Project Lightweight Take 2 (Jk Buggy)

[lonleycreeper]

After going crawling last sunday I decided I wanted a new crawler, lol.
I decided I would rob my mud truck of its running gear and bolt it onto this chassis. Vp trans housing, rpp steel gears, od front axle stock rear.
The chassis is based on prolines Jk 2dr body. The chassis is brazed aluminum tube , 1/4" &3/16" .035 wall thickness. The larger tube for the "frame" and main hoop, and 3/16" for the rest.
I decided on paint already, blue body(already painted,and beat) with a orange painted cage/frame.
Going to run some roklox I have on a shelf, haven't decided on rims yet, probably axial beadlocks.
Where I am at now...

 

[lonleycreeper]

Did some more tube work, I will let the pics do the talking...

 

[Rodamis]

Looking good so far is the going to be a brute cab ?

 

[lonleycreeper]

Nope, no brute cab, only a front clip, and side panels..

The issue I am having with the trans, (not the trans I am actually using). The trans hits the seat .

 

[STANG KILLA SS]

clean tube work!
(washing machine joke):mrgreen:

 

[lonleycreeper]

Stang killa, haha, thanks I think...

Made a little more progress today, put in some side roof bars, and made the side panels...

 

[mhuffman_81]

Nice looks great. You do some awesome tube work. I may have to hire you! HaHa!

 

[lonleycreeper]

Nice looks great. You do some awesome tube work. I may have to hire you! HaHa!

Thanks Matt, means alot coming from you.
It is finally starting to take shape. Now onto the cross bracing and other support...

 

[Archangel]

Cool man. You said you were brazing aluminum? How do you do that? Are you just using aluminum brazing rod?

 

[lonleycreeper]

Cool man. You said you were brazing aluminum? How do you do that? Are you just using aluminum brazing rod?

Yup, aluminum brazing rod, picked it up @ the local welding supply. Just takes time and patience. Lhs provides the tubing, k&s brand, you can also get it @Tower.

 

[lonleycreeper]

Got some crossbracing done, and a mockup of the wheelbase...

 

[lonleycreeper]

Well I am almost out of 3/16 tubing, lol. I have 3 or 4 pieces between 2"& 5". I need one more stick to finish the crossbracing in the back.
The interior is mounted, winch plate on the front, window bar in and I changed the bracing on the roof. I tried using some thin wall tubing but I was able to just pull it out, grrr. Thinking about using a chopped wk trans and motor plate. Proposed ride height.
Anyway on to pics...
Giving me a ultra 4 vibe.

 

[lonleycreeper]

I picked up this little gem today, includes the wireless controller..

 

[lonleycreeper]

**** +@#$!!!!
I melted my interior!
Decided to remove my front shock hoops, didn't really like them. Was really careful not to let the flame anywhere near the plastic, and this happened...

I might be able to save the dash, steering wheel. Front of the console is done. Feel like throwing the truck across the room!
Edit, cut the interior out, threw it across the room...
Feel better now.
Plan b wraith interior.

 

[mhuffman_81]

That sucks man. It does look salvageable though. Maybe with a bit of styrene work it can be saved. You're side panels would hide some of it and if it were painted grey or navy blue, or some other darker color, it may be hidden a bit as well. You could also get a driver figurine to put in there and that would cover up some of it. I think it is still totally manageable.

 

[lonleycreeper]

Thanks for the support, I ordered a wraith interior kir today. I have never had much sucess with styrene, if you want the pieces you are welcome to them.

 

[lonleycreeper]

For you guys with WK/CK trans laying around I discovered a great use for them. It can even have stripped gears. I wanted to mount my motor up front and use my built scx trans as a transfer case. Did not buy anything, did not fabricate anything. So what I did...

Step 1, Disassemble the Wk trans.
Step 2, Cut the trans off right below the second mount.
Step 3, Cut the motor mount at the same location, should look like this...

Step4, Take the gear spacer, the little round tube thingy, and cut it to roughly 3/8". Save the other piece, and trim it to roughly 1/8".
Next post for more.

 

[boosted4lyf]

how are the brazed joints holding up? Ive brazed steel a bunch and when I tried aluminum I had to lay a wet towel over the piece I was working on or the other joints would heat up and separate. it got very frustrating

 

[lonleycreeper]

Step 5, Drill out the spur gear holder, to equal the shaft size.
Step 6, Reassembly, install the e clip slide the 3/8" spacer on and install in the gear case. The second pin hole shoul be out past the front of the case install the 1/8" spacer, then the pin.
Step 7, Slide the spur gear assembly over the shaft onto the pin.
Step 8, install the driveshaft of your choice on the shaft,.
Step 9, install the motor of your choice and mount on your chassis.
Should look something like this...

 

[lonleycreeper]

how are the brazed joints holding up? Ive brazed steel a bunch and when I tried aluminum I had to lay a wet towel over the piece I was working on or the other joints would heat up and separate. it got very frustrating

Not to bad, I find that if I add to much heat I melt the aluminum, but I have an easier time with aluminum rather than steel. Just me and my setup I guess.