Build Thread Clod Based "Class 3" Build

[Phins Fan]

Clod Bodied "Class 3" Build

Alright - Why I'm doin this now when the nice weather has hit vs a winter build is beyond me. My last attempt at a doccumented build was also pathetic at best so I will go at it with all the gusto I've got and see what happens from there.

My thought is to build a custom tube based chassis around a Clod type body. With the thought of a class 3 custom tuber it allows you to follow some basic guidelines and freelance with just about everything else. Most people will build a chassis and custom cut and mold a body around said chassis. I'm going at this with custom cutting the body to what I want and than build the chassis around that.

So the body work begins:

Thanks to RPP Hobby for the first body:

Seeing as to how I'm going to narrow the nose by about 2" its off with the hood:

After assembly I may consider hinging the hood back on and, pending electronics/driveline I may be able to build an engine/engine bay. We'll see.

No reason for a blower so a little Tenax and some styrene patching:

This was a bit difficult to swallow but cutting and hacking a rare bowtie grill to a narrower fit was a bit nerveracking. Its not like theres tons of these floating around if I screw up:

A little more Tenax and I have a basic idea of how narrow the frontend will end up bieng:

Its not much but a start

 

[NCNitro]

I'll be watching this one. I don't think I could have brought myself to cut up a bow tie grill, the plain one maybe, the 4x4x4 one, sure, but not the bow tie, lol.

 

[Phins Fan]

I didnt like how the nose looked with the AR60's underneath as i had a feeling I would end up rubbing under full flex so I shortened it up a bit more:

A quick mockup of the front end:

I will be extending the bed by about 55mm right behind the cab to get closer to the 12.5-13 inch wheelbase I will be trying for so time to start hacking into the bed section:

 

[slowngreen]

Good work so far. Glad your doing a class 3.

 

[Phins Fan]

Shes a "class 3". I'm gonna stick to the rules as close (ish) as possible but i still want to build a VERY capable performer on the trail. I will probably go over on the wheelbase for overall stability but aside from that I plan on sticking as close to the rules as possible (ish)

 

[SMaxxin]

Looking good so far, I like the narrowed grill

 

[Phins Fan]

Lesson Learned!! Measure twice - Cut once!! I'm not a carpenter

I had to start hacking into a 2nd body as I completely fubarred the first hood and had upwards of a 1/4" gap on both sides. Still had to do some styrene patching with this one but commin along just fine. I should be able to start extending the bed to achieve the 12.5"-13" wheelbase.

 

[Phins Fan]

In wanting to keep this rig "legal" I stuck with the 12.5" wheelbase. In doing so I had to extend the body by 1.5". I also wanted to dovetail the rear so the AR's will have no clearance issues:

Like the nose I'm lookin at about a 3" width for the rear:

A quick mockup of the rear before I start with the Tenax and patching:

 

[Phins Fan]

Ended up getting enough of the body done to where I can let it sit aside and focus on the chassis and brain:

Decided to go with a TVP chassis rail to start and build a chassis cage off of it. Had some .175" thk aluminum I cut and will eventually anodize:

Had some delrin for the skidplate:

I'm gonna have to cut into it some more to ensure the lower links dont bind up but its an easy fix.

A VP case wit HR hardcoated aluminum gears and stuffed with marine grease:

This is where the class 3 "ish" comes into play. A VP dig setup:

Seeing as to how I bash and not really comp I wanted some toys in my toy if that makes sense. The dig completely eliminates the chance I can run class 3 but oh well. Ill be sure to watch the other guys try to make it up the hill from the top in no time : I decided to locate everything on the back of the dig and servo so I fabbed and onodized an electronics plate:

A side view and you can see theres no room to speak of:

I'm a fan of if it aint broke dont fix it. I've never had any issues with the Rooster ESC's so I pulled 1 out of the drawer along with the RX, a HH 35T Torquemaster Pro and mounted everything:

And mocked up on the chassis:

I have a couple thoughts going on for the upper links and suspension but I need more parts first.

 

[hulkmaxx]

I know nothing about scale rigs or crawlers but this looks like its going to be a Bad AZZ rig man

 

[Phins Fan]

Thanx Hulk. As it turns out this has already taken a couple of unexpected twists. With the brain I built the TVP chassis wasn't going to allow me to get the locations right for the rear links and shocks for full flex capabilities so I had to ditch the TVP setup and will be starting a custom tube chassis instead. This will allow me to work specific bends and angles that I didnt have with the TVP chassis. It appears this is going more towards a tuber project at this point as opposed to the "class 3" I started with but hell......Ill just make it up as I go along

 

[Phins Fan]

So much for the TVP:

If anything the rig is worth at least 8 cents. I needed something for the link and shock mounts so i figured why not:

Added in some supports front/rear and side/side:

Inserted the brain back in and everything fits pretty nicely:

 

[slowngreen]

Nice brazing job.

 

[Phins Fan]

Thanx SNG. I've fubarred enough over the years to figure out how to finally get a good "weld" laid down. I was tempted to do it with brakeline and MAP gas but my skills are still horrible at best with gas VS my trusty soldering iron. maybe a future build of mine

 

[HPI-Killer]

Wow great lookin so far! Those pennies will help hold the value for resale if ever needed. can't want to see a roller.

 

[Phins Fan]

Should have a roller by the end of the weekend.

Started up some brass work again with the main chassis:

And the cage for the bed:

I started/finished assembly on the AR60's and man are they sweet lookin!!:

Front:

And rear:

A quick rundown of the axles:

OD/UD gearing
HR diff covers
Cappu Eng. knuckles, chubs, lockouts, shock/link mounts and upper mounts with custom anodize of course.
Losi 4" crawler shocks
The tires are 2.2 Rox Lox and are a staggering 5.6" tall sitting on Berg aluminum rims with some more custom anodize.

Tomrrow/Sundays goal will be to get the axles mocked up, make some front upper links (The other 1's I had were rubbing the driveshaft and not letting the shock fully compress) and maybe Monday/Tuesday I can get some more brass work done and fill in all my "welds". More to come

 

[Phins Fan]

Got the front cage section fabbed up and mated with the rear section:

Its amazing how you spend hours and hours making somethiing that 80% gets covered up:

 

[Phins Fan]

I had to get some assembly work done so i didnt fubar any flexing capabilities so I present the preroller roller:

And of course like a cheerleader on prom night with her legs in the air heres a couple of the mighty flex shots:

Time will tell but I almost wonder if I have too much flex going on at this point

 

[SMaxxin]

Yea thats a lot of flex. Looking good, nice work on the cage!

 

[Phins Fan]

I'm willing to bet if I dont cut back on some of the flex before her maiden voyage that she will surely break under the pressure of flexing that much. I think some limiters in the shocks will help out some. Time will tell