BadWagon Builds a Pile of Junk

[BadWagon]

Ever see a project that just seems to float around the for sale sections of the various RC forums and it you want it, but never pull the trigger? It just keeps popping up for a little less cash each time, staying in your brain, teasing you, calling to you, begging to be finished?

Well this little sucker is one of those. I'm sure y'all have seen it and thought "it could be cool, or a complete shamble". I couldn't resist and ended up snagging the (incorrectly titled) "birth of a cruiser".

It showed up at the PickleFork like this.





It's a leaf sprung chassis built by Mattzilla replicating this 1:1 Toyota based rig.



Yep that's the one. The original builder (not the guy I bought it from) referred to it as a "birth of a cruiser" which is the title of the thread on pirate 4x4 which is actually the death of this rig.

This rig's pirate 4x4 thread is titled "My Pile of Junk Progress" ( https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?url...7&share_type=t )

So that is what I intend to build: a really sick pile of junk.

The chassis is very well constructed, as we'd expect from MZ. Having read the original build thread I have ideas for how to deal with most of the hurdles.

First tires: RC4WD 1.7 sipped boggers

Yes I know, wrong type of tire. But I didn't want to go to a 1.9 rim, and I am going to take a few creative liberties with this build, as if it didn't get chopped up and still exists. Besides, y'all know me, I'll most likely have more than one set for this truck.



That's a little low





Better, closer, warmer.

Time to raid the parts bins.

Ok, at this point I learned something, bruisers (which this is based on) have a wider rear than a TF2, and the standard yota rear axle isn't ideal.

After a panicked message to 1BJB he pointed me to toward RC4WD for a bruiseruptor rear axle which is on the way.

Now back to mock up...



Borrowing a set of 1.9s from the truggy and popping the yota axles under it and we're looking pretty good.





This chassis is difficult to photograph and have it look as good as it does in person. When it's in front of you, it's stunning. Somehow it's just tough to capture it.

Anyway here's a few other angles.







So before the chassis arrives we have Black Friday and I can't help myself. PayPal is stacked with credits from recent sales so I might as well knock off some of the big ticket items. Actually the two which I know I need to even begin this build. The wheels and the trans.

The 1:1 has very limited sheet metal, and is very exposed.



So of course you know what I needed...



Yes sir, the SSD trans. Now if it hadn't been for the Black Friday deal at RPP I would've gone with tbt GCM version. I'm sure I'll end up there but this will get me going.

Oh yeah the wheels...



Had to go with the RC4WD 1.7 Mickey Thompson. Love these wheels. I'll most likely have these powder coated/painted flat black to look like the 1:1.

I love how they look raw though.



Of course you've gotta throw the trans in there and see how it looks!





Oh yeah that's a good step in the right direction!

Ok that's where I am so far. My plan is to make it run, stop and turn; then I'll worry about the rest of it.

I've got a solid plan for the battery. Looks like a 3S 3000mah Helios RC pack will fit and be hidden with relative ease.

Mike has pointed me in the right direction regarding steering so hopefully this will move forward quicker than the truggy did.

Hope y'all dig it!

[joe122]

NOT JUNK! Total awesomeness! Bad ass chassis right there!

[RcBro]

very good start! I got my taco time chassis much like your story!

[Constant Threat]

Subbed

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[rustneversleeps]

Very nice so far.I like that your using scale nuts and bolts....
Going to look awesome once done.

What kit did rob the shackle and mounts from....
I'm in need of some..

[Constant Threat]

And then...

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[BadWagon]

Originally Posted by Constant Threat

Subbed

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Originally Posted by Constant Threat

And then...

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

Sorry for the delay, update below.

Originally Posted by rustneversleeps

Very nice so far.I like that your using scale nuts and bolts....
Going to look awesome once done.

What kit did rob the shackle and mounts from....
I'm in need of some..

They are bruiser hangers and swing mounts. I also have switched over to Chino's Mil wrapped leaf springs.

Originally Posted by joe122

NOT JUNK! Total awesomeness! Bad ass chassis right there!

Kinda junk. Lol.

Originally Posted by RcBro

very good start! I got my taco time chassis much like your story!

That's a badass chassis!

-- UPDATE --

So after studying the pics of the 1:1, and then seeing Toykid's new grille for the Proline SR5 cab I knew which route I wanted to try for the flimsy sheetmetal... So I ordered a SR5 cab.



You can see how flimsy the fenders are on the 1:1





So what do we do with new parts? Chop them up!!





I'm going to have to section the hood to have it all fit properly, but I'll wait until I have the grille to do that. FYI the 1:1 has a sectioned hood as well.

I also installed the motor into the trans.



I then played with some steering servo mounting locations... anybody have a reason why I shouldn't cut this part and mount it here?



I know that some have mounted the servo under that cross brace but I'm not sure I want it showing so much out the front.

Any input on bruiser steering, mods or even better remote steering servo locations, etc is welcome.

I added some scale hardware from LockedUp and snapped some pics for fun.







I almost forgot... I got the bruiseruptor axle installed and added some hardware while I was at it. Soooooooo sexy.



Couple of glamor shots of the wheels and tires. I just couldn't resist.





Sorry for the delay, I just wanted to have a real update for ya. I've got a Knight Customs new SR5 grille for this rig but I haven't had time to mock it up.

Soon...

Cheers!!!

[Constant Threat]

Your all good did you get any snow down your way? And great choice going with that knight customs grille I know that will be spot on when all is said and done.

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[hillbillyrc]

Man what a pile of awesomeness, and I don't like Toyota much but when I see a nice one well keep it up looks great

[BadWagon]

Originally Posted by hillbillyrc

Man what a pile of awesomeness, and I don't like Toyota much but when I see a nice one well keep it up looks great

Thanks man. I'm digging it. This rig should be a good one once it's done. I think I have the steering figured out (in theory) so we'll see. After that it should be downhill.

Originally Posted by Constant Threat

Your all good did you get any snow down your way? And great choice going with that knight customs grille I know that will be spot on when all is said and done.

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We got a dusting, nothing major. Seems like everyone around us got so much more than we did. Oh well.

I'm hoping I'll have time tomorrow to mod the grille to fit perfectly. It's close, but is gonna require some love.

Did y'all get hit with any snow?

[texjpr]

Nice looking rig man, love that tube work.

[Constant Threat]

Yeah we got about 8" up here in south asheville

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[1beatjeep]

any update on this?

[fr8cture]

DO it! Someones gotta build this thing...

[easleycrawler]

Looks good. But you'd think that with all the trans and t case builders, they'd make a passenger side drop. Driver drop on passenger drop axles just ain't right.

[BadWagon]

Originally Posted by fr8cture

DO it! Someones gotta build this thing...

Originally Posted by 1beatjeep

any update on this?

I'm working on it.

I got caught up banging out a build for the ProLine Ambush Build Off on the SBG. Took 2nd place by 1 point. Not too shabby for a quick build.

Originally Posted by easleycrawler

Looks good. But you'd think that with all the trans and t case builders, they'd make a passenger side drop. Driver drop on passenger drop axles just ain't right.

GCM does. You can flip their tcase to either side. This rig may end up with that trans.

I have messed with this truck a bit but no real progress. I got the Knights customs grille and narrowed it a bit, and also cut up the SR5 body.

However there are some issues which need to be addressed before I can really get moving. I'm learning to braze so I can make some changes.

Instead of learning on this beautiful chassis I'm practicing on my truggy (which I did an ok job on repairing the cage) and my C1 YJ build.

I also need to make mounts which will actually hold the trans. Right now it's only bolted in on one side up front, and nothing by the Tcase.

This build will be completed. I promise that it won't get punted. I am focused on the YJ right now, but this rig will be front and center shortly.

[LamChop]

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[Lentsnh2012]

I’m glad another respected member bought this thing with the possibility of making it come alive. It deserves it. I’m the original owner that gave Mattzilla the challenge. He went wayyyy above and beyond to make this chassis look as close as possible. Only thing I added in were the shock mounts and some of the scale accessories. I also had built narrowed Wraith axles with metal tubes and leaf spring perched but I don’t know where those went off to.

As far as the title, this project started maybe late 2015-2016? And at the time on Pirate, it was named “Birth of a Cruiser”. Haven’t followed up on the thread to see that he renamed it. If you need any questions answered, let me know!

** On the steering, the two holes that were drilled into the front plate were to accept servo mounts. Any standard servi can tuck up out of the way underneath that front plate.