Project: Rebuild. A new Clod from the old

[bRIBEGuy]

Well,

After getting a solid year and a half out of my Clod Crawler, I decided it was time for a complete re-build.

Axles will stay, as will the electronics, steering linkages, and body. That's probably about it.

The original thread w/ specs:

It Lives!!!

Some pics of how it all started:

[bRIBEGuy]

About a year ago I made a minor rebuild to the Jeep.

Added behind the axle front steering. Changed the servo mounts and steering linkages. Trimmed and lowered the body some more.

[bRIBEGuy]

Shortly after that rebuild, I also swaped out the Savage shocks for a set of E-Maxx shocks. Helped to limit the articulation a bit, as i'd been running with about 80-90 degrees up untill this point.

Also lengthened it half an inch to stretch out the WB to a bit over 16". Got new body mounts, and lowered the lid a tad bit more.

I was really happy how it performed at this stage.

[bRIBEGuy]

But hey, what fun would this hobby be if you didn't embrace change, and the overwhelming urge to rebuild stuff for the sole sake of rebuilding stuff?

So, the parts collection began, and the start of the new Jeep began yesterday.

The axles are stripped clean and ready to go (along with a set of new Integy 55t motors).

[bRIBEGuy]

Got me some fancy-shmancy clear gear covers, and some seriously sweet hi-clearance links (props to Clod Mod Racing for the hook up).

[bRIBEGuy]

Figured with BEEFY links like that, the stock old Traxxas ball links should be swapped.

Popped on some XTM Mammoth ball ends (shown in pic next to a Traxxas ball end).

These are wicked-beefy!

I have actually swaped 'em out now though in favour of a set of blue GS 6.8mm ball ends. The're the exact same size...............just blue.

[Cole82]

Sweet link man.
I bet you could put some speed holes in them and not loose any strength.

[bRIBEGuy]

LOL................can't go wrong with speed holes!

[bRIBEGuy]

Well, I managed to get most of the chassis cut out and mocked up. It's a wee bit higher then I had originally hoped for (a hair under 2.75" from skidplate to top), but should still work quite well.

There are no comps around me at all.........in fact I'm the only guy doing Crawling in Calgary to the best of my knowledge...........so a full on "Comp" style rig isn't my main concern.

I'm going for relatively low COG, good underbelly clearance (5.25-6"), ~70-80 degrees of flex, all around drivability (since it will see crawling in a variety of terrain), and hopefully still some resmblance to a vehicle (read: I don't want to have to cut off 70% of my body).

Tires will be a set of Losi LST tires, and rims will likely be a set from a HPI Savage I have lying around.

I'm off to the LHS to pick up some 1/4" aluminum tubing to sleeve the 6/32 steel threaded upper links I've been working on this morning.

Hopefully I can post some more progress pics latter tonight.

[bRIBEGuy]

A quick question maybe someone can toss out an opinion on:

I'm probably gonna try lenthening the upper rear links to angle up the gearbox/motor to gain some more clearance. Only issue I see is that it couls effect the rear steering a bit since the wheels turning axis is no longer verticle.

Has anyone done this/had any issues or successes?

Thanx.

[Cole82]

Ask "mnster" I know he did it maybe pm him. I don't think it would hurt the steering much at all.

[Grizzly4x4]

Originally Posted by bRIBEGuy

A quick question maybe someone can toss out an opinion on:

I'm probably gonna try lenthening the upper rear links to angle up the gearbox/motor to gain some more clearance. Only issue I see is that it couls effect the rear steering a bit since the wheels turning axis is no longer verticle.

Has anyone done this/had any issues or successes?

Thanx.

I do this on all my clods and have never had any problems. It actually tilts the axis towards the rear which, accoring to the 1:1 world, is better than vertical. I tilt the front axle the same direction (lowering the motor) for the same reason.

One thing to watch for is that lifting the rear motor up will cause the gear case (on the motor side) to interfere with the upper link. This will result in more flex one way than the other unless you set your shocks to bottom out at that point.

Still a cool rig Bribe, I look forward to seeing the result of your rebuild.

[bRIBEGuy]

Thanx for the feedback guys.

I kinda figured playing with the angles a bit wouldn't hurt...................

Anyways, snapped a quick pic of a psuedo mock-up of the chassis lay out. It still needs work............some adjustments and some finishing.........but it gives you an idea of the simplistic layout I'm going for.

The battery tray/skid plate is x-tra long. It will allow the 7 cell battery I'm going to use to sit quite forward in the chassis for weight distribution. The ESC will be mounted near the rear of the plate behind the cells.

[bRIBEGuy]

A few more pics to entertain while work is in progress.

The old JB welded diffs are getting a break after 2 years of use, and are now substituted with a nice set of lockers.

Axles get a bit of reinforcement at the knuckles.

[bRIBEGuy]

Still usure about the wheels.

The mock up of the LST's on the Savage rims provides some seriously wicked sidewall wrap around.

Which rocks.

Problem is................rims are ugly as hell.

Oi.

My first mock up showed some potential clearance issues with the tires and lower links when steering, however, so the HPI rims may have to go away.

Guess time shall tell what happens here................

[bRIBEGuy]

And a quick pic of part of the chassis with the "brushed" finished that it will end up with.

[Inclodneato]

thats a nice looking rig even before you rebuilt it

man those links are BEEFY!!

[bRIBEGuy]

Wow, I totally dropped the ball on this rebuild, an in updating this thread about it!

LOL.

A week and no updates, what kinda bum deal is that?

Had a few bucks burning a hole in my pocket, so I ordered up a set of G-Made upper link mounts from Kevinlongisland. They showed up in the mail this afternoon, so I finally got a bit more work done on the crawler.

Those upper link mounts are VERY nice, and I would definately recomend them. I figure their super beefy build will match up well with the lower links and overall build of this rig.

A pic of the G-Made Upper Link Mounts:

[bRIBEGuy]

Front and rear axles are now complete and ready to go.

Though about swapping out the XTM X-175 servos for a set of Hitec 645MG's, but decided to just leave 'em untill they die.

Oddly enough while so may people have had tonnes of issues with them, I never have. 2 years of serious abuse, and they're still running strong (knock on wood)!

[bRIBEGuy]

Finished sleeving the upper links (1/4" Aluminum tubing over 6/32 steel all-thread with Traxxas ball-ends).

Got em all mounted up to the chassis with the axles on.

Startin' to look like a crawler!