CEN F450 KG1 - ROCK CRAWLER MOD - 1/8 EMO X4 Chassis?

[WRXronald]

Ok, not sure if this should be a large scale rig candidate or not!? But maybe - its 1/8 scale so getting up there at least.

Its just an idea so far but as I got to looking around I just so happened to wander onto the perfect two used items to make it happen!!!!!!! So I'm taking a shot......

I noticed the CEN F450 KG1 has a wheelbase that is only 9mm different (longer) than the Cross RC EMO X4 Jeep Gladiator...... I don't like the CEN chassis and dually setup much just based on being not a particularly sturdy or capable crawling setup -- I get it, just a hauler, and its AWESOME, but I don't want to go the direction everyone else does with it - chassis lift, etc.

But how bout as a dedicated ROCK CRAWLER / OFF ROADER instead??????

With minor tweaking -- strip the body from the EMO X4, extend the wheelbase a hair, and voila, mount the F450 and you've got an instanta-conversion.

It has to have 2.2 Rock Crushers of course --- and the 1/8th scale should make the F450 1/10 scale body look very scale MEGA-TRUCK like, which is always the look i'm going for if you don't know my threads by now.....

So I started searching and bam a used F450 were right there on the bay, and even a used EMO X4 with freaking ROCK CRUSHERS upgrade -- I was like whaaa??? This can't be.

SO ya know I did it ---- XMAS early baby!! LOL. We'll see if it can work out.... otherwise the EMO X4 Gladiator alone looks cool for some easy no hassle thrashin!!

I plan to add brass/gold colored 2.2 race inspired wheels with the blue body should like real nice...... and of course going right to BIG BLOCK BRUSHLESS 4250 Outrunner sized motor and 80amp Sinewave ESC up to 6s lipo for BIG POWA and BIG TORQUE and SLOW CRAWL!!!!!!

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/YogAAOSwZAtnBGDe/s-l960.webp

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/5hEAAOSwO6dnPSzK/s-l1600.webp

 

[WRXronald]

UNREAL my bad luck..... EMO X4 shows up and...... NOPE.

Both driver's side wheels/shafts are sheared right off and snapped --- probably happened in shipping --- dude did a SH_T job packaging and left the wheels on for shipping -- what an idiot.

Cost me $500 + $100 for the F450 CEN body and its a STRAIGHT UP loss ----- i've been ALL OVER the internet and does not look like Cross RC manufacturers replacement portal axle output shafts.

I found the half-shafts (part that goes inside the axle tube) on Cross RC U.S. website but no portal outputs. WTF.

Does anyone know where/how to get Cross RC replacement parts besides what's on their U.S. website? YIKES.

I sent them an email too --- absent the actual part or my ability to manufacture one in hardened steel ---- I'd be out $154 to buy an all new front portal axle (which appears to come with portal outputs shafts).


PRETTY UNREAL BAD LUCK RIGHT HERE. All dude had to do was take an extra 30 seconds and take the wheels off before shipping --- or actually package it decently.

What the F_CK is wrong with the world these days

 

[itstoobright]

That really sucks, I guess it was too good to be true!

Sorry, but I don't have any advice on where to find replacements.
I hope you can get it sorted out well because I am excited to see how this ends up!

 

[ferp420]

if the output shafts sheared off during shipping then theres some serious problems with the axle shaft design and probably wouldent hold up to crawling anyway

 

[ferp420]

enuff opinion
do they by chance look anything like this

if they do heres the link to those

$10.59 | CROSSRC Parts Output shaft 42237 97401124 for EMO X4 EMOX 1/8 RC Model Car Crawler Original Accessories

https://a.aliexpress.com/_mrrHOVZ

 

[ferp420]

and heres more stuff shafts too


$30.18 | Crossrc Emo X4 Metal Upgrade Accessories, Front Crossbeam Armor Counterweight Block, Output Shaft Coupler, Etc

https://a.aliexpress.com/_mK0eC9D

looks like they have had this problem before they have shafts with 7mm section were the wheel hex sits with all new stuff to fit the larger size

 

[WRXronald]

Thank you itsoobright i'll get it on the road one way or another lol!! Appreciate the kind words for sure!!

Ferp man, you're always coming thru!!

Why is ALI so dang hard to search. Couldn't find any of that searching cross rc or emo x4. Weird.

I got the upgraded wider shafts... agree snapped in shipping is a concern - bad sign - box was not crushed that much. Not going bigger tires and truck will lighten up with the CEN body but we need BEEF for thrashing.. 7mm outputs it is!!!

Cross RC is junk? Was thinking that when I saw Tomleys YouTube of his $5000 12x12 and the trans pin kept snapping. Hmmm......

Oh well will upgrade and replace parts as necessary thanks for the AWESOME link and part numbers my man!!!!

Worst case for $70 will slap a set of widened metal capra axles under it, 4 link it, and be done.

Sure hope the trans holds up!!!

Sticking with 2.2's on this build for sure!

 

[WRXronald]

Quicki teaser of the two body shells one on the other --- I did have the 2.2 Rock Crushers up against the F250 earlier before I shot the vid --- it looks AAA-MAzingly good!!

Prolly gonna have to make a set of rear links to stretch the wheelbase about a 1/2 inch -- meanwhile not sure how to work ride height, might have to jack it up and put taller shocks or lower the shock upper mount point down onto the chassis rails. But then I have to adjust front linkages as well.

Hmm, I kinda want to keep the chassis lower to the ground as stock -- it will crawl better this way, and then maybe have the body "high" mounted on the chassis, but what to fill in the space with, not sure it will even look right like that. One of the largest differences in body size is really just the height from bottom of door panel to top of roof, the Gladiator is a good bit taller, so if I mount the F250 down to ride flush on chassis, the fenders are WAYY too close to tires. Mostly like its going to take the most work to make it right - a bit of body lift and a bit of chassis lift as well - meet in the middle. I do want it to look like a jacked up truck, but if you notice the CEN's the center chassis usually rides pretty low - - same if I just plopped the shell on this chassis -- alot of center chassis hanging down and out is visible from the sides. I may actually be able to tuck it all in, get the body flush to base of chassis, and make up all the difference I need with a substantial suspension lift, I do have some bigger shocks, and M3 Steel heim joints / M6 steel tube/rod etc can make linkage sets.