Suzuki Samurai WCX11 custom build

[JoeConti]

After over a year with my Wraith I decided it was time to dust off the AX10 chassis rails and the lexan body I bought together with my Wraith.

My idea is to build an SCX10 style frame with Wraith axles. Why Wraith axles? Well, I like them, they have proven to be strong, I will be using 2.2 wheels and if need be I will change parts to and from the Wraith when the need arises.

So here's the plan. I'm on a tight budget, I will be using any stock Wraith parts I have replaced over the past 12+ months on this build and will eventually upgrade when something breaks and if the budget permits.

First an introduction to the body. I am a Suzuki Samurai 1:1 fan. I have 2 of them and was thinking of making this as wild as my extreme 1:1 Samurai. This body is not exactly a scale version of the 1:1, the front part looks close enough but the rear is by no way that of a Samurai, but it will do



Next is the chassis. I chose this for the flexibility of configuration where the links can be mounted. I like this more than the stock SCX10 chassis



Here's what parts I have left over from my Wraith assembled temporarily for picture purposes



Some parts my girlfriend got me, hey, it's Christmas right?



... and today I started and finished measuring the new custom links to fix this body on this setup. Had to do top rear links twice, not bad for my first set









So, from the little experience I have I personally think it is coming along pretty good so far. You will notice that I removed the springs from the stock Wraith shocks. The reason behind it is that because of the lack of weight, there was no compression of the shocks and the whole thing sat pretty high in the air making it look bad and I could not imagine what angle the propshafts would have to be at. Imagine the binding!! In the future I will remove the King shocks I have on the Wraith and try them on this before ordering anything.

Here's some more pics







This is as far as I got so far. As soon as I have more updates I will post some more.

Why WCX11 you may ask? Well, its not an SCX10, its Wraith based, hence the W and as for the 11, well, its one set bigger than 10 lol - hence WCX11

Thank you for reading this

[JoeConti]

Originally Posted by arbakrie

Good thread, Thanks

Thanks

[Wade]

Nice start. Post up some pics of your 1:1's if you get a chance. I am a jeep fan but I do like the samurai's also, just something about them that grabs my attention.

Cheers,
Wade

[JoeConti]

Originally Posted by Wade

Nice start. Post up some pics of your 1:1's if you get a chance. I am a jeep fan but I do like the samurai's also, just something about them that grabs my attention.

Cheers,
Wade

Here's a couple of links to my YouTube videos of the 1:1

This is the build (not my work)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKxK0L4iXaw

This is a walk around

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDcOHxXKgjQ

[Wade]

looking good

[JoeConti]

Originally Posted by Wade

looking good

Thank you

[JoeConti]

She's a roller

https://www.facebook.com/joerccargar...4109959496782/

[JoeConti]

A small update:-

Today I received some diff parts I was missing so I decided to do all I can with the new parts







All greased up and working smooth

More to follow...

[JoeConti]

Received some goodies today - was not sure which I'll use but when I opened the ESC boxes they are both identical, so no biggy which ESC I'll use but as for motor they are both 35T and one will be spare, right? As soon as the transmission box arrives I can start mounting the rest and hopefully get it to run without a body for now

[JoeConti]

So the tranny arrived today. AX10 tranny .. all stock .. I wanted to see it in place although I know I will take it out again and change the gears when they arrive - also will change the main drive shaft inside it to a Wraith shaft so I can install a DIG on it. Installed motor too. Now to fabricate some mounting plates for ESC and RX ... feeling pleased









Keep tuned...

[JoeConti]

Started working on the electronics tray. Never used styrene before so I thought I'd give it a go.













When the time comes, I'll strip it all down and paint these styrene parts I will be adding black.

[JoeConti]

So, I took it for a spin. Felt restricted trying it in the garage so took it out in the street. Street is too smooth for my liking so put it in the back of the Samurai and went down the road to the beach.

Sorry but could not embed the video for some reason!! Please click on the link to watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqJzkbL-w80

What could have gone wrong went wrong. Drive shaft came loose from the transmission and fell off. Servo horn came off 3 times and finally lost a screw that holds the steering arm to the c-hub. It was time to go home!! 

More to follow...

[JoeConti]

So after the run I learnt a few things about this setup. I had binding issues on the driveshafts - I had originally removed the springs from the stock Wraith shocks because the ride was far too high for my liking. Now with the shocks fully closed it is better but upon flexing the driveshafts bind. So I was looking for a way to lower it some more, since I could not lengthen the wheelbase because of the body, and came up with an idea:

This is how the shocks mount, on the top hole on the shocks mounts



If I do this I would be lowering it between 1cm and 2cms:



Now the shock and the lower arm are mounted in the same place, thus lowering the lower shock mount to the hole below and the shock can still close without hitting on the shock mount. So far so good, looks good and now rides even lower. Good enough for me

[JoeConti]

Tomorrow I will be taking it out again but before I did that I wanted to get the steering problem out of the way. I had some 4mm threaded rod pieces left and used them to make steering links instead of the plastic stock links. I had 2 links attached to the servo horn with the opposite end of each rod going to a different wheel. This would have been ideal for keeping the steering links from bashing into the rocks but turned out to be a bad design. This method produced understeer on the outer wheel no matter which way you turned.

Removed those rods and decided to make my own out of 4mm threaded rod and 4mm ID aluminium tubing using the stock plastic links as a template.



End product



After that I decided to clean up the temporary wiring I left yesterday but these two guys came in to pose for a picture



This is the cleaned up version



Hopefully all goes well tomorrow so I can start the body mounts with earth magnets and install the aluminium tubing on the suspension arms. Left these for last to be sure all is ok before I start cutting!

Will keep you posted

[JoeConti]

Went for another test run today. Very pleased with performance but my battery was in danger when I rolled so I decided that today I will fabricate a battery tray.















Reserving the front free space on that tray for light box!!

More soon...

[JoeConti]

Today I built the body mounts. I decided to try my hand at some magnetic ones. All home made. Please keep in mind that this is my first time so here are some pics:

Front view



Rear view



This is the look I am going for:



More later...

[JoeConti]

Here's a bit of driving I did in my garage over some obstacles

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yyp5F2_6P4o