Starting from scratch

[TWINSET]

Stumbled across the Maxx forum last nite, and today, I'm a Maxx owner (once it arrives)

I fancy converting it to a crawler, is there much to consider?

I've converted (plenty of) Clods before, and a couple of TLT's but this will be the first independant suspension one.

Having seen WRMorrisons Stein Hund, I quite fancy the 'replacement' arms idea, but what else should I be thinking of?

Any help, pics, donations, greatly appreciated

[TwistedCreations]

well are you planning on keeping stock arms and locking them out or just work with the IFS?

Maxxes are easy to build up, but yet are not as easy as a Clod. There are different tricks to setting one up the right way. just need to know what your plans are? are you keeping it close to stock or a full blown tuber( like in the pic) or in between?

[TWINSET]

I was thinking of either locking the arms, or replacing them, and do away with independance altogether.

As for the end product, I was thinking a fair way off stock - If you're gonna do it........

A tuber is out of the question, I can't even solder, I think flames is asking for trouble, but a machined chassis with fourlink suspension is within my capabilities.

I guess once I actually have the truck, things will be clearer, but was wondering if there is anything to definitely avoid, or certain steps that must be included.

I'm good on the triangulation theory, and telescoping shaft geometry workrounds, but like Clods, there has to be some "must do" stuff?

[offroad]

if you haven't already, i would flip through my post as well. My crawler project has begun... *pics*

I started with a stock emaxx and built a crawler much like you want to. I was very please with the results. There is a lot of detailed pictures in there as well that should help you.

later
-offroad

[sambmx]

Entirely ditch the ifs arms and bulkhead trash. Start with the diff and pillowblocks and fab up an axle, ive done a set like twisteds which are not as to difficult if you take you time.Im now im runing a scale looking axle ive fabed from tube steel, with axleshafts inside the tube and a diff housing.

Being able to weld makes it all very easy, you should look into geting one if you do not already have one.

The only maxx parts on mine are axleshafts, diffs, and pillowblocks(axle carriers).

[AdamF]

Got any recent pictures of your project Sam? I want to do the same thing at some point and time.

[TwistedCreations]

sounds like they look something like these axles adam http://lukedog5.tripod.com/moonbuggy/

[RSI]

rcrockgear.com offers an awesome maxx kit!

[TWINSET]

Welding is definitley out, due to no welder access and a severe inabilty not to injure myself

I'm definitly leaning towards WRMorrisons method, as have access to CNC machinery, and know acouple of fab shops to get the stuff bent.

At the minute I'm still pacing around waiting for the donor, once I got my hands on it, I'll have a better idea what the route will be.


Couldn't get anywhere on rcrockgear.com - do the links on the left do anything, or is it an 'in progress' site?

[TwistedCreations]

yeah looks like they are still working on it

[RSI]

o ya they are still working on the site.... they have a maxx crawler kit tho that is frikin awesome!!! ive seen em in action andd they work very well... the kit includes frame links lockouts servo mounts that stuff all of it is cnc'ed aluminum peices which makes for a very clean and all around great rig

[ExtremeOffRoad]

if you end up using the stock a arms just lock them out with mini links. i took off my shock towers and mounted the links to the holes from the shock tower to the lower shock positions and it works awesome.