Tom G's Unlimited Build

[Tom G]

Tom G's Super Mini

I finally gathered up enough parts to start an Unlimited Mini build. There’s going to be lots of Machine work so this build thread may be a little Slow.

I'm going to try and make this as low budget as possible using parts I have on hand and only buying what I absolutely have to!:roll::lmao::lmao:

Specs:
Chassis, Axles, Suspension

Chassis is a CF 2.2 Pro I designed several yrs. ago
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Axles either Losi Night Crawler’s with MOA adapters or modified EXCEED Mad Torque gear cases with metal gears.

Shocks either moded Traxxas big bores or Axial 7mm icons.
TI 4 Links by me

Not sure what wheels & tires I’m thinking of making some 4” CF or G-10 with narrowed Voodoo’s or RC4WD comps

Electronics:
My 4PK-R rx/tx
Servos 7950’ s or Pro Tech 170 T’s
Holmes TQ Master BR dual mini
Holmes 13T Team 400 Puller wit da works
Castel BEC’s

Starting on the Exceed axles since they will require the most work.

I’ll replace the stock plastic tubes with some of my Aluminum tubes as the plastic ones I have are badly damaged (striped threads by a wrench happy Gorilla) plus I don’t like the threads in plastic parts.

C hubs, knuckles and CVD’s will be some Spare RC4WD Bully 2 Comp axle parts I have laying around.

Pic’s will follow later today after I machine some of the axle parts

 

[BC-Brian]

Sounds like a good start. You can narrow that chassis up quite a bit and if you are feeling frisky, ditch the entire cab portion if you want. :mrgreen:

 

[Tom G]

That's 1 of many things on a VERY long list "thumbsup":lmao:

 

[Tom G]

Got quit a bit of work done on the axles machined the new tubes shorten the RC4WD axle shafts & fitted the c hubs and knuckles also started the 4 link & shock mounts "thumbsup"
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[KingGee]

Looking good bud. Seeing mounts like that reminds me when I made them for chris's super. Gonna be another top notch build for sure.

 

[Tom G]

Sounds like a good start. You can narrow that chassis up quite a bit and if you are feeling frisky, ditch the entire cab portion if you want. :mrgreen:

Just FYI the chassis is only 1-7/8 wide

 

[Tom G]

Most of the Prototype work is done on the axles. "thumbsup" Just need to finish up the upper link mount's. I'm holding off on those till the motor's get here from Holmes . ( hopefully today or Monday)

Space on these is so tight I don't want to machine something only to find out they don't fit .

I had to sacrifice a little on the CG by moving the servo's up , mostly because I didn't like the servo lower then the bottom of the tube's.

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This a really fun build, figuring out all the little design detail's . Still a ton of part's to make.
More to follow as it comes together.

 

[Solitaire]

Great start, Tom.
Definitely a builders project.

 

[Tom G]

More progress mocked up some upper link mounts and TI drag & steering links.

As soon as my other 7950's get back from Hitech repair the axles will be done
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Time to move on to easy but boring stuff chassis , suspension ,electronics , wheel's & tires.

I have lots of 2.2 CF wheel's and tires both narrowed Voodoos and RC4WD Comp's laying around to Start with.

I may plagiarize Erik's idea and make some 4" wheels and cut-n -shoot tires.

I really like the way his 6" wheels work on my Super class truck "thumbsup"

 

[Tom G]

Its a roller."thumbsup"

Just need to do the final install of the electronics and either make body-less panels or decide if I want to use some kind of a body.

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After some testing and suspension tweaking I'll need to to shorten the upper link mounts I inadvertently made them to tall.

Right now when driving upside down they will act like plow. Or maybe could use them to plow my veggie garden LMAO:lmao:

Still contemplating some 4 inch wheels and 6 inch cut-n-shoot Voodoos8)

I also did a mod. to the chassis eliminated the curved skid (as in the previous pic's ) for a more conventional flat design
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[Tom G]

Finally done & ready to hit the rocks .

I was able to keep the cost down to less then $475.00. I only had to buy 7075 T6 aluminum bar stock ( cause I was out of stock) for the axle tubes & the Holmes motors and servo arms. Every thing else was on hand in the parts hoard. That dose not include my labor cost @ 30 hrs of machine work. :lmao:

I'm sure there will be lot's of mod's tweaking.

Thinking this is the 1st 12" gate Unlimited Mini in Wa. hopefully it will motivate some of the locals to start a build otherwise it'll just be a play truck.

Wheel base is 13 1/2 Track width front is 10 1/8 Rear 9 1/4 for now

Ride height Uncompressed 2 7/8 Compressed is 1 3/8

Weigh's in a 4 lbs 9 oz RTR ( what a toad)

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Next trip to the hobby store I'll pick up some lexan and make nicer side panels
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Later on the upper link mount are definitely going to have to be shortened:x
A lot of work to dismantle the gear box's to get to the mounting screws

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[justinart24]

Woohoo! Very nice!"thumbsup"

 

[jebster]

Rig is looking sweet. And it is funny how your dimensions are almost identical to how I set up my super mini. I've been having fun with mine. Hope you get the same with yours.

 

[Tom G]

TNX Jeff

As far as track width the servo dictates that U just can't easily !! make it much narrower.

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As for the wheel base I just used an old set of 2.2 :lmao: 4 -links and add those longer RPM rod ends and that's how it ended up.

I had a chance to drive it yesterday , The suspension defiantly needs tweaking seams to want to torque lift one of the tires off the ground in off camber situations.:x

And it defiantly needs taller wheels and tires "thumbsup"it bottoms out on break-over ledges that a shorter wheel base 2.2 Pro rigs easy crawl's right over.
Also going to replace the RC4WD comp Tires with a set of narrowed VooDoo's

Just as a side note .I'm eyeballing those Losi night crawler axles I got from you. I machined the MOA adapters but that's as far as I've progressed on those

 

[jebster]

TNX Jeff

As far as track width the servo dictates that U just can't easily !! make it much narrower.

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As for the wheel base I just used an old set of 2.2 :lmao: 4 -links and add those longer RPM rod ends and that's how it ended up.

I had a chance to drive it yesterday , The suspension defiantly needs tweaking seams to want to torque lift one of the tires off the ground in off camber situations.:x

And it defiantly needs taller wheels and tires "thumbsup"it bottoms out on ledges that a shorter wheel base 2.2 Pro rigs easy crawl's right over.
Also going to replace the RC4WD comp Tires with a set of narrowed VooDoo's

Just as a side note .I'm eyeballing those Losi night crawler axles I got from you. I machined the MOA adapters but that's as far as I've progressed on those

looking forward to seeing what you come up with for the losi axles. i know there is already one mini super on the forum based on them but i would expect to see more.

 

[Erik D_lux]

Nice job on the build! I really like how you pushed that servo even a bit further by placing it on top of the tube.

 

[Tom G]

Nice job on the build! I really like how you pushed that servo even a bit further by placing it on top of the tube.

TNX Erik
I stared at the basic servo placement for 6 or 7 beer's before the light bulb came on :lmao: there's not much space on these little guys

After doing some test I need to redo the wheel base its way to long @ 13 inches, don't know what I was thinking (BRAIN FART).
Lines a 2.2 pro truck crawls right over this guy hangs up on the skid.

Shorten the chassis for the shock mount location and new 4 link's "thumbsup"

 

[Tom G]

Made a bunch of changes to hopefully improve the way this little guy performs.

Shortened the Wheel-base from 13 1/8 ( don't know why I built it like that :shock to
11 5/8 .
Changed the shock angles , increased the caster to 12 deg.
Also swapped out the RC4WD comp tires to a set of my narrowed Voodoo's
Ran 3 packs testing on my practices pile of wet slimy moss covers boulders.

Swapped from 4s to 3s to slow the wheel speed a little and going to drop the pinion's from 12t to 11t later

Much improved it no longer gets hung-up on the skid on ledges, and will pretty much climb over anything the Pro truck will. (with in reason)

It's much improved now but still needs some tweaking

Still a little unstable on side hills but I can improve that by increasing the rear track width a little .

Old Spec's.
Wheelbase 13 1/8
Track width front 10 1/8
Rear 9 1/8

New Spec's.
Wheelbase 11 5/8
Track width front Same
Rear -Going to change to 9. 5 or 3/4

It will still have 1 7/8 clearance on a 12" gate but that's why we have rear steer:lmao:
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[chevotafun]

Pretty freakin cool Tom