Should’ve started this build thread a long time ago but here’s the rundown:
Initial Impressions:
Out of the box I was really disappointed, steering was horrible with stock Servo, transfer case skid got caught up on flat ground, bumpers hit and got caught up on anything and everything, stock driveshafts broke on the first run on the rocks. Needless to say all info I read before buying the truck didn’t prepare me for how much work I would have to do to get it to the performance I wanted. Leaf springs weren’t even the issue, everything else was. Truck sat for awhile as I gathered parts.
Stage 1 Upgrades:
- Bowhouse RC High Clearance Skid Plate, Coupling Bracket, Rear Leaf Hangers
- O Ring Mod front leaf springs
- Fast Eddy Sealed Bearing Kit
- Motor Drop, used Traxxas turnbuckle and revolve rod ends from I believe X Maxx to make a shorter steering link from passenger side to Servo
- Switched to Axial Icon Shocks, 50wt oil, no springs
- Gelande II Front Shock Hoops
- Power HD B3 Servo
- CNC Custom Wheels 5 Slot 1.55x1.3” Beadlock Wheels w/ 1.55 Pitbull Rockbeasts
- Axial Wild Boar 2 Driveshafts
- Removed front and rear bumpers
- Flipped Battery/Electronic Tray around
- Black main leaf w/ single long helper all around
- A&M Garage Front Shackle Reversal Kit
My god what a difference the high clearance skid plate made, the truck was actually useable now. I can’t say whether or not the motor drop made a huge difference since I did all the upgrades at once. Watched a couple videos on YouTube, read other people’s posts, and pics on Instagram. Used a dremel, was a slow and painful (hot) process but wasn’t hard mechanically/technically speaking. It performed great on the rocks now, clearance was great, I was able to do almost everything my scx10 build could do besides the extreme vertical climbs. Axial WB2 driveshafts are cheap, rebuildable, strong, and being plastic are easy to cut to the lengths I needed. I did have to take off a smidge of the end of the transfer case output shaft for the set screw holes to line up though.
Extra travel length from longer shocks and shock hoops was nice, not sure how much I actually used as the leaf springs are pretty stiff still. Thought I would get more downtravel but the wasn’t the case, lead springs chose a settling point and pretty much stay there lol. It works though, nice and stiff for side hills and the weight of body.
Stage 2 Upgrades:
- RC4WD CCHand Derlin Comp Bumper w/ Associated body and fender trimming.
- Noodle’s Custom Wheels CNC 1.9 Beadlocks w/ Crawler Innovations Single Stage Closed Cell Foams and stretched 1.55 Pitbull Rockbeasts.
- RC4WD Shims for better pinion angle, removed o rings.
New front bumper looked great and gave good approach angle, delrin very slippery. Noodle’s Custom Wheels (@ncwwheels on instagram) are works of art, also switched to 1.9”s because...
Stage 3 Upgrades (in progress)
- JEC Racing/Beef Tubes Brass AR44 Leaf Spring Mounts
- Axial AR44 Axles
- TBD Class 1 Legal 1.9 4.19 tires (most likely RC4WD Wrangler MTR Tires) w/ Crawler Innovation Dual Stage Foams Comp Cut Inner, Soft Outer Front, medium Outer Back
- Pimpin Crawler Bobbed Bed 4 Door Hilux Body
Bed kept getting hung up so after seeing all the great work Pimpin Crawler does, got in contact on Facebook and got a Pimpin body on the way. Also decided to go AR44 axles for steering angle and part options. Samix Brass C Hubs and Knuckles w/ Brake Rotors need to be ordered, and Hot racing overdrive front gears. Also I think it’s time to upgrade the ESC and motor. I have a Hobbywing 1080 ESC on the side and am debating between the Holmes Hobby’s Crawlmaster or Torque master.
Pics to come
Initial Impressions:
Out of the box I was really disappointed, steering was horrible with stock Servo, transfer case skid got caught up on flat ground, bumpers hit and got caught up on anything and everything, stock driveshafts broke on the first run on the rocks. Needless to say all info I read before buying the truck didn’t prepare me for how much work I would have to do to get it to the performance I wanted. Leaf springs weren’t even the issue, everything else was. Truck sat for awhile as I gathered parts.
Stage 1 Upgrades:
- Bowhouse RC High Clearance Skid Plate, Coupling Bracket, Rear Leaf Hangers
- O Ring Mod front leaf springs
- Fast Eddy Sealed Bearing Kit
- Motor Drop, used Traxxas turnbuckle and revolve rod ends from I believe X Maxx to make a shorter steering link from passenger side to Servo
- Switched to Axial Icon Shocks, 50wt oil, no springs
- Gelande II Front Shock Hoops
- Power HD B3 Servo
- CNC Custom Wheels 5 Slot 1.55x1.3” Beadlock Wheels w/ 1.55 Pitbull Rockbeasts
- Axial Wild Boar 2 Driveshafts
- Removed front and rear bumpers
- Flipped Battery/Electronic Tray around
- Black main leaf w/ single long helper all around
- A&M Garage Front Shackle Reversal Kit
My god what a difference the high clearance skid plate made, the truck was actually useable now. I can’t say whether or not the motor drop made a huge difference since I did all the upgrades at once. Watched a couple videos on YouTube, read other people’s posts, and pics on Instagram. Used a dremel, was a slow and painful (hot) process but wasn’t hard mechanically/technically speaking. It performed great on the rocks now, clearance was great, I was able to do almost everything my scx10 build could do besides the extreme vertical climbs. Axial WB2 driveshafts are cheap, rebuildable, strong, and being plastic are easy to cut to the lengths I needed. I did have to take off a smidge of the end of the transfer case output shaft for the set screw holes to line up though.
Extra travel length from longer shocks and shock hoops was nice, not sure how much I actually used as the leaf springs are pretty stiff still. Thought I would get more downtravel but the wasn’t the case, lead springs chose a settling point and pretty much stay there lol. It works though, nice and stiff for side hills and the weight of body.
Stage 2 Upgrades:
- RC4WD CCHand Derlin Comp Bumper w/ Associated body and fender trimming.
- Noodle’s Custom Wheels CNC 1.9 Beadlocks w/ Crawler Innovations Single Stage Closed Cell Foams and stretched 1.55 Pitbull Rockbeasts.
- RC4WD Shims for better pinion angle, removed o rings.
New front bumper looked great and gave good approach angle, delrin very slippery. Noodle’s Custom Wheels (@ncwwheels on instagram) are works of art, also switched to 1.9”s because...
Stage 3 Upgrades (in progress)
- JEC Racing/Beef Tubes Brass AR44 Leaf Spring Mounts
- Axial AR44 Axles
- TBD Class 1 Legal 1.9 4.19 tires (most likely RC4WD Wrangler MTR Tires) w/ Crawler Innovation Dual Stage Foams Comp Cut Inner, Soft Outer Front, medium Outer Back
- Pimpin Crawler Bobbed Bed 4 Door Hilux Body
Bed kept getting hung up so after seeing all the great work Pimpin Crawler does, got in contact on Facebook and got a Pimpin body on the way. Also decided to go AR44 axles for steering angle and part options. Samix Brass C Hubs and Knuckles w/ Brake Rotors need to be ordered, and Hot racing overdrive front gears. Also I think it’s time to upgrade the ESC and motor. I have a Hobbywing 1080 ESC on the side and am debating between the Holmes Hobby’s Crawlmaster or Torque master.
Pics to come
