B-MOW’s Vanquish VRD Str8 Carbon

[B-MOW71]

So glad to be back. I started this spare parts build about a 2 months ago and then real life hit me straight in the face. I had a colonoscopy test come back with bad news. Found out that the test came back positive for colon cancer. Was not the news I needed to start off the year. The team of doctors that I have acted quickly and got me scheduled for robotic surgery to remove the section of colon that had the cancer. Spent a week in the hospital and another 2 weeks at home recovering. This surgery was no joke and really kicked my ass! My follow up with the surgeon last week brought fantastic news. He said all went well and I am cancer free. The cancer was contained in the section of colon that was removed and did not spread. Luckily for me it was caught early enough that it could be treated. Learned a valuable lesson in how important it is to get tested.

Alright, enough of that, on with this build. This build has been an accumulation of parts I have gathered over the last couple of years. It all started with a VFD transmission I bought off of @twade984 way back when. It came with 21% OD and alum bearing plates. Can’t remember if it came with alum standoffs and motor plate, but it does have them now.

The VRD Carbon rails came from FB marketplace. It came complete with all the plastic cross members, bumpers, etc. All brand new for the low price of $55 bucks. Couldn’t hardly pass that up!

The F10 axles came from another one of my uncompleted builds that currently sits on the shelf waiting for me to finish. That build recently got a set of F10T alum axles.






I decided to use CMS instead of SOA, so I chopped up a spare servo mount brace. Cut the front bumper mounts and rear tabs off and mounted it inside the chassis.







More on the way soon!

 

[durok]

Dude - sorry about the health scare - but stoked that you made it through like a champ!

Watching this build, like I watch all of yours take place.

I've got to get around to my health checkup, too - turned 60 about 6 months ago and it's been a few yrs since my last gut-check...

Another thing I need to do is install all my H10 Optic upgrades, as I'm going to try and get out to the Texas CrawlFest near the end of this month.

I have nearly every hop-up from Vanquish to lighten up and increase overdrive and trans/diff strength as well as all-Holmes CM electronics...

 

[cul8tr]

Outstanding news. I'm glad everything went well and that you are back in the game.

 

[high plains drifter]

Was wondering where you had been. Geeze... You really have to go out in style, huh? Really good to hear that you made it through. Will be following your project as I always do but damn... for now just glad you're okay.

 

[Speedy-Triple]

Hey B glad to see you back, also happy to hear that you are doing great after such life scare. VRD looking good and cant wait for some updates. Stay Healthy.

 

[Ballistic17]

Wow. Sorry to hear about the cancer but glad you beat it. Build looks pretty good. Can't wait to see more.

 

[B-MOW71]

Dude - sorry about the health scare - but stoked that you made it through like a champ!

Watching this build, like I watch all of yours take place.

I've got to get around to my health checkup, too - turned 60 about 6 months ago and it's been a few yrs since my last gut-check...

Another thing I need to do is install all my H10 Optic upgrades, as I'm going to try and get out to the Texas CrawlFest near the end of this month.

I have nearly every hop-up from Vanquish to lighten up and increase overdrive and trans/diff strength as well as all-Holmes CM electronics...

Outstanding news. I'm glad everything went well and that you are back in the game.

Was wondering where you had been. Geeze... You really have to go out in style, huh? Really good to hear that you made it through. Will be following your project as I always do but damn... for now just glad you're okay.

Hey B glad to see you back, also happy to hear that you are doing great after such life scare. VRD looking good and cant wait for some updates. Stay Healthy.

Wow. Sorry to hear about the cancer but glad you beat it. Build looks pretty good. Can't wait to see more.

Thanks guys! Appreciate it more than you know.

Learned how important those dumb colonoscopy’s really are. I’ve done the Cologaurd poop box a few times and the last one flagged positive. My surgeon told me he diagnosed a 41 year old a week before me. Sadly this is happening to the younger than 50 more often these days.

I do recommend to all at least do the Cologuard test. It’s easy and could save your life!

Ok, now on with more build updates shortly!

 

[cul8tr]

I love seeing all the build threads from everyone.

Guys don't skip the colonoscopy. It could save your life.

I noticed the outline is still on the floor, so I assume the investigation is still going on.

 

[B-MOW71]

More new takeoff stuff acquired from FB marketplace. Hard to pass up these deals.

VRD S23 link set $40.00
ISD10 VRD driveshaft kit $15.00
VRD S8E shocks $30.00






Links, driveshafts and shocks installed. The S8E shocks were completely disassembled including the o-ring packing. Reassembled the correct way with Noleen grease and filled with 60 wt. fluid all around. Bled and sealed for a smooth leak free ride. It’s hard to beat these shocks for the money when they are built correctly.






I forgot to mention that the front knuckles are the SSD brass 71 grams each.

 

[B-MOW71]

I love seeing all the build threads from everyone.

Guys don't skip the colonoscopy. It could save your life.

I noticed the outline is still on the floor, so I assume the investigation is still going on.

Still unsolved!

 

[cul8tr]

Light gray box on the left side. It almost looks like a mount to slide the HW power switch in.
What is it for?

 

[B-MOW71]

Light gray box on the left side. It almost looks like a mount to slide the HW power switch in.
What is it for?

You guessed it! I’ll have more on that shortly.

 

[B-MOW71]

Adding a few 3D printed parts. In the first pic is a receiver tray with a Hobbywing power switch holder. This can be found on Thingiverse. I forget the designer, but it is I a great design that fits perfectly around the alum standoffs and mounts into the front spur gear cover mount.




Here we have the Harley Designs VRD Carbon/Stance rear bed. Also comes with a rear body mount that bolt into the cross member behind the VFD trans. It uses the stock body mounts as seen in the pic below.






Next up is the Harley Designs front inner fenders designed for the VRD Carbon and Stance chassis rails. It perfectly fits around the shock towers.

Also pictured is my current budget servo of choice. It is the NSDRC RS-500B budget servo. Hard to beat this direct power servo for the price. I have a few of these in other rigs and they have performed flawlessly. More than enough torque and speed for my type of rock crawling.




I would normally print these items with black filament and then coat them with matte black paint to knock the shine off of them and make them look more real and scale. But I ran out of black so I used a gray filament. I’ll still coat these with black paint later.

 

[B-MOW71]

All of the 3D prints are painted. Put 2 coats of matte black and topped with a matte clear coat.

For the bed floor, I used some Walmart craft paint to add the wood look and used gray for the metal rails. This too was topped with matte clear coat to protect the craft paint.

 

[cul8tr]

Awesome. What body have you decided on?

 

[King Dork]

B, great news that you’re doing well! Great looking project also!

 

[smog]

beautiful build, as always B

Sorry to hear about your colon, but good on ya for the comeback! That sounds like a miserable ride. It’s nice to have you back!

 

[Col_Sanders]

That rx tray and button holder is neat.

I printed up a few sets of those fender wells up and broke most of them. Tried asa and petg and printed in a couple different orientations. Probably could have added more walls but i ended up changing chassis anyway.

 

[B-MOW71]

Awesome. What body have you decided on?

Thanks! I’ll be recycling a used body I purchased recently. More details coming soon.

B, great news that you’re doing well! Great looking project also!

Thanks!

beautiful build, as always B

Sorry to hear about your colon, but good on ya for the comeback! That sounds like a miserable ride. It’s nice to have you back!

Thanks smog! The colon is on the mend and working better than ever.
It’s nice to be back.

That rx tray and button holder is neat.

I printed up a few sets of those fender wells up and broke most of them. Tried asa and petg and printed in a couple different orientations. Probably could have added more walls but i ended up changing chassis anyway.

So far so good on mine. I also have a set on my Carbon portal and they’ve held up great. I am using VO3D high strength PLA. It’s a ton tougher than standard PLA.

 

[cul8tr]

That reefs body would look good with the rear cage BUT it's to expensive.
Heck yeah on repurposing a body.