926678]Any idea of the tool tip angle that was used to cut these threads? I'm trying to identify the correct cutting tool.

Also, am I correct to assume the rear axle bearing retainers just screw onto the axles tubes?



The tool tip angle was 60deg.

And yes the bearing retainers just screw in to the axle tubes. They just bottom out.