Natedog's Vaterra ASCENDER

[Natedog]

Originally Posted by CODYBOY

Good job Nate, it will be interesting to see how the change helps?
Ernie

Thanks and yes it will!

Originally Posted by DMS70

I have my steering set up just like yours, however that pic you referenced was your Blazer....on the bench, by eye, I appear to have equal steering left and right. However on the ground the steering radius is noticeably tighter full turn left vs full turn right. Any ideas?

Oops I’ll have to look for a proper picture. Correct, my K10 servo is sideways and on top of the servo mounts, other than that it's the same setup as the K5 Blazer. . I reference inside edge of tires to lower links for initial setup and then trim up with the transmitter, and final check on the bench while cycling front suspension so that servo never strains. One time I said fawk it and ended up buying servo gears because they got sloppy quickly.

[DMS70]

Originally Posted by Natedog

Thanks and yes it will!



Oops I’ll have to look for a proper picture. Correct, my K10 servo is sideways and on top of the servo mounts, other than that it's the same setup as the K5 Blazer. . I reference inside edge of tires to lower links for initial setup and then trim up with the transmitter, and final check on the bench while cycling front suspension so that servo never strains. One time I said fawk it and ended up buying servo gears because they got sloppy quickly.

Ok, thanks. Yes I’ve also mounted the servo on top of mounts, and kept it mounted across the chassis like stock. My Blazer turns like a champ, and that steering is stock except for the Savox servo. The Blazer has the sw1211sg, and the K10 has the sw1210sg. Both running through Castle BEC’s at 7v.

[Natedog]

Drilled and tapped left rear frame rail to add the third shock tower mounting screw, the hole was there anyways but it held up to PBTF. Added a very thick flat washer (looks like old RC10 diff thrust bearing washer) under the rear axle upper link mount to beef it up a bit more and straighten the upper link fore/aft a bit more too. Had to cut another screw down to length.

[mgputer]

Originally Posted by Natedog

Straightened out my rear upper fore/aft link most of the way, got an idea to get it perfectly straight.

Little blue pill?

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[Natedog]

Mgputer, good one lol, but no.


Sweet box shot of some new parts. Body will (hopefully) be hot swappable between it's native chassis and a shortened and narrowed Ascender setup, it's great that Ascender has small pumpkins and is made to have the axle housings narrowed. I'm thinking narrowin only the right front axle side will work out for passenger transfer case drop to the offset front. There's always nice 3d printed axle housings using Ascender guts to put under a hardbody Toyota.
https://bowhouserc.com/tf2-collection/

[mgputer]

I thought about picking up the 4 door but I just haven't done it yet. Should be a cool build

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[Ascender'nMN84]

I'll just leave this here. Spotted on my drive home today.

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[Natedog]

Originally Posted by mgputer

I thought about picking up the 4 door but I just haven't done it yet. Should be a cool build

Do it! Thanks!

Originally Posted by Ascender'nMN84

I'll just leave this here. Spotted on my drive home today.

Dang, I'm hungry, mustard, relish and extra onions please!

[Itali83]

Nate,
Can we get an update how how the k10 is running with the new suspension mods? Honestly, how’s the torque twist? I’m looking st doing this set up on my new f-100 but want to know how it does. Compared to the tried and true sway bar set up, does it still lay over?

From the pictures, it looks like you’ve done the adjustable collar shock mod, have the shocks mounted between the mounts on the axle, not outboarded. 3 link in the rear. Still have the rear links at the WB 4 length but frame at WB2 correct? Dropped the cage and body by modifying cage. Still have the shocks internally limited 10mm’s? What weight shock oil and did you drill the pistons on the aluminum shocks like you did way back with the stock ones? I hate to just steal your info but I’ve tot so little time to actually get out and test my trucks but I can make time to build them I just want to make sure I’m headed in the right direction.

Oh, give us some pics of the blazer. It needs some time to shine. That’s th grandfather of modded ascenders by now I think lol.

Thanks

Ben

[Natedog]

Good morning Ben,
My K5 Blazer just flat out works and the only thing I've done with it in months, is drive it and let everyone else drive it.

K10 is running quite well, but could use a little more tuning, I've got so many projects. TT is definitely better, but need to raise rear upper link mounts like I had them with the Double-DZ-RCs plates. Would also benefit from raising panhard at axle (front and rear) and lowering it at the frame, would need a bend in the link, but that's easy. Rear upper link needs to be more outboard and pointing even more straight back. I also need two more shock collars to do Rich Trujillo's front shocks collar mod (I've got several sets of spare shocks because collars aren't available separate from shocks), need to re-outboard the shocks too. Yes, frame is still at WB2, rear links WB4, which effectively makes it WB3. Have not dropped body/cage because I'm still running stock tires, smaller tire build is on my list. Shocks are limited 6mm on K10 (9mm on K5 Blazer), did not drill out Vaterra aluminum shock pistons (they don't need it) running 30wt oil. I've been trying lots of different stuff with the K10 and have determined what was good and not so good, now need to do the wrenching and fabbing to get it there. No problem, I'm here to help, steal my Ascender info. Gotta get some more pictures of the Blazer.

Ernie's thread with input from ErikDlux is a big help with the rear 3-link setup, thanks!

Codyboy's 79 Ford (Rent to Own) Ascender

Took a hard tumble last week, kept going down the rocks (no dirt) finally landed about 30' down and no damage other than scrapes and lost a headlight lense. Picture is a few minutes prior to big fall.

[Browneye]

What's the go-to for moving up the upper rear link mount? That's the only thing I haven't done to mine and some avid observers have recommended it.

The shock mod works really well. Since adding a SCX10II to my fleet I have noticed TT is pretty comparable to a mod'd Ascender. I've been enjoying the new Axial Blazer, but it doesn't quite keep up with my fully mod'd WB4 ascender with weighted axles and bigger tires.

[Natedog]

Originally Posted by Browneye

What's the go-to for moving up the upper rear link mount? That's the only thing I haven't done to mine and some avid observers have recommended it.

The shock mod works really well. Since adding a SCX10II to my fleet I have noticed TT is pretty comparable to a mod'd Ascender. I've been enjoying the new Axial Blazer, but it doesn't quite keep up with my fully mod'd WB4 ascender with weighted axles and bigger tires.

Post #927 on page 47 is pictures and info about the RULRs upper link mount location and the guy selling the heavy duty aluminum mounts.


Interesting about the TT on your SCX10ii.

[Browneye]

That post shows the RULR but not where it comes from. Seems like scaler-fab or something...
I would willing to pop for a set for my comp rig to try it out.

[Ascender'nMN84]

Originally Posted by Natedog

K10 is running quite well, but could use a little more tuning, I've got so many projects. TT is definitely better, but need to raise rear upper link mounts like I had them with the Double-DZ-RCs plates.
Ernie's thread with input from ErikDlux is a big help with the

Originally Posted by Browneye

That post shows the RULR but not where it comes from. Seems like scaler-fab or something...
I would willing to pop for a set for my comp rig to try it out.

Double-DZ-RC. I made my own out some thin sheet steel I had. I forget exact thickness.

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[Natedog]

Originally Posted by Browneye

That post shows the RULR but not where it comes from. Seems like scaler-fab or something...
I would willing to pop for a set for my comp rig to try it out.

Sorry, post right above that

Originally Posted by Natedog

Double-DZS-RC from userid TODBLDZ here on RCC.

Shocks outboard, back a few pages, pictures of shocks mounted outside of lower link mounts on both front and rear axles. Upper mounts in stock location and no spacers added.

Originally Posted by Ascender'nMN84

Double-DZ-RC. I made my own out some thin sheet steel I had. I forget exact thickness.

Thank you! They're 1/8" aluminum painted black and price was very reasonable.

Edit: Dunno if TODBLDZ user is still making and selling them or not.

Couldn't find thread about them, Pete959 was running them on his Ascender at some point and that's where I first saw them, pm'ed TODBLDZ and bought couple sets. Here's a thread of his about similar plates.
http://www.rccrawler.com/forum/chass...ho-plates.html

[Browneye]

Found JP Auto 3D printed ones but suspect lack of strength with them. Perhaps I'll try making a pair. Link extenders needed too huh?

[Natedog]

I haven't seen or heard of any 3D quality printed RULRs (JCAuto included), they all try to save print time and plastic by printing with lower resolution and hollow spots. It's a great idea, but poorly executed, mostly they break especially if the truck is crawled hard or takes a tumble. Metal is the way to go, you'll need to slightly shorten or lengthen upper links to get proper pinion angle.

[Natedog]

Crawl For A Cure 2018 was a blast, Rockhugger and I met some nice people and ended up crawling with Erika and Ed all day. Thanks to RC Country Hobby, Bruce, Stephen and all the peeps who sponsored this event, setup courses, cooked really yummy tacos, etc! I had 5 or 6 tacos and an amazing bowl of posole soup! Best event food ever! Thanks!

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Va'Blazer worked great, course had some really tough winch/tug strap sections, nothing broken and I was driving it hard. Night course was cool, they had total of four courses setup, long day and we crawled until about 9:30pm until it got super windy and pretty chilly, it was raining pine needles so figured time to pack it up for the night. So busy crawling, that I forgot to take more pictures, terrain was great!

I bought a bunch of raffle tickets, they had tons of cool prizes and it lasted a couple hours, won some cool stuff. The hi-light was Erika won a sweet RC4WD LWB Gelande D110! There were hundreds of people in attendance and all went well!

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After event clean up break time! Hot carrot cake with a pat of butter and fresh coffee.

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[MaX-D]

Congratulations on a successful event for a great cause! I lost my sister 3 years ago to breast cancer and I applaud anyone who does something like this. Well done!

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[M1tch]

Looks like you had a great time Nate. Shame about no pics. but having fun is a good excuse (just). Also an event like that is good to see.