Project: Cash Caddy

[Mazlem]

I picked up a Clod awhile ago and have finally started working on it. I got it like this. The WB wasn't bad to start with at 14.5", but I wanted to get it to 16" at least. The whole frame needed to be shortened / lowered as well.

Rather than modifying the Jugg frame I went with a double-extended TwinForce frame I had left over after I sold that truck. With the new frame mocked-up I had a better idea of what else had to change. I ditched the Savage shocks and replaced them with ones from a Stampede I had lying around. Things are looking much better and with some little adjustments I should have my 16" WB.

More to come...

 

[Mazlem]

There's a bit of an articulation issue in that it's only getting ~25deg of flex. I've got the chassis plates cut up for the shocks to clear them. The shocks are connected using the same screw as the lower links and they're binding up; gotta separate them a bit or secure the shocks to the links w/ clamps. The rod ends for the suspension links could stand to rotate more freely too. I'll get those two things fixed when I make new links. Any suggestions on shock placement? Should probably get new shocks too since the tops are solid so they can't rotate.

I've got a couple chassis supports in place and the motor plate acting as a skid plate, so it's nice and sturdy to work with now.

 

[Heavy]

I think you need to move the shocks back, top and bottom. keep the shocks on the same angle, but slide them back so the lower end is about 1/2 way up the links. it would give you much more artic. and then you could slide the lower end around to play with ride hight.

You could then lop off some of the excess chassis on the front and rear where the shocks used to mount and save some weight.


Heavy

 

[team-nyke]

thats a nice looking truck like the frame just do heavys ideas and it should rock nice to see a "newbie" that doesnt have a foot of Ground Clearnce

 

[Mazlem]

Thanks team-nyke I've learned a lot over the past ~5mo reading and SEARCHing when building my TXT and now the Clod.

I'm trying to keep everything as low as possible. The battery will go on the skid plate and the body will be pretty slammed so that'll keep the COG super low. If I can get the chassis any lower I will!

 

[Mazlem]

Textual update

For the suspension links I made the mistake of buying 6-32 threaded rod which is a tad small; a couple local shops had 10-32 which is a little too big, so i've got some 8-32 on order. I ended up making the upper links using the 6-32 rod temporarily. With the axles eye-balled to be level the WB came out to be 16 3/4" which is about where I wanted it.

Also on the way are LST's, black beadlocks, and the necessary stuff for 1/4" links which will be used for steering linkages.

 

[Mazlem]

I finished the new 5/16" suspension links today; really wanted to keep the ends of the chassis plates for the body posts but I ended up cutting those off for better articulation. I'll figure out the new body mounts a bit later; for now I need to get some shocks mounted. With the way it looks 3" shocks may work better than the 4" ones I've got.

Anyway after the shocks I can start work on the axle side. Here's how the chassis sits now:

 

[Mazlem]

92YotaOnRims The chassis ends were hitting the motor/tranny toward the limit of the articulation so they had to go. I've put flanged balls between the links and chassis; during articulation the lower links go under the chassis sections you marked in green. The rod ends may hit but I could get away with notching those parts of the chassis instead of cutting them if I need to. The shocks should limit the articulation enough so that's not a problem.

 

[Mazlem]

Time for an update. ;-)

I've re-worked the axles - new gears, bearings and lockers. After I got the new LST's with cut foams wrapped around some beadlocks it was time to put it all back together. The shocks aren't hard-mounted yet; I've got clips to mount them onto the links but need spacers. But with everything in place I could test out the new articulation:

The bad news is now that the articulation is working properly I've found that with the wider chassis the tires can't hardly turn as they're hitting the lower links. So next up along with finishing up the shocks is to narrow the chassis about one inch and get bigger spacers for where the lower links connect to the axle.