Gravedigger!!

[mattnin]

Ok, here is my first and ever 4-link! We'll I totally got hooked after reading the forums here, there are so many awesome builders here that I cannot even compare, all those tri-state crawler guys, those tube builders, my hats off to all of you.

Well, I had to go and get tools to build it. I had to get a drill press, calipers, bench grinder, a bunch of taps and dies, dremel, ruler, a 90, and lots of aluminum, brass tubing, and threaded rod, and traxxas revo rod ends, hacksaw and bench.

It took ALOT of trial and error to get my first suspension base right, and machining parts (in my apartment lol) to be as exact as possible. I ended up mating my suspension to a cyber-maxx t-maxx roll cage.



I am using the method of using tubing with threaded rod to create links. I can do a link now in about 5 minutes :P I just cut the tubing to length using a tube cutter, and the threaded rod using wire cutters, and I fix the threads using a die and I tap the revo rod ends, pretty quick now!



I had a seriously bad case of torque twist on my first completed build, and I remedied that by moving my shocks from the links to the axle and the top of the shocks more on the extremes of the chassis. Now it handles very well even at top speeds. I still have a little bit of torque twist, but it is negligible. I have a novak brushless motor inside, and this thing hauls ***! I cannot try turning at high speeds or it will roll and tip.

I haven't locked the differentials yet, as I believe it helps handling at high speeds. I may end up locking the diffs, I haven't decided yet. I know its crawling potential really suffers.

Overall, I am very pleased with the 4-link suspension handling characteristics, and I feel it doesn't detract from the independant suspension at all. It is still as capable, if not more capable now then it was when it was independant suspension. It sure is faster than before when it had the stock motors.

It has 10" of articulation. I hope the pictures I posted help other people to build their own rock crawler.

I eventually plan to install the steering servo in the rear, modding my radio for 4WS, locking the diffs, building a completely new chassis and roll cage that I built myself, and installing real rock crawling tires on it. Enjoy!

[CoreyK]

So What is it? A Racer/Basher/Crawler??? A crawler and racer dont mix IMHO.....

[mattnin]

Well at this time it is a racer. I still need to lock and rebuild the diffs and tranny. :P I don't even have the right tires! I ordered some cool looking meats but they aren't in yet. I still have lots of work to do to it. It is a project in progress

[TwistedCreations]

It's different looking. As long as you have fun, that's all that matters

[mxmissile]

I wish my woman would let me setup shop like that!

[Trike Kid]

Pretty cool, but I'd ditch the cage to get the center of gravity down.

[mattnin]

LOL, when my gf comes over, I need to know like at least an hour in advance so I can clean all this crap up haha. I got screws, parts, metal all strewn all over the place. Thank god my closet is big :P

Trike kid, the cage is really lightweight. Removing it would hardly lower the COG, not to mention I need the cage to protect my $270 motor in case of a crash. This crawler has top speeds around 40 mph!!

[mattnin]

Well, after a weeks worth of bashing, breaking an a-arm, cvd joint, and losing lots of small hardware :P, the truck is now a wide-maxx, uses a hitec servo, and is lower. Here are some pictures I took of it bashing today.



A little lower eh?





Its a bad angle, the truck has 9" of articulation.

Here is a cool pic below showing it drifting.





This was the best picture I got while haulin *** :( All others came out blurry. I need a better cam


I promise I will get some good rock crawling pics soon. Even though it is fast, I swear it can rock climb!

[kaaina]

lmao alot of work to make it crawler!!! looks good anyways

[mattnin]

Here are some updated pix.

It now has revo shafts throughout, holy crap I needed em too! I kept breaking shafts all the time. First it was the axles to go, then it was the driveshafts, le sigh. Here are pix with the digi servos too. Still got the hv-maxx in there, 9t pinion.

I have been taking it to the track alot, it draws alot of attention too =) This is the biggest thing there by far and dwarfs all other t-maxxs and e-maxxs.

[Fordtrucks]

Can you please send me all of your old shafts broken or not??I need all i can get for an upcomming project.Thanks ,,

William.

[mattnin]

No, I am making another slower, narrow crawler using them.

[Fordtrucks]

Okie-Doke.Thanks anyway.Hope it goes well for you on the next project.The gravedigger looks nice.