VR6 BeelzeDub
Quarry Creeper
Years ago I started piecing together a budget D90 build from an eBay $30 Gelande 2 chassis, knowing I’d make mistakes along the way. This was going to be my first non kit build.
I was able to score some actual RC4WD parts dirt cheap, R3 trans, tcase, Yota axles, links/mounts, etc. During this process I discovered JK bodies for $35 shipped and read this was the “perfect” chassis...
I quickly discovered it’s perfect for a monster 4x4 build and not what I had in mind.
I wanted something like this with 1.55 tires:
But this happened:
1.7 tires still no good:
1.9 tires for now. Still not happy:
I started cutting, hacking, cursing, searching, and all together realizing I probably have to spend too much $$$ for a Proper chassis....
HOWEVER some progress:
Chassis aside, I was doing some work on the body every other month or so and occasionally making progress on chassis fitment (more on that later)
Two “must haves” for this build:
1)half doors
2)CJ style roll bar.
Half doors are a nightmare as this is supposed to be a modern jerp acting like an older one...
Fail No. 6? My styrene refused to bond to the panel material.
The styrene kept separating until I loaded the backside w/more reinforcement and all 3 plastic glue types. MEK, e6000, CA.
So finally:
I’m not ENTIRELY happy with them as they’re more like halfass doors with pockets for door handles/levers. putting these aside for now....
Next was the Sawback roll bar which is too wide. I removed a portion from the middle (approx 1 light bucket wide), trying to keep the lights evenly spaced apart. It did not work well as I quickly discovered GMADE’s plastic is stronger than steel and doesn’t take to any adhesives?
My solution was drilling both halves and inserting a “pin” to keep them aligned as well as adding some resistance to shear forces. Followed that by tightly wrapping the bar w/rope (in compression and in tension) and soaking it with epoxy. I have a feeling it won’t last long...
Test piece:
And finally:
The front of the roll bar fit into existing holes used for the factory roof and I had to make 2 more for the rear of the roll bar. The roll bar mounts like body posts w/clips on Lexan bodies, so I just secured it through the body using piano wire and will be hidden completely when “finished”
I’m still working on getting this body to sit low enough on the Gelande chassis by trying out some different suspension & tire setups. More to come if anyone cares!
P.s. if anyone cares to offer criticism/suggestions I’m open to any!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I was able to score some actual RC4WD parts dirt cheap, R3 trans, tcase, Yota axles, links/mounts, etc. During this process I discovered JK bodies for $35 shipped and read this was the “perfect” chassis...
I quickly discovered it’s perfect for a monster 4x4 build and not what I had in mind.
I wanted something like this with 1.55 tires:
But this happened:
1.7 tires still no good:
1.9 tires for now. Still not happy:
I started cutting, hacking, cursing, searching, and all together realizing I probably have to spend too much $$$ for a Proper chassis....
HOWEVER some progress:
Chassis aside, I was doing some work on the body every other month or so and occasionally making progress on chassis fitment (more on that later)
Two “must haves” for this build:
1)half doors
2)CJ style roll bar.
Half doors are a nightmare as this is supposed to be a modern jerp acting like an older one...
Fail No. 6? My styrene refused to bond to the panel material.
The styrene kept separating until I loaded the backside w/more reinforcement and all 3 plastic glue types. MEK, e6000, CA.
So finally:
I’m not ENTIRELY happy with them as they’re more like halfass doors with pockets for door handles/levers. putting these aside for now....
Next was the Sawback roll bar which is too wide. I removed a portion from the middle (approx 1 light bucket wide), trying to keep the lights evenly spaced apart. It did not work well as I quickly discovered GMADE’s plastic is stronger than steel and doesn’t take to any adhesives?
My solution was drilling both halves and inserting a “pin” to keep them aligned as well as adding some resistance to shear forces. Followed that by tightly wrapping the bar w/rope (in compression and in tension) and soaking it with epoxy. I have a feeling it won’t last long...
Test piece:
And finally:
The front of the roll bar fit into existing holes used for the factory roof and I had to make 2 more for the rear of the roll bar. The roll bar mounts like body posts w/clips on Lexan bodies, so I just secured it through the body using piano wire and will be hidden completely when “finished”
I’m still working on getting this body to sit low enough on the Gelande chassis by trying out some different suspension & tire setups. More to come if anyone cares!
P.s. if anyone cares to offer criticism/suggestions I’m open to any!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
