Crawl Space's SFXJ - unlimited budget quick build!! PICS ADDED

[Crawl Space]

SWSC 2015 dates are up - gotta get my butt in gear! :shock:

Started on wheel wells and working on mounting interior "thumbsup"

 

[Crawl Space]

SF stickers, tinted the rear windows and painted/attached the grill - probably gonna change to black mounting screws.

It's earned the nickname "slippy" since the driveshaft set screws like to back out

Might change to stock axial outputs and a HR steel gear.

Despite the nickname, slippy crawls quite well :mrgreen:

Oh, and slippy has a driver en-route ;-)

 

[sgl]

The orange does set it off the black nicely, great build so far.

 

[Crawl Space]

Thank you sir! I'm quite happy with the look but the build still has quite a ways to go.

 

[Crawl Space]

Thanks! Since attaching the grill and peeling off the protective paint coating I'm afraid to drive, that is it until I get some bumpers going ;-)

 

[Crawl Space]

Did this a while back and didn't have time to upload the pics. Getting close to attaching the interior via magnets, velcro, elastic or some combination thereof.

Battery fits perfect under upper aluminum runner. I'll be able to run two 1300s for trail runs and maybe even two 2200s.

Gonna make a new servo mount tonight I think - I want to see if that alleviates the bumpsteer.

 

[Crawl Space]

Built a prototype servo mount to achieve better steering geometry by putting the the servo further back and parallel with the chassis rails. As you can see the servo arm now lines up with the steering arm on the knuckle. The panhard and drag link now remain more parallel throughout the steering cycle resulting in less binding.

The final version will be more compact and machined out of 1/8" angle for more strength.

 

[Crawl Space]

Some more progress: I found that the Mojave headlight lenses fit perfectly on the XJ! Also, the Tamiya Wrangler buckets will fit nicely behind to house the LED "thumbsup"

I also finally created mounting brackets for the interior and modified my winch mount with spacers to clear the panhard bar.

Next up will be determining electronics mounting, lighting, and bumpers!

 

[Crawl Space]

Light buckets glued in! Mocked up with lenses...

 

[Crawl Space]

Got the lights mostly wired up and glued in. Pics coming soon.

Got a driver and passenger from fleabay - they are now securely mounted (screwed in the butt :shock: :roll and ready to pilot the SFXJ!

 

[Crawl Space]

I am FINALLY posting an update

Cranked out a decent roll cage (more like a soccer goal cage lol) with 3/16 aluminum tubing. I tapped the ends with an M3 tap (no drilling required) to hold everything together since I don't have access to a tig welder that can handle aluminum.

Also got rear fenders done, though the fronts are giving me grief because of the light bucket interference. Pics coming soon, I promise :mrgreen:


I'm set on having clean wiring for this rig so I ordered up a big Yeti fuel cell from the LHS that will fit all my electronics in one spot! Also installed a set of the gmade soft springs in the rear shocks that helps everything flex better.

This next three weeks will see lots more updates since this will be my C2 entry for Nationals on the 26th!

 

[Crawl Space]

Bongsten gave me a hand with the front bumper and some sick sliders made from 3/16 inch round bar.

Also got a fire extinguisher mounted to the roll cage. Going to start on the rear bumper tonight...

 

[Szczerba]

Looking good. Good to know on the Mojave light buckets in that metal grill.

 

[Crawl Space]

Thank you sir - it's the Mohave lenses that work with the Tamiya wrangler buckets and the XJ body. Of course the tamiya lenses fit the light buckets better but they are too small for the XJ body. (they are however the perfect size for the amigo body).

Here's my first try at welding a rear bumper solo. Not too pretty but it'll work ;-)

 

[Hammer!]

I really dig this look! Nice job.

 

[Crawl Space]

Thanks - it's getting really close to being finished!

 

[Crawl Space]

Workin' on the front bumper...

 

[Crawl Space]

Making friends with the MIG welder "thumbsup"

 

[Crawl Space]

Got the shackle mounting tabs welded on – my MIG skills leave a little to be desired ;-) I think it will clean up nicely though.

 

[Crawl Space]

Sliders painted!

1 week and 3 days left till I fly out for nationals...