My BWD Mini Wedge Pro build thread

[neiloid1]

Originally Posted by BasherSam66

AWesome build, you've inspired me to go for it on my MRC..
I've done all the basic(cut batt tray,relocated and flipped shocks etc..
but i went with an Integy tuber as i like the look alittle more then the stock body..newbie ethusiasm rekindled ,much thanx mate!

Thank you. I'm glad you've found it of use so far. More to follow.

[neiloid1]

A night of mixed emotions. Some bits went better than expected whilst other bit were really frustrating.

My goal was to beef up the rear end further. Other have said about shimming the diff and there was play there so I put one shim on each of the out side of the out drive bearing and this did the trick. I then nut and bolted the axle case to clamp the case better, the nut is prevented from turning whilst tightening by being butted up against the diff case. Lucky, as it's a mighty small nut and I ain't got a 2mm driver.

I then drilled the stock BWD delrin chassis brace to accept the stock MRC body mount vertically. This was drilled to 2mm and the fit was great. I was going to, and still might drill it to 3mm and use Axial plastic body mounts but these will do for now. So far so good.

But then the frustrations. I wanted to outboard the rear shocks and I also wanted them further out from the chassis to keep the shocks at 90% to the axle, or as close as I could get so I bought 25mm M3 bolts and put a lock nut behind the spacer - great. Then I bolted both sides into an 18mm Hot Racing threaded aluminium spacer. All very neat, but then I came to outboard the shocks at the axle but there was no room as the single piece rear axle shroud prevented this....

So I took the shocks off again, removed the lock nuts to bring them back closer to the chassis and bolted them back on adding a couple of washers either side of the chassis brace.

Had a break to update the thread only to realize that I was trying to outboard the shocks on the lower links mounting point..... So I'm now off to do it all over again. (Must get more sleep).

Enjoy the pics

[neiloid1]

Rear end all back together, but pride is in tatters

But I think it works

Also replaced those bloody awful countersunk hex head bolts that round far too easily. Has anyone drilled the servo plate mounts to 3mm???

[cbr6fs]

Glad it's not just me that has mixed results with the MRC

Not to sure you want the shocks straight though mate, tried it on mine when i was messing with adjustments and found the side to side stability suffered.

If the shocks are facing straight down to the mounts then when the truck is tilted instead 1 side compressing the other extending, both will be extending and twisting if that makes sense.

How did you get the bolts on the axle cover?
Tried that on mind and they wouldn't fit, i would have had to dremel the inner cover.


Tell your Mrs to take that fooooooking drill from your hands and hide it, you've done the steering mod and now you've gone 3mm crazy


Can't see any advantage in doing the servo plate bolts 3mm though, the 3 x 2mm bolts are plenty plus drilling it out to 3mm means there is less material around the screw so it'll be weaker if anything.

You done any driving with the overdrive mod yet?
Thoughts?





Cheers
Mark

[neiloid1]

How did you get the bolts on the axle cover?
Tried that on mind and they wouldn't fit, i would have had to dremel the inner cover.

Not sure what you mean chap, sorry.

Tell your Mrs to take that fooooooking drill from your hands and hide it, you've done the steering mod and now you've gone 3mm crazy


Can't see any advantage in doing the servo plate bolts 3mm though, the 3 x 2mm bolts are plenty plus drilling it out to 3mm means there is less material around the screw so it'll be weaker if anything.

Still got the 3mm drill and tap . The idea behind drilling the servo mounting posts, on the axles, to 3mm is so that you can fit decent size stainless bolts that are easier to remove and not as soft as the Losi butter bolts.

As for the overdrive mod I'm still waiting in the CVDs before I crack open the front axle again so I can do it \all in one go and be done with it.

[neiloid1]

Sat here waiting for my 6mm drill bit to show I looked at the Losi wheels and thought that the actual amount of material to be removed was next to nothing. So with a bit of trepidation I started to ream the axle hole with my body hole reamer and to my delight the aluminum started to shave off. Checking the hole against the wheel widener bolts I was able to remove just enough for a nice snug fit.

The wheel wideners added to the front gives a slightly more aggressive stance and adds a dash of color.

[cbr6fs]

Jobs a good un

[neiloid1]

At long last the build is complete.

I got aluminium zero ackerman knuckles installed, then had to extend the BWD OTA steering to accomodate the shorter steering arms, installed the Losi CVDs and I'm good to go.

A picture of how the front ended up.

[neiloid1]

So the final(?) build spec -

Billet Work Designs Mini Wedge Chassis
BWD OTA steering mod, extended for zero ackerman steering
BWD motor plate

Losi stock crawler motor rewired with bullet connectors
Losi stock transmission with steel diff locker
Losi drive shafts with shrink wrapped pins

Losi metals diffs lockers front and rear
Losi one peice rear axle with Losi metal Hexs
Rear axle case bolt through with M2 nut & bolts
BWD servo plate on the rear axle for battery placement option

Losi Front CVDs with shrink wrapped pins
G-Made axle wideners
Losi alumium Cs with M3 button bolt mod
Losi aluminium zero ackerman knuckles
Traxxas overdrive mod
Front axle case bolted with M2 nut and bolts

Losi aluminium shocks with 35 weight oil all round
Losi blue springs, black right rear
Extended shock mounts braced front and rear with HR aluminium spacers
Outboarded shocks front and rear

Hitec HS5955TG servo
Ansman aluminium servo arm
HR aluminium servo mounts

Losi aluminium beadlocks
Standard weights front
No weights rear
Crawler Innovations Stage 1 soft foams up front
Crawler Innovations Stage 1 medium foams in the rear
Losi blue Rock Bashers

Castle Creation Sidewinder ESC
Castle Creation BEC
Spektrum Receiver
Spektrum DX3S
CBP Elite 2S 850

Standard shell whilst I wait for my bug body to be trimmed and painted.

Future spends - Mini Torque Master, Rovers, MIP drive shafts and heavier Losi front wheel weights.

'Proper' pictures of the completed build to follow. Maybe even a vid if I can persuade the boy to hold the camera.

Spent a long time choosing the chassis and on this build. It's been a joy to put together and the support and info I've got from the forum has been invaluable. Hopefully my patience will be rewarded.

Hope it meets Don's approval.

Now to hit the rocks and dial her in.

[gdhknives]

You'll be amazed as to what this little chassis can do. Glad you're back among the living.

[billet works]

Your rig looks great . Hope to do some crawling with ya soon! That beast is beggin to be on the rocks

[nevidred]

nice build very impresive
so where do you crawl in hampshire ???

[neiloid1]

Originally Posted by billet works

Your rig looks great . Hope to do some crawling with ya soon! That beast is beggin to be on the rocks

Thanks Don, didn't want to let you down. Can't wait to hit the rocks proper.

[neiloid1]

Originally Posted by nevidred

nice build very impresive
so where do you crawl in hampshire ???

Thanks for the kind words.

I used to live in Yateley, but now I live near Portsmouth and will be looking for good crawling spots on the sea defenses along the South Coast.

[nevidred]

have you tried the sea defence in gosport very good for crawling where the green ferry lands been there a couple of times.
Have also been told there is good crawling at langstone near southsea marina

[neiloid1]

Originally Posted by nevidred

have you tried the sea defence in gosport very good for crawling where the green ferry lands been there a couple of times.
Have also been told there is good crawling at langstone near southsea marina

Thanks for those suggestions, I live 15 minutes away from Langstone so that'll be first port of call this weekend. Not been to Gosport but I'll be checking that out too

[cbr6fs]

Good job on adapting the knuckles mate

[neiloid1]

Originally Posted by cbr6fs

Good job on adapting the knuckles mate

Cheers, I put a 20mm length of all rod in both rod ends and took up the gap with nuts and washers to add a bit of strength to the proceedings. I got it all back together and had bad bind. Thought it might have been the CVDs or not recessing the servo post bolts enough but it was the OTA steerer catching the front half of the axle casing. So took it all apart and filed it smooth and added spacers between the steering arms and the knuckles to raise the steering arm clear and the jobs a good 'un.

Found the new rear link plate on the BWD site so may well spring for that and the proper ZA OTA link, but first I just want to get a good few hours getting it dialed first.

[cbr6fs]

Did you countersink the servo mount holes while you were at it?

[neiloid1]

Originally Posted by cbr6fs

Did you countersink the servo mount holes while you were at it?

Yup, took that on board from your build thread