topher builds a TRX10.2

[Topher Builds]

My TRX4 Sport hasn’t seen a whole lot of action since it was built back when the kits came out. I’ve kicked around a few ideas of what to do with it, including selling it, and instead landed on swapping some AR44 based axles under it. Anyone tried this yet? If so please share you’re experiences.

So if you look at the chassis layover comparison you can see the VS4-10 rails are similar to the TRX4. This is what got me wondering about how a pair of 10.2 based axles would do under the trx4 chassis and the trx4 transmission with the forward oriented motor and forward battery tray.

Did a little noodling on the transmission and axle ratios to see if it’d be drivable, and with the help of a local fb group and some searching here I was able to come up with the followings math. Note, I have the 45t spur in the sport.

(45/9)*2.2225*3.75= 41.67 final drive ratio.

I came up with 2.2225 for the transmission ratio as the manual says the ratio is 15.8 with the stock axles. So using a little math with the (34/11) diff and portals having a 2.3:1 reduction I got to 2.2225. I then learned that Harley already did the math and used 2.22 so I ran with it.

While 41.67 is not ideal it should be doable so I decided to give it a shot and see what happens.

[Jeepy84]

I'm putting wide XR width AR60s under a TRX trans equipped bouncer, my math is pretty similar to what you were getting, accounting for the UD/OD gear sets in the axles. Still a work in progress or I would give you driving characteristic insights, but we're on our own as it were.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[Topher Builds]

Alright I’ve made a bit of progress.

Got the rear mounted up real easy, full compression without binding anywhere and smooth action. (Pic 1)

The front axle has been a little more challenging. The first obstacle is the trx4 skid plate. Since the trx4 has an offset front axle and I’m using a centered pumpkin I ran into clearance issues with the driveshaft and the skid. (Pic 2).

Took the dremel out and made some space, then pulled the MIP driveshaft out of my other trx4 because it’s narrower at that part of the driveshaft, and it seems to clear fine.

For the pan hard I pulled the one off my toyzuki 2.5 and fiddled a little with the rod ends but it seems to be working out okay so far.

Gotta get a servo in there and may get a chance to put some power to it here shortly.

Originally Posted by Jeepy84

I'm putting wide XR width AR60s under a TRX trans equipped bouncer, my math is pretty similar to what you were getting, accounting for the UD/OD gear sets in the axles. Still a work in progress or I would give you driving characteristic insights, but we're on our own as it were.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Good to hear on the math. Sounds like a cool build you have in mind too. Hope it goes well

[MaX-D]

This is a cool build. Here lately it seems like people are throwing trx4 axles under whatever kind of truck, pick one. This is the first I've heard of straight SCX10 .2 axles under a Traxxas chassis. Very cool. Can't wait to hear how this thing drives and climbs with the lower COG.

Sent from my LM-G710VM using Tapatalk

[dezfan]

Love the kit bashing builds! 👍🏼

I’ve seen a TRX4 with a portal delete kit and it looked and crawled great.

And wait to see more progress.

[Topher Builds]

Hey thanks fellas! I too am anxious to see how it is without the portals.

Got it rolling and electronics in. The stock steering link was a bit short and was causing problems under full compression when turning, I was able to find another link I had around and tried a couple different rod ends till the steering centered with the horn straight ahead and it seemed to clear things up.

Not entirely sure about the pan hard length but it’s driving and turns fine in my living room. I think it’s about to ready to hit the rocks tomorrow morning and see how it goes. Bringing a spare rig just in case.

[soze]

Didn't ssd have a portal delete kit?

Sent from my LG-H931 using Tapatalk

[B-MOW71]

Nice!

Can't wait to hear how it performs!

[durok]

Originally Posted by soze

Didn't ssd have a portal delete kit?

Sent from my LG-H931 using Tapatalk

Yep, they sure do... still listed on their site, and for sale at various vendors...

Very imaginative build!

My brain hurts with all the various mental chassis/axle/transmission combos I've been doing.

However, I have not attempted one dang thing yet.

I have the Vanquish chassis, SSD Pro44s, a practically new TRX-4, and a new Enduro.

The mind reels at all the possibilities!

[Topher Builds]

Alright got it out on the rocks for a couple hours this morning and had a lot of fun! It worked out better than I thought and I’m going to continue to run it like this and tinker.

It’d be nice to have an offset front axle so the driveshaft lines up better so I’m going to see if I can get my hands on one out of the trail king down the road or maybe even spring for some vs4-10 axles eventually.

Video to come but here’s a short clip I have on insta for now

https://instagram.com/p/B2uUifnglZW/

link="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">

View this post on Instagram

What you’re seeing here is a trx4 chassis and transmission along with a pair of AR44 based axles from @ssd_rc. I wasn’t sure what to expect but after taking it out this morning I think she’s a keeper. More pics and a video to come �� #traxxas #trx4 #traxxastrx4 #axial #axialscx10ii #scx10ii #axialracing #ssdrc #trx4explore #rc #rccrawler #remotecontrol #rctruck #tinytrucks #voodootires #scalecrawler #scalebuilder #scaletruck #trucks #holmeshobbies #rccars #rccar #rctrucks #trx10ii #rclife #rchobby #rccommunity #battlebornrc

A post shared by topherBuilds RC (@topherbuilds) on Sep 22, 2019 at 11:36am PDT

Originally Posted by soze

Didn't ssd have a portal delete kit?

Sent from my LG-H931 using Tapatalk

Thought about going this route but this project here I already had everything here to do it so it was budget friendly, and I didn’t really want a straight traxxas axle because the pumpkin is kinda jumbo.

Went into this with a “what if I...” type of mindset instead of a full blown new build with new parts.

[dezfan]

Originally Posted by Topher Builds

Alright got it out on the rocks for a couple hours this morning and had a lot of fun! It worked out better than I thought and I’m going to continue to run it like this and tinker.

It’d be nice to have an offset front axle so the driveshaft lines up better so I’m going to see if I can get my hands on one out of the trail king down the road or maybe even spring for some vs4-10 axles eventually.

Video to come but here’s a short clip I have on insta for now

https://instagram.com/p/B2uUifnglZW/



Thought about going this route but this project here I already had everything here to do it so it was budget friendly, and I didn’t really want a straight traxxas axle because the pumpkin is kinda jumbo.

Went into this with a “what if I...” type of mindset instead of a full blown new build with new parts.

Looks great and appears to crawl equally well. 👍🏼

[MaX-D]

Thanks for the quick video on "The Gram." Would it have made the same lines with the portals?

Sent from my LM-G710VM using Tapatalk

[Topher Builds]

Originally Posted by dezfan

Looks great and appears to crawl equally well. ����

Thanks Dez!

Originally Posted by MaX-D

Thanks for the quick video on "The Gram." Would it have made the same lines with the portals?

Sent from my LM-G710VM using Tapatalk

There was another trx4 out there that couldn’t make it, not the easiest line, but I don’t know what all was done to it. Since these axles have weight in them by design and brass knuckles it’s not really a stock set of axles either.

IIRC I’ve gotten my other trx4 up there that’s been modified quite a bit (with portals) I haven’t driven that one in a while but it should be able to do that.

Just remembered that Alex had his trx4 out with us today, it’s about 16 lbs, but that thing goes everywhere, including this line.

[Jeepy84]

Didn't see that right front try lifting at all, portal delete success

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[Topher Builds]

Short video from today and a few more pics.

[MaX-D]

DUDE! That thing's a friggin goat!! Impressive! Any problems with tire rub? What compound KLR's were you using? Well done.

Sent from my LM-G710VM using Tapatalk

[indybama]

I agree with max-d, that things a goat! Maybe one of these days i can make it out that way n hit some trails with u. Such a beautiful playground u got there topher!

Sent from my SM-J327VPP using Tapatalk

[ferp420]

i sent off a set of trx4 frame rails and scx10 ii axles to my cousin also sent off scx10ii skid plate but its gona take a long time to finnish cause im buyin the parts lol some day ill do a thread about it but im not doin the build so ill have to rely on his pics and what he says he did lol its realy nice to know that its a good set up although his has a scx skid it should be close to what you have there

[B-MOW71]

Great pics and awesome video!

Glad to hear and see that it did very good! I like how low the chassis and body sits now. Yeah, a set of VS4-10 axles under it would look sweet!

I might have to add this to my list of winter projects for my TRX-4 Sport!

[JatoTheRipper]

Sweet build and very capable! I want to build something similar, but using the Vanquish chassis instead.