How to make your own scale chassis.

[lonleycreeper]

This is open to anyone.
Here to help, I have built a few chassis and have found a easy way to make your own durable chassis that suits the Wk/Ck trans and stock shocks. For about $20 in materials.

The key is Walmart cutting board. It comes in 1\4" thicknesses, and anywhere from 8x10" $3or less to 12x18" $15 or less. I use a jig saw to cut, with a fine cut wood blade. As long as the blade doesn't get to hot it cuts beautifully. A 6" framing square to keep everything square, a fine tip sharpie to draw on the cutting board, and a steel ruler. I use #4 sheet metal screws to hold everything together(lowes). A 1\16", 1\8", and 3\16"drill bits.

The problem with the stock chassis is the belly clearance is dismal and the tq twist is pretty bad to. I am going to try to reduce the issues and share it here, while keeping scale appearances. I also would like to show multiple materials to build with.

BTW post 1200

[lonleycreeper]

Step 1...

Draw a pattern on some heavy paper or cardboard, I chose cardboard:-) . 14" long, top of shock tower is 4", frame thickness is 1\2".


Next is to cut the pattern out...

[Winx6T9]

So much more room! I'd love to see pics of your WK with that custom chassis.

[Rubiclod]

Good idea, I been thinkin about making a chassis for my Crawler King also....you gonna run stock ck/wk tranny?

[lonleycreeper]

Yup planning on it, looking for another pair of axles though. The current wk's are under this...

I have noticed lately a bunch of people are looking for inexpensive scale type chassis, so trying to help out with easy everyday stuff.

Great thing about making your own chassis it it can be anything you want.
I picked up a 11x14 cutting board today for $7 it should allow all cross members and the frame rails to be cut with some left over, at this price anyone can afford multiple chassis.

[lonleycreeper]

Got the rails cut, next the cross members.

Good news is a savage body fits easily you can even bolt the body to the top of the shock towers. I picked up a Hpi Wrangler body for $25 @ the lhs. The bronco body and Defender body should have the same body mounts.

[lonleycreeper]

I copied a scx skid... Cut cross members, and mounted the trans laid down. Chassis is completed, next up links/mounts.[/URL[URL=http://s1240.photobucket.com/user/4x4lover4499/media/Metal%20King/IMG_20140202_172917_zpsilozxn44.jpg.html][/URL

[Rubiclod]

Nice work on laying the tranny on its side, the motor on the right hand side should help with torque twist also, I run the rc4wd steel gears internal in mine and kept the plastic spur because of the weight resistance....I'm gonna keep watching your build!!!

[lonleycreeper]

Originally Posted by Rubiclod

Nice work on laying the tranny on its side, the motor on the right hand side should help with torque twist also, I run the rc4wd steel gears internal in mine and kept the plastic spur because of the weight resistance....I'm gonna keep watching your build!!!

I did the mod 1 gear swap on the top 2 gears in this trans myself, kinda have to, the plastic replacement gears are really weak. I like using the plastic spur as a weak link in the drive train.
I realized this morning I didn't show how the chassis went together.

Once the frame rails are cut and all the cross members are cut, it is time to pull out your 1/8" drill bit and drill.
Mark holes along the chassis plates and drill the screw holes out being careful to keep them straight.

Next mark the holes to be drilled on the cross members, a standard sharpie wont work:-( as it does not reach through the small hole. If you lay the 2 pieces at a 90°angle to each other it is pretty easy to keep every thing straight using the 1\16" bit drill those out.

I used #4x3/4" countersink wood screws a 100 pack at Lowes was $4.58, sheet metal button heads work good to. 1\2" is good for sheet metal into plastic and 3\4" plastic into plastic.

[lonleycreeper]

Using the same techniques I cut version 2 frame rails. Top of the shock towers to bottom of the frame is 3" even. I picked up a 18" long cutting board for $10, it is enough to do 2 sets of rails and probably still enough to do all the cross members
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[road_rascal]

Looking good! What body is that?

[lonleycreeper]

Originally Posted by road_rascal

Looking good! What body is that?

Thanks man, its a Savage sized Hpi Jeep Tj, aka stock Crawler King body.:-)

[rc2008]

both look good, it makes me wish I had another wk or ck to tear apart and build my own. a while back I did a scx10/ck hybrid but it this way looks like more fun and cheaper.

[sagoober]

Very cool. I'll b