A 1:6th scale '41 Willys build...

[BONDONUTZ]

I just read the whole thread, your build is amazing. The tools and parts you made really have shown your fabbing skills, excellent work.

[BigSki]

I've been using the Axial steel upgrade outputs for a few years, the trans used to be in a comp rig before it was robbed for the orange Jeep. Either way is a great upgrade.

[Big Mike]

Originally Posted by BONDONUTZ

I just read the whole thread, your build is amazing. The tools and parts you made really have shown your fabbing skills, excellent work.

Thanks man I appreciate it.

For God's sake Ginger...



There's just not a whole lot of material there is there? No wonder they snap like a stale pretzel.

Well we've got the cure for weak stock parts and a certain young lady's heavy right foot - Robinson Racing to the rescue...



Ahhhh, steel That looks proper. Slathered up and ready for action...



And that's that. Reverse procedure to reassemble...



Sooooooo... What's next to fail?? The only plastic part remaining in the entire drivetrain is the spur gear. It's not really under a ton of torque like the rest of the stuff I've been breaking, but I suppose I should just carry the "all metal" theme right to the hilt right? And a black anodized aluminum spur gear would be more attractive...

[Big Mike]

Outdrive snappin' mama. This is how easy the stock aluminum outdrive fails...

http://s1106.photobucket.com/albums/h378/Mike_Corvin/?action=view¤t=MOV01079.mp4

A slight bind between two rocks, try to gently back out and straighten her up and "POP" that's that...

[Tommy R]

Oh man, I hate that noise!

[Fumbles]

What's the servo in the engine compt on the pax side ?

Awesome rig - love the name 'Ginger'. Ever see the South Park episode on ginger kids?

[Big Mike]

Originally Posted by RunsWithScissors

What's the servo in the engine compt on the pax side ?

Awesome rig - love the name 'Ginger'. Ever see the South Park episode on ginger kids?

Oh yea, just saw it again last week

When I first assembled her she reminded me of Ginger from Gilligan's Island, so her name just sort of happened naturally.

The servo you see turns the steering wheel shaft via a drag link behind the dash. The servo is slaved to the main steering servo with a "Y" harness. So when I steer the front wheels with the TX, the slave servo turns the steering wheel and makes it look like Ginger is steering. A pretty common G.I. Joe Jeep modification, most all of us have done it one way or another. I had hidden a micro behind the dash, but kept stripping gears so I went to a Hi-Tec 645MG mini. Probably overkill this time, but it works and doesn't intrude into the engine bay too terribly...

[Grizzly4x4]

That looks so cool with Ginger working the steering wheel.

I've had great luck with the Robinson steel gears in Guido and have not broke one in several years of TTC action.
I've seen one break, but only when Pat was getting crazy with a 10T Puller on 4S.

[Big Mike]

It's finally summer again (sort of - I had frost on my car this morning!) so I've been feeling the need to fix Ol' Blue. Yesterday I got off my butt and got it done.

After replacing the trans gears the next weak link was the home-modified axles. This happened last fall, then the appearance of the Twin Hammers put Ol' Blue on the back burner for a minute...



You can see the twist in the old axle on top. I should've got a pic of the other side, it twisted to the point of failure.

Bottom is a "new" unit using slightly larger steel tubing. Should be ok for a while. Ol' Blue rides again! Ginger is stoked she's ready to go trail running after sitting under the workbench all winter...

[BigSki]

Carnage!

We need to go for a trail run back at Gambrills.

[Big Mike]

Originally Posted by BigSki

Carnage!

We need to go for a trail run back at Gambrills.

That's what I was thinking - Black Trail at Gambrill. Maybe shoot some video.

Reminds me I need to purchase a new camera battery charger...

I'm looking at your orange Jeep with the lights on, and it got me thinking about the LED set I have sitting around from a drift car. I should install that in Ol' Blue instead, she needs some lights...

[BigSki]

I've been farting around w/ a prototype CJ2A/3A grill that I got from a vendor for these Jeeps, the project has been dragging for almost a year. I'm so disgusted with the complete lack of progress that I'm modding the prototype to fit properly then getting it digitized by someone I know so that I can shop the file around and have a small batch made up.

Digi-key corp. has some really nice optical lenses that will make great headlight lenses, I have a set in the orange Jeep in the avatar pic.

[Big Mike]

I want to change Blue's grill to a more modern design (late 40's early 50's CJ) I've just been too lazy to try it...

Wow Digi Key has a pretty vast inventory. You don't remember a part # or anything do you?

[truckbob]

Originally Posted by Big Mike

That's what I was thinking - Black Trail at Gambrill. Maybe shoot some video.

Reminds me I need to purchase a new camera battery charger...

I'm looking at your orange Jeep with the lights on, and it got me thinking about the LED set I have sitting around from a drift car. I should install that in Ol' Blue instead, she needs some lights...

My Willys is up and running.Need some company at Gambrill....or my house is always open

[Big Mike]

Originally Posted by truckbob

My Willys is up and running.Need some company at Gambrill....or my house is always open

You mean Whitehall as in VA/WVA border?

You ever been to the top of Shawneeland just west of Winchester? That is another fun spot...

[BigSki]

Bob lives near the PA/MD border, the ravine on his property is nothing short of amazing for scale terrain. My rig is ready for an outing before it gets too stinking humid to enjoy being outside, how does the weekend after Memorial day look for you for a trip to Gambrills?