Build Thread Let's get nerdy - Kit Rally Car (PTG-2R)

[OnwardGuinevere]

I've done a ton of bearing type stuff for mountain bike suspension. But that's a lot bigger.

Assuming that has an entry and exit hole, I can't really tell. But it should

A trick or two we do is to put together a simple "vise". Using a nut, bolt and washers. The goal is to squeeze in the bearing by turning the nut and bolt. The washers help (maybe even a bushing too, depending) to help ensure alignment. And to not damage anything. Like the bearing. Works like magic. Trick is getting the right size stuff. Lube too, like the guys already said.

The other is some kind of c-clamp. But don't know if they make anything that small and would fit in that recessed area. Hence the bolt/nut/washer trick. Totally custom.

Looks great. What's the body looking like?

I worked on bicycle bearings too! The larger scale makes it an entirely different animal. I've used the exact method on setting headsets into my bikes. Have a makeshift tool and everything. Its worked everytime and I haven't needed that fancy, overpriced Park Tool version.

For this one, I just found a hex socket that matched the widest part of the bearing, so I'm not putting pressure on the bearings themselves. Then I just made sure it was on a firm, flat surface and applied a little pressure the bearings seated perfectly. The rest went together quickly after that

I bought a Subaru rally body with the kit and I just got a DeLorean body as well. I have prior pics in the thread of the bodies. I'm compiling a list of bodies/painting ideas I want for this car.

If I get a moment some day soon, I'm going to clean up my spreadsheet so I can show the running numbers of this build all costs.

 

[OnwardGuinevere]

Worked on the rear assembly today. After doing the front the rear went together a little quicker.

Now that the rear assembly is done it's about time I order my servo. Then of course my motor, ESC, recover...all the expensive drive bits

Started with assembling the spur gear, drive gear and out drive.

Shock tower and gear box

Rear diff, then out drive. Forgot to get a pic before I installed the top portion of the gearbox

Together now and adding the Mobil 1 grease, thanks to @WickedFog recommendation. Don't worry I added more than is shown. (I added to the front too)

Getting there ...

Here's my cheat for seating the inner bearings to the steering blocks. I find the hex socket that matches the outer metal ring of the bearing so that I'm not putting pressure directly on the bearings themselves.

Apply even pressure (it doesn't need much). Using this method makes it easy and I've not had a bearing go in crooked, win!

Drive shafts

Drive shafts installed.

Turnbuckles installed

Shocks...the red isn't terrible. Still not my fav, but will function just fine!

Installed body posts. Though, I need to fiddle with these a little bit as it's not fully flush with the shock tower.

Front and rear assemblies complete!

 

[CertifiedMike]

Worked on the rear assembly today. After doing the front the rear went together a little it quicker.

Now that the rear assembly is done it's about time I order my servo. Then of course my motor, ESC, recover...all the expensive drive bits

Started with assembling the spur gear, drive gear and out drive.
View attachment 230951

Shock tower and gear box
View attachment 230952
Rear diff, then out drive. Forgot to get a pic before I installed the top portion of the gearbox
View attachment 230953View attachment 230954
Together now and adding the Mobil 1 grease, thanks to @WickedFog recommendation. Don't work I added more than is shown. (I added to the front too)
View attachment 230955

Getting there ...
View attachment 230956

Here's my cheat for seating the inner bearings to the steering blocks. I find the hex socket that matches the outer metal ring of the bearing so that I'm not putting pressure directly on the bearings themselves.
View attachment 230957
Apply even pressure (it doesn't need much). Using this method makes it easy and I've not had a bearing go in crooked, win!
View attachment 230958
Drive shafts
View attachment 230959

Drive shafts installed.
View attachment 230960

Turnbuckles installed
View attachment 230961
Shocks...the red isn't terrible. Still not my fav, but will function just fine!
View attachment 230962
Installed body posts. Though, I need to fiddle with these a little bit as it's not fully flush with the shock tower.
View attachment 230963

Front and rear assemblies complete!View attachment 230966

The modular design is pretty slick! I like this car!

 

[OnwardGuinevere]

The modular design is pretty slick! I like this car!

It's all gone together quite smoothly. Trickiest part has honestly been the body posts front and rear. Gotta order that NitroPro servo, so I can get the steering assembly together.

 

[WickedFog]

That is a really nice looking kit, and I'm sure I've said that already. But it just keeps looking nicer.

 

[9x19]

Worked on the rear assembly today. After doing the front the rear went together a little it quicker.

Now that the rear assembly is done it's about time I order my servo. Then of course my motor, ESC, recover...all the expensive drive bits

Started with assembling the spur gear, drive gear and out drive.
View attachment 230951

Shock tower and gear box
View attachment 230952
Rear diff, then out drive. Forgot to get a pic before I installed the top portion of the gearbox
View attachment 230953View attachment 230954
Together now and adding the Mobil 1 grease, thanks to @WickedFog recommendation. Don't worry I added more than is shown. (I added to the front too)
View attachment 230955

Getting there ...
View attachment 230956

Here's my cheat for seating the inner bearings to the steering blocks. I find the hex socket that matches the outer metal ring of the bearing so that I'm not putting pressure directly on the bearings themselves.
View attachment 230957
Apply even pressure (it doesn't need much). Using this method makes it easy and I've not had a bearing go in crooked, win!
View attachment 230958
Drive shafts
View attachment 230959

Drive shafts installed.
View attachment 230960

Turnbuckles installed
View attachment 230961
Shocks...the red isn't terrible. Still not my fav, but will function just fine!
View attachment 230962
Installed body posts. Though, I need to fiddle with these a little bit as it's not fully flush with the shock tower.
View attachment 230963

Front and rear assemblies complete!View attachment 230966

Don't stop now!

It looks gerat!

 

[Punkmoses]

I'm thinkin about Sway Bar! Loving the progress so far, very neat! I want one.

 

[OnwardGuinevere]

A little progress today, couldn't do much more as I'm waiting for my servo to arrive. I was hopeful I'd have it on Monday, but seeing that it is in a USPS distribution center in Guam I am no longer thinking it'll be to me on Monday, lol.

Steering/servo saver assembly

Mounting bracket for servo and turnbuckles. I'll shorten the ones with the black screws a little more when I get the servo.

 

[CertifiedMike]

A little progress today, couldn't do much more as I'm waiting for my servo to arrive. I was hopeful I'd have it on Monday, but seeing that it is in a USPS distribution center in Guam I am no longer thinking it'll be to me on Monday, lol.

View attachment 231745

View attachment 231746

View attachment 231747
Steering/servo saver assembly
View attachment 231748
Mounting bracket for servo and turnbuckles. I'll shorten the ones with the black screws a little more when I get the servo.
View attachment 231749

Its nice to see bearings in the steering set up!
Good luck with the servo shipping!

 

[TeknoJ]

It comes with the floating servo mount, neat…

 

[OnwardGuinevere]

It comes with the floating servo mount, neat…

Yea! I thought that was kind of neat too!

 

[OnwardGuinevere]

Alright, all my electronics have arrived, so I was able to work on the build today! Sequence is a little out of order, I was so excited it getting close to being done!

Tomorrow's plan is to get some double sided tape for the ESC and receiver, then dig into getting the electronics all hooked up. I'll swing by the hobby shop and see what they have for batteries too. Depending on what they have we'll see if I need to place an order for one.

After all that, the next step is getting the 14? Lights installed in the body. My ESS dual speaker is in transit, so with any luck I'll have that by the end of the weekend.

My Nitro Pro servo arrived after vacationing in Hawaii . I'm still jealous it got to holiday there

Hobbywing EZrun 3652 motor, 4100kv with 24t pinion

Spur gear cover and aluminum motor mount installed, along with guard rails.

Chassis brace and battery holder.

Front suspension assembly on to the chassis

Rear suspension assembly on chassis. Fixed the rear body post not sitting flush issue, they are solid now.

Looking awesome!

Motor installed

Steering assembly installed.

Drive shaft (before I covered it with the upper deck plate)

Fender wells and mud flaps added.

ESC placement looks good. I need to grab some double sided tape to secure the ESC and receiver.

Found some black wheels with dirt tires and I love the look! I need to find maybe darker hex nuts for the wheels. The silver isn't terrible, but black or a dark metal would be cool.

Can't wait to fire this rig up!

 

[Doom!]

Lookin' good!

 

[9x19]

Nice build!

You're making my palms itch to start on mine!

 

[OnwardGuinevere]

So I've been working slowly getting the finishing touches on this sweet rig. All the electronics are in with the exception of tracking down my receiver.

I've got the ESS dual installed and it works great! Still not set on this mounting position, but trying it for the moment. I just have it zip tied to the body posts.

Next I'm playing with the lights...there are a lot of lights on this Subaru body (8 total). I've actually only hooked up the 4 front lights and instead of turn signals I've got reverse lights and 4 tail lights.
All these lights (I think) are running up close to the power I have available, so debating even hooking up the others or looking at using the rc4wd light controller? Not sure yet, as I don't want extra weight of an additional battery just for lights. Work in progress still, but close!

 

[CertifiedMike]

The lights look great!!! That body is looking fantastic! I can't wait to see it all lit up on the road now!!!

 

[OnwardGuinevere]

Still working finishing touches on the rally car. Mainly mounting the dual speaker and how to cram all the wiring under the dust cover. That is no easy feat! There is not a lot of margin there.

While I sus that out, I baked some wheels today thanks to some advice from @CertifiedMike. Tomorrow I plan to remount the tires to gold wheels and test those in the car. So close to a test run for this thing!

 

[CertifiedMike]

Still working finishing touches on the rally car. Mainly mounting the dual speaker and how to cram all the wiring under the dust cover. That is no easy feat! There is not a lot of margin there.

While I sus that out, I baked some wheels today thanks to some advice from @CertifiedMike. Tomorrow I plan to remount the tires to gold wheels and test those in the car. So close to a test run for this thing! View attachment 234299

I know a lot about getting baked!

 

[Doom!]

Still working finishing touches on the rally car. Mainly mounting the dual speaker and how to cram all the wiring under the dust cover. That is no easy feat! There is not a lot of margin there.

While I sus that out, I baked some wheels today thanks to some advice from @CertifiedMike. Tomorrow I plan to remount the tires to gold wheels and test those in the car. So close to a test run for this thing! View attachment 234299

Tires look a little chewy, I prefer cinnamon rolls. Also worth noting, it looks like a dog is trapped in the back of the oven.

 

[OnwardGuinevere]

Tires look a little chewy, I prefer cinnamon rolls. Also worth noting, it looks like a dog is trapped in the back of the oven.

Cinnamon rolls sound great, I should make those again soon .

Funny about the dog, it totally does!

I can assure you, no dogs were harmed in the baking of these wheels