Losi XXX laydown chassis prototype

[oIIIIIo]

This is my first crack at a custom chassis. I built this one around a Losi XXX transmission that I picked up cheap. I built this to test some ideas on countering torque twist. I haven't had the time yet to link it to a set of axles and see how it actually works, but I'm quite pleased with the layout. It's super compact and has a very low CG. What do you think?

[TANK]

cleeeeean man very clean. you really need to test it out and let us know how it goes. pretty much, id buy one...

[ManiacMagoo]

I like it nice clean, light, and uses a more common tranny.

[scruff007]

Looks like a good start. I like it.

[Crawlsalot]

i like it, how much better is that tranny over a pede?

[dezfan]

It looks like more and more people are finding an alternative to the pede. I'm in the middle of my 2.2 Stealth TLT build right now and this Losi tranny w/ custom chassis build is sweet. Hope to see more of them.

[superdenk]

Guess I should really dig out the Losi truck that is on the bottom shelf and tear it apart for the tranny. At least I can stop chasing pede trannys on flea-bay. Yours looks real nice. Let us know how well it works for you.

[microgoat]

I like it. Looks like a right royal pain to change the motor, though.

Call it the Tiny Dancer

[oIIIIIo]

Originally Posted by microgoat

I like it. Looks like a right royal pain to change the motor, though.

It's got a 550 sized motor in it in these pics. I think with a regular 540 motor there would be room to pull it out without disassembling anything. I left the Losi motor guard on it because it looked cool and gave some protection to the motor, but I suppose it could be left off if one were in the habit of changing motors regularly. Without the motor guard, the motor should pop right out.

This is my second build with a "Stealth" style tranny. My first was an AE out of an RC10B4 mounted vertically in a modified stock TLT chassis. Aside from the pain in the *** of moding the dogbone outdrives to slider yokes, I am a big fan of the Stealth style trannies. They are much more compact than the Pede and I believe they are at least as stong if not stronger. I bought a Pede for this project, but wasn't really satisfied with the size and quality so it went back on eBay - besides, you can get XXX trannies on eBay for half the price of a Pede.

Although I think the AE tranny is a little better than the Losi, the Losi seems to make for a cleaner install especially since you can buy the molded slider outdrives.

[Unimoger]

clean, very clean.

[SlinkySam]

Originally Posted by oIIIIIo

especially since you can buy the molded slider outdrives.

What's the part # for that do you know and where could I pick that up? I have been using modified Traxxas sliders for a couple of years to do the duty, but it would be cleaner to replace the outdrives themselves if possible.

-Sam

[oIIIIIo]

Originally Posted by Plays_with_Toys

Found the outputs for the spec diff. They are losi part number A3095 and A3025 for their sliders (though you should just need stampede sliders and I think traxxas ball joints will work within the losi outputs).

Thanks to Plays_with_Toys from another thread.

[SlinkySam]

Originally Posted by oIIIIIo

Thanks to Plays_with_Toys from another thread.

Thanks for the info. I saw it a long time ago, but could never find it again.

How strong are the outdrives for you so far? My Traxxas method hasn't let me down, but I am up for cleaning up stuff.

-Sam

[trost]

wow1 looks awsome very clean~loveit!!!!!!!!

[oIIIIIo]

Originally Posted by SlinkySam

How strong are the outdrives for you so far? My Traxxas method hasn't let me down, but I am up for cleaning up stuff.

I don't really know - I was too impatient to order some so I made mine out of the stock Losi drives and Pede shaft parts like this...



I shortened and cross drilled both parts to use the stock Traxxas cross pin and then filled the extra space with JB weld.

[SlinkySam]

Originally Posted by oIIIIIo

I don't really know - I was too impatient to order some so I made mine out of the stock Losi drives and Pede shaft parts like this...



I shortened and cross drilled both parts to use the stock Traxxas cross pin and then filled the extra space with JB weld.

Cool way of doing it. Much beefier than what I do. Was it tough drilling the outdrive?

In my setup, I just take a male Stampede driveshaft and hack it off leaving about 1/2" of nub on there. Then I cross drill just the Stampede shaft and use a 2.5mm screw/nut with loctite to hold it all in place. I figured that the forward/back forces weren't enough to pull that apart. Actually, last season I ran it with a paperclip holding it all together in my tuber. The results weren't nearly as pretty, but it actually stayed all season.

Well, I ordered some of those outdrives just to see what they are like. Thanks again for the #.

-Sam

[oIIIIIo]

Originally Posted by SlinkySam

Cool way of doing it. Much beefier than what I do. Was it tough drilling the outdrive?

Not at all once I discovered the secret. Heat them with a propane torch until they start to turn orange then drill them right away - they drill like mild steel. It probably takes the hardness out of them, but if you're not running dogbones you don't need to have them so hard.

[ManiacMagoo]

I'm going to have to try that on my stealth tranny outdrives. Nice tip. I love that chassis would be perfect for a brushless setup.

[Gimbal]

Originally Posted by oIIIIIo

Not at all once I discovered the secret. Heat them with a propane torch until they start to turn orange then drill them right away - they drill like mild steel. It probably takes the hardness out of them, but if you're not running dogbones you don't need to have them so hard.

Great tip! Can a mod stick this?

Nice chassis too. Curious, how big is your skid plate?

[oIIIIIo]

Originally Posted by Gimbal

Nice chassis too. Curious, how big is your skid plate?

Approx. 3-1/2" long & 2-3/8" wide outside dimensions.