From Blazer to Flatbed truck

[sd38-2]

Since I bought my blazer RTR I've been wanting to customize it. Over the past few months I've been slowly buying parts to make it in to a flatbed 4x4 truck. I bought a bullhead cab and some part trees for it and lots of styrene. I changed the wheels a few months ago to black Gmade steel bead locks and pit bull tires. I also have the rear axle on the gcm leaf spring kit. Most of the electronics are under the hood now. The bed is only partly finished, I plan on adding sides and a tailgate. The battery is going to be hidden in a crate on the flatbed when finished. This was my first rc crawler and my first time working with styrene. I added a bulkhead on the flatbed, I'm thinking of cutting it down, it's a little too tall I think.

[sd38-2]

A little more work done to my Bobbed Deuce Ascender. Still alot of work ahead.

[Itali83]

That looks really cool. What wheelbase is the frame at? Looks like the rear axle could go back some. Would help with rear overhang and I think it'd look a little more proportional. I do like what you're doing though. Just a suggestion.

Ben

[sd38-2]

Originally Posted by Itali83

That looks really cool. What wheelbase is the frame at? Looks like the rear axle could go back some. Would help with rear overhang and I think it'd look a little more proportional. I do like what you're doing though. Just a suggestion.

Ben

Ben thanks! I really wanted a truck that was different than everything else you see so I made the bobbed deuce. If I had the extra parts I would have made it a 6x6. I left it set at the wheel base for the blazer body. Is there a setting that's longer wb than the blazer?

[Itali83]

Originally Posted by sd38-2

Ben thanks! I really wanted a truck that was different than everything else you see so I made the bobbed deuce. If I had the extra parts I would have made it a 6x6. I left it set at the wheel base for the blazer body. Is there a setting that's longer wb than the blazer?

No that's the longest that vaterra offers, BUT...there are more holes in the frame to slide the rear section of frame out some more, leave the transmission in the same place so the front driveshaft and links don't need to be changed. Then, just make some new links for the rear and you'll be good.

You can just make longer links for the rear but your shocks will be tilting to the rear which does effect spring rate and climbing ability. So you can move the shock mounts back to keep everything lined up that way too. Whatever you feel is easiest. Or you can leave it and enjoy it like it is. Either way, you've got a pretty cool rig!

Ben

[Itali83]

Oh wow, just looked again and you've got leafs in the rear. Sweet!! Slide the rear frame out from the front frame and you'll only have to change your rear body mount and driveshaft.

Ben

[sd38-2]

Thanks for the helpful tip! I'll mess with it sometime soon. This has been a fun but frustrating project at times.

[sd38-2]

Ben, what driveshaft should I replace the stock one with if I extend the chassis? I still have the factory plastic ones in it.

[Itali83]

I personally still use the vaterra driveshafts. They're big but do the job well. You can buy the driveshaft kit part number VTR232079, then take a male section, cut the end off where the cv joint bolts on, slide it in the female section and glue in place, then take a female section, cut the end off the cv joint bolts onto, glue it on the exposed male splines of the piece you just glued together. Now
You've got a longer female section the male section can go in and a longer overall driveshaft. It's up to you to do the measuring before glueing to make
Sure that you've got enough room for the driveshaft to fully compress and extend but you get the idea, right? Or, someone else can chime in with a different brand of driveshaft but you'll neeed the adapter for the rear end so it'll accept an aftermarket drive shaft which means you'll have to take the rear end all apart to change that. Then measure for the driveshaft and find one to fit.

Hope this helps.
Ben

[sd38-2]

Thanks again Ben! Your help and advice is very appreciated.

[sd38-2]

I started making new bumpers for my truck. I made them out of 16 ga steel. I have alot of work to do to them still, grill guard and tow rings on the front and a pintle hitch on the rear. I'm going to weather it to look old and rusty. I also made a new mount for the bed.



The green tape on the rear is marking for what I am going to trim off.