Soze finally joins the Venture gang!

[soze]

When the HPI Venture was announced as a FJ Cruiser, I was interested. So I waited... and waited... and waited. By the time it came out, I still waited. They announced the SBK, so I decided to wait some more.

Finally over the holidays, they dropped the RTR price and combined with the ebay Coupons, it made more sense for me to pick up the RTR since I wanted the FJ body. Adding all the parts for the FJ body on top of the SBK came out to almost the same price as the RTR. (Until they recently dropped the SBK price).



My build of this truck on Youtube

These are the list of things for this build. I've added the links to find them on eBay.

Build Details:
HPI Venture FJ Cruiser RTR


Parts:
HPI Venture Front Universal Drive Shaft
SSD RC Venture Aluminum C-Hub
SSD RC Venture Brass Knuckles


Electronics:
DS Servo DS3218 20kg
Hobbywing Quicrun WP-1080 Esc

Tools:
Associated 1656 FT 1/4 in Driver Handle
DEWALT DCF610S2R 12V MAX Cordless Lithium-Ion 1/4 in. Hex Chuck Screwdriver Kit
MIP Metric Speed Tip Set MIP9512
ProTek RC Shock Pliers (available on eBay)
Duratrax Shock stand
Bob Smith Industries Blue Thread locker (available on eBay)
Permatex Anti Seize Lubricant (ebay)
Multistar Rubber R/C Work mat

[soze]

Upgrade of CVDs, Steering Servo, Brass Knuckles, Aluminum C-Hubs

Parts:
HPI Venture Front Universal Drive Shaft
SSD RC Venture Aluminum C-Hub
SSD RC Venture Brass Knuckles
DS Servo DS3218 20kg
Hobbywing Quicrun WP-1080 Esc


Purchased the HPI Venture CVDs as soon as they were released.




Time to swap the servo. One side of the servo ears are blocked off by the bumper mount.




JatoTheRipper removed the whole tray on his to get to the servo, but you actually only really need to remove the front bumper assembly.




I only had a low profile servo on hand, and it was hitting the chassis when turning right. I had to temporarily space out the DS3218 servo (available on eBay) for more clearance until I get a suitable servo horn.








While I'm at it... yep, there's plenty of grease in the axle.




SSD Aluminum C-Hubs for the Venture (available on eBay)




Aluminum C-Hubs mounted




HPI CVDs for Venture (available on eBay)




CVDs assembled with Permatex Anti-Seize Lubricant (available on eBay)




SSD Brass Knuckles for the Venture (available on eBay)




These brass knuckles look so nice!




Knuckles mounted






Both sides mounted

[mikemcE]

I like the way you did that. I was intrigued by the SBK and would have if it wasn’t delayed again. I want to see how this one works for you , as your list was almost exactly the same as mine!


Hang up and Drive

[carpetfuzz17]

Nice job. What you have done is some of the same stuff I have in mind. I am holding out for the SBK. I really like putting the kits together and making it my own by changing stuff. I have a couple ideas just have to get one once they are released

[JatoTheRipper]

YES!!! I'm happy to finally see your build.

[soze]

Originally Posted by carpetfuzz17

Nice job. What you have done is some of the same stuff I have in mind. I am holding out for the SBK. I really like putting the kits together and making it my own by changing stuff. I have a couple ideas just have to get one once they are released

Honestly, I would rather have built a kit as well. I couldn't let those ebay coupons go to waste though. Just bad timing on release of the SBK.

[carpetfuzz17]

The one thing you didn't list was tires in your build list. I am not up to date on what tire that. I know it's not stock. It appears to be on the large side but can't really tell. Also do you have a picture with body over those tires? Just trying to get ideas on tire sizes with the body

[soze]

Originally Posted by carpetfuzz17

The one thing you didn't list was tires in your build list. I am not up to date on what tire that. I know it's not stock. It appears to be on the large side but can't really tell. Also do you have a picture with body over those tires? Just trying to get ideas on tire sizes with the body

Not there yet! lol. I just threw on a set of wheels and tires to show the steering angle. That set is the one I use on my SCX10.2. They're too big for the Venture body.

[carpetfuzz17]

Originally Posted by soze

Not there yet! lol. I just threw on a set of wheels and tires to show the steering angle. That set is the one I use on my SCX10.2. They're too big for the Venture body.

Thanks for the info. They do look large. I didn't think that they would work. What tire is it? Looks like it would work on something else I have.

[soze]

Originally Posted by carpetfuzz17

Thanks for the info. They do look large. I didn't think that they would work. What tire is it? Looks like it would work on something else I have.

Pro-Line BFG Krawler G8 4.75" - https://ebay.to/2U5NkrW

They're one of my favorite tires. Really capable.

[Natedog]

Nice setup, are the SSD brass steering knuckles made properly? The ones for the Ascender had to be shimmed with a flat washer to keep the vertical slop to a reasonable amount. Glad HPI is getting the CVDs out finally.

[soze]

Originally Posted by Natedog

Nice setup, are the SSD brass steering knuckles made properly? The ones for the Ascender had to be shimmed with a flat washer to keep the vertical slop to a reasonable amount. Glad HPI is getting the CVDs out finally.

Are you talking about in relation to the C-Hub? If you are, I'm using SSD C-Hubs as well, and with the stock plastic bushings... it's a real tight fit. I actually think it's too tight and doesn't allow the knuckle to swing freely. I'm trying to find metal bushings that'll fit to hopefully alleviate that, since I don't want the screws for that to be loosened too much.

[soze]

So I got these stainless steel links off of ebay by Crawler Central for the HPI Venture.

Crawler Central Stainless Steel Linkage Set for HPI Venture FJ Cruiser


Here is the link kit I bought






Crawler Central branding etched onto the links




The links use Traxxas straight & angled rod-ends.




This is that unique rear upper y-link setup




The RTR comes with the part to convert to 4-link. I could not for the life of me find a provided screw and m3 nut to use with it though. So I just grabbed some from my parts box for another truck.






I didn't thread the rod-ends flush with the larger diameter portion of the links. I had to leave a slight gap. I discovered when I did that the wheelbase got shortened slightly which also made both ends of the drive-shafts fully hit each other at full compression. I think this is due to the Traxxas rod-ends being much thicker with the actual eye of the rod-end being in a different spot than the stock plastic ones.




Suspension links all installed.




I decided to skip the installation of the steering and panhard links. They look cool, but they're much thicker than the stock links and will hit things upon compression. The stock links are already metal linkages, so I have no problem with the way they are.

[HumboldtEF]

Nice I've been wondering where to find links, its a shame some of the bigger players dont have simple link kits for the Venture.

[johnnyluv]

I think I have the same lower links, and they’re nice and heavy. Combined with the SSD brass knuckles, and metal beadlock wheels, the Venture is stout! My backyard is essentially an uncut meadow, because the previous owners let it go an entire season without cutting, and my Venture navigates it like a boat. Funny to watch it drive through the waves of spongy grass, without rolling over! That could change once I upgrade to the CVD’s, though, and make tighter turns. :P

[soze]

Trying some options out.

Pro-Line Class 1 BF Goodrich KM3 (ebay)




Pitbull Rock Beast 1.9 PB9003NK (ebay)




The KM3s of course do not rub being a Class 1 tire at 4.2" tall.

The Rock Beasts are 4.5" Tall and rub, so it would require trimming.

I'll also post photos up of the 4.45" Boom Racing Hustlers (original release). They are just about the exact same size as the stock tires, so I'll post pictures of that shortly. I'm just waiting on backordered CI foams for them right now. The original foams were crappy.

[smog]

The gunmetal contenders are sweet and an era correct TRD wheel. With Rock Beasts FTW!

[2mtech]

Originally Posted by smog

The gunmetal contenders are sweet and an era correct TRD wheel. With Rock Beasts FTW!

+1

[carpetfuzz17]

I would definitely be going with the rock beasts.

Watched a video last night with them on a Venture and went through all types of terrain and water with no problems

[Rcdood]

The SSD/Pittbull combo looks really good.

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