JIA's Vaterra

[JasonInAugusta]

I've been going over these things since they came out and finally got my hands on one.

After looking over (and driving) a few different power systems and various tweaks to the stock suspension in other peoples' rigs I knew that there was no point in me driving this thing in stock form because I just wouldn't be happy with it.

The front is too stiff, the rear is too soft, it needs a rear sway, blah, blah, blah...

Anyway, I'm starting off by getting rid of the cantilever front suspension. This is something Ryan (Spitfireat808 ) and I discussed over a few beers in the garage. We pretty much hashed out what needed to happen up front and Ryan has already built his version. Link to Ryan's build is here: Hawaiian hammah time

But what I had in mind was along the same lines but different. What I had in mind was to configure the front end like I explained in northkona's thread here: Proline front shocks

So that's where I am tonight, designing the new front end.

Grabbed compass, protractor, ruler, and some paper. Time to tear the thing down and get to work. Stark style. On the road with no tools.


Removed the cage as well as the wheels/tires so I could get measurements of the front end.


I decided to measure the angle of the suspension arms relative to the center line of the skid at droop and full bump. Crude measurements with the protractor gave me 8-9 degrees of droop and 10 degrees at full bump.

My best measurement showed that the hole for the cantilever pushrod was 3.5mm above the center line of the arm.

I plan to use RC4WD's 90mm King shocks which measure 90mm eye to eye fully extended and 66mm eye to eye fully compressed.

I drew the 90mm arcs with the arms in the droop position then drew the 66mm arcs with the arms at full bump. I found that there are no points of intersection in the two arcs.

So the next step was to draw a line perpendicular to the center line of the arm at full bump. This would give me the ideal location to make the most of the shock travel and keep the most linear spring rate throughout the entire range of travel.

I'll use this location on each side, in the higher 90mm location, to mount the shocks. Since there's 4mm separation between the two arcs, I'll need a 4-5mm rubber bump stop on the shock shaft. Otherwise the arm will be at full bump and the shock will still have 4mm of travel left.


Now that I know where the shocks need to go, it's time to draw up the shock towers.

[spitfireat808]

a few beers till 4am ahahahahaha! Yup on paper it looks good already!

[northkona]

If your tube work turns out anything like spitfires it'll be killer, looking forward to seeing it it

[Erin]

Been waiting to see what you come up with...

[Frakke]

this is gonna be soooo interesting to watch!!! Nice work!!!

[JasonInAugusta]

Originally Posted by spitfireat808

a few beers till 4am ahahahahaha! Yup on paper it looks good already!

Shoot, I was up until 4am drawing things up. Most of that time was staring, thinking, and looking at possibilities, but you know how it goes.

Originally Posted by northkona

If your tube work turns out anything like spitfires it'll be killer, looking forward to seeing it it

That dude does some clean work. I might have to hire him if I get lazy.

Originally Posted by Erin

Been waiting to see what you come up with...

I just got a rig. All of my time spent with them prior to last night was spent with other peoples' rigs checking them out, getting ideas, and seeing how they perform. I actually took Spitfire's rig to the rocks and put it through a comp course before he'd ever had a chance to put it on the rocks.

Originally Posted by Frakke

this is gonna be soooo interesting to watch!!! Nice work!!!

Thanks, man. When I talked to Spitfire I was talking about a different type of shock mount from what he ended up making. I plan to make the mounts I pictured when we were in the garage at 4am. Multiple mounting locations. Should be cool.

Everything works in my head, just need to put it to practice.

[shwng1973]

Originally Posted by JasonInAugusta

Everything works in my head, just need to put it to practice.

So can't wait to see what comes out of this.

[JasonInAugusta]

Working on it still.

Drew up the shocks mounted in the full droop position. At full droop the shocks are at about 66-67 degrees to the arm.

Also drew up the entire front end - well, at least the front cage section (outer dimensions) that could interfere with the shocks. The shocks clear the front cage at full droop so now I know this will work.


Since everything clears it's time to draw up the shock mounts.

[JasonInAugusta]

This should work.

[Tzi]

Subscribed

[badger]

The OG CarterFab Garage has been busy! Looks good man. Subscribed.

[spitfireat808]

LAZY!!!! NAW!!! boooshhh! 5 gal bucket of water!!! JASON WAKE UP!!! LOL

[DISTURBIN' tha PEACE]

Looks good on paper. Haha!

Hope this sees dirt & rock quicker than your IFS.

[JasonInAugusta]

Originally Posted by DISTURBIN' tha PEACE

Looks good on paper. Haha!

Hope this sees dirt & rock quicker than your IFS.

I'm putting this one on paper out of boredom. Had to find something to do until I can get shocks on hand and get to the metal work. Might have to hire Ryan to do some brazing while I work on my IFS.

[DISTURBIN' tha PEACE]

Originally Posted by JasonInAugusta

I'm putting this one on paper out of boredom. Had to find something to do until I can get shocks on hand and get to the metal work. Might have to hire Ryan to do some brazing while I work on my IFS.

Yeah, he ain't got nuthin' better to do.

See ya tonight Mr. Stark.

[badger]

Originally Posted by DISTURBIN' tha PEACE

Yeah, he ain't got nuthin' better to do.

See ya tonight Mr. Stark.

Except for long calls with my wife. On one hand I feel sorry for the poor bastard but on the other hand I feel like I should have to pay him for freeing up my days.

[DISTURBIN' tha PEACE]

Originally Posted by badger

Except for long calls with my wife. On one hand I feel sorry for the poor bastard but on the other hand I feel like I should have to pay him for freeing up my days.

[JasonInAugusta]

Originally Posted by badger

Except for long calls with my wife. On one hand I feel sorry for the poor bastard but on the other hand I feel like I should have to pay him for freeing up my days.

You cut me deep, Shrek.

[STANG KILLA SS]

cool drawing bro

[JasonInAugusta]

Originally Posted by STANG KILLA SS

cool drawing bro

That drawing was something to get my mind off things while we were out of town. Wife's father is in the final stages of liver cancer.

I couldn't sleep so I figured I'd keep my mind busy putting ideas/plans that were in my head to paper.

Small update. Got a package in from Holmes while we were out.

Three 27-turn TrailMaster Sport 540s and a 13-turn TorqueMaster Expert 540.



Put the 13-turn TorqeMaster Expert 540 in the otherwise stock Vaterrable and immediately noticed more speed, more torque, and stronger braking over the stock Dynamite 15-turn motor. A gear ratio change is next. The Vaterrable is great at speed but really needs some suspension tuning/re-gearing for crawling or dual-purpose use.


Aside from a pinion/spur change, I'll run it the way it is for now.

Suspension work is next on the list.