Locked Up's 6x6 reBuild - HexaMAN

[Tommy R]

Can't wait for more details on those wheels! Also can't wait for another local 6x6 to play with.

[Locked Up]

I'm finally getting some work done on this beauty.

What?
It's "ONLY" been like a year and a half....





It's going to be headed off for some TLC by Wes Brazwell.
I hope he can braze well.

Yes, I did.



Anyway, before I send it off for Wes to work on the cage and the cab, I felt like I needed to shore up a few items. So under my knife it went.


After taking the bed off and really looking at things, my anal retentive nature got the best of me. The body mounts didn't line up in repeatable "square" manner and I wanted to give it some better mounts anyway.



I did like the idea of the rear swing mount, but with the bed bob and moving the bumper, it had to change.



Step one was to add styrene to the back of the cab. I'm not 100% sure this spot will be used for a mount but it needed some holes filled anyway.


For the rear bumper, I wanted it mounted right to the frame instead of to the bed. SO drilled and tapped some holes. Easy enough right?:


Removed some of the excess frame support in the rear as well.


BOOM:


Trimming for the bed:


New 45-50mm driveshaft from Devil RC for the back axle.

[Locked Up]

For the bed mounts, I am stealing some ideas from my H2. One of my favorite things to do is a hidden mount and the H2 is one of the better ones I have done because it still uses body clips. So...

Posts from the top:


Held in with these nifty "tie down" looking screws.


Receptacles on the chassis:


Test fitting the back mounts:



For the front of the bed, I also wanted something repeatable/replaceable and the big original holes were not gonna do it for me.


So I started to shore that up as well:


Again, posts form the top:


And receptacles on the chassis:



Overall, I'm really happy with the fit. The posts on the top allow me to use different holes and if I want to get super particular I could even space them down with washers for perfect alignment with the cab once it is on.

[Locked Up]

Next up I wanted to redo the diamond plate on the bed. So I ordered a new sheet of VERY thin stuff to further help reduce the weight out back.



After trimming:



And a few updated poser shots:





I still have some work to do to it. Diamond plate needs a bit of tweaking and the bed certainly needs to be repainted....but I'm liking the wheelbase.

Almost ready to send it off to you Wes.

[Tommy R]

Nice job!

So what are those tie-down looking screws? I need some!

[Locked Up]

Originally Posted by Tommy R

Nice job!

So what are those tie-down looking screws? I need some!

They look homebrew, but I have some ideas about how they could be more easily replicated and possibly more functional.

We can talk next time I see you.

[brazwewn]

Looking forward to getting this.

Wes

[jmz6]

Ha, it is coming back to PA (its birthplace was not far from Wes)

The tie down screws are homebrew. I filed a V in the center top of a screw, bent a piece of wire into a triangle, set the wire in the V and silver soldered all in place. Simple yet effective.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Locked Up]

Before I sent it off to Wes, I wanted to make a little progress with the rear driveshaft.

Because I have shortened the wheelbase and messed with the links, there was a little binding in the rear shaft when the axles cycle past each other.

So, I took the female end of the shaft and chucked it up for some material removal.


This gives me enough room in the shaft.


But something was still getting caught up if I cycled the suspension while rotating the drivetrain.

Then I realized the ears of the shafts were running into the ends of the pinion gear shafts.


I had hoped that maybe a HD gearset would have a shorter shaft ... but nope. Even longer.


So I had to chuck up the pinion gear shafts and remove material. This is just prototype stage as I'll end up having to modify a HD set because I want under drive back here. But for now...


And finally I have enough room for full movement.

[Locked Up]

Crazy amount of progress coming from Wes!

Originally Posted by Wes

This is like playing RC archeology. Not sure what was original and what was a patch over the years. The green paint seems to have some kind of reaction with the original orange

Originally Posted by Wes

Assessing the damage and scraping layer upon layer of paint off the cab. There was so much paint some of the details were completely covered up. Plus the paint had a horrible reaction with the original paint. In most spot it was bubbled up like there was rust. Lots more scraping and sanding in my future.

Originally Posted by Wes

This cab might be a pound lighter after I get the 10-12 heavy coats of pint off. Still just amazed at how much detail was covered up by the thick bubbling paint!

Wow!
Stellar work sir!

[Locked Up]

Originally Posted by Wes

Finally got the bulk of the paint off. I also have the hole patched in and reinforced from the back. Lots more sanding before the first coat of primer.

[Locked Up]

Originally Posted by Wes

Adding in some cool headlights. Had to cut out a bit of the "grill" but it was kind of damaged on the end anyway. Still a ways to go, but a god start.

[Locked Up]

Originally Posted by Wes

Patrick wanted to keep the old school LEDs instead of a new LED light bar. So, I made a cover for the LED tube holders and glued in some small light covers.

F'n awesome!

[imthatguy]

Wow, heckuva rebuild going on here!

[brazwewn]

Finally getting my head wrapped around what needs to be done and the vision for the truck. Once I have that ironed out I find it quite easy to move forward. This should be a pretty cool build.

Wes

[Locked Up]

Originally Posted by Wes

One of those days where I worked on this and it doesn't look like I got much done. When I reality there were a ton of small changes made today. Started cleaning up the rear section. I also got to work on some of the details. Yes, that is two large holes in the side. Waiting on material to finish those up though. The front eco cage bracket was started but needs a tab soldered on to finish it up. I also got more of that weird crackle paint effect when I primered the rear section.

Looking good Wes.
No idea what the crackle stuff is. Maybe different paint types reacting? Oil vs lacquer?

[Locked Up]

Originally Posted by Wes

Doesn't look like it, but this is tedious work. Almost halfway through with one side.

I disagree ... is looks VERY tedious (and awesome)!

[Locked Up]

Originally Posted by Wes

Got both vents put together. Still need some clean up, but looking good. Using Locked Up RC hardware to mount them.

Definitely looking good.

The back is looking much better with some detail.

[Locked Up]

Originally Posted by Wes

8 sheets of 60 grit on my palm sander and all that weird paint is gone. I think it was an epoxy paint. It was tough as nails and melted/globbed up more than sanding off. A few areas are down to the glass but some of the gel coat is still there.

Dayyyyuuuummmmm.


Hopefully painting will go more smoothly form here on out.

[Locked Up]

Originally Posted by Wes

Started adding in some much needed detail on the rear section. Still a good ways to go including using 1/64" scale hardware from Locked Up RC.

I'm loving the battle armor look.