Dna's Ultra 4 Bronco Buster

[dna4engr]

After my IFS wraith experiment didn't work out the way I wanted, I still had the itch to get a go fast rig that performed better. Steering, handling, and weight balance were way off.

As you can tell from the title, this will be a Ford Bronco skinned rig. I think the straight up tubers are great rigs, but I just love the straight up tuber race cars that at least somewhat resemble a street rig.

I've admired the Venom 1 rig from Poison Spyder's 2012 KOH entrance and wanted to use that as my inspiration. Obviously not a jeep version, but the engineering in the chassis is just top notch.



Preliminary Parts lists includes:
3/16" Rod Custom Tuber chassis
BMRC V2 Rear trailing arms
Crawler Innovations Deuces wild 2.2 standards
Crawler Innovations 6 Bolt wheels with 350 SLW hubs
Dlux Fab Modded AR60 housings, U4 axle trusses, and no slop bearings
Axial Universals, stock rear shafts, and 43/13 UD gears f/b
Axial 2.2 R35 Trepadors (left along for now, but like will get some dremel work)
Supershafty Bombproof trans (geared 56/14) with 6mm outputs and MIP drivelines (thanks Savage03)
Vanquish titanium steering links, bearing caps, link mounts, chubs, etc
Gmade piggybacks (for now since I have them in the parts bin)
Savox 1231 servo
Futaba 4pls
Castle MMP powering a Tekin Pro4 HD 3500kv on 3S

With the 2.2 tires, the custom chassis and the dimensions of the Proline 73 Ford Bronco body for the 3.3 Revo, I think it will work out in proportion to be a pretty scale with the Venom 1 jeep.

Here's the tires, wheels and foams



Stock links on the rig for the build process and the bronco body resting on top. Trust me, it won't be sitting that high, it needs a lot of cutting and trimming to fit inside the tires.



The frame is started. I elevated the first section of tubing about 1.25" so I can use the skid mounting plate as an upper link riser (more on that later)



Progress is coming quickly



Basic Skeleton is in place. Still a lot to do. Plus the nose doesn't look quite right. A little too long.



Lot more to come. Looking forward to getting this thing into a roller so I can test it out and see what needs changing.

Dna

 

[Ballistic17]

Another nice rig Dna. Can't wait to see how it comes out.

 

[Szczerba]

Nice start!

 

[dna4engr]

Another nice rig Dna. Can't wait to see how it comes out.

It's been a while since I did a frame so I'm excited too.

Nice start!

Thanks!


As I mentioned the nose was way to long. Did some review of the Venom 1 rig and decided to take 7/8" out of the nose. Rather than redo the front I just butt jointed the lower portion.



I was kicking a$$ on progress so I forgot to take pics along the way. The upper part of the nose was cut and bent down to the lower tubes. Then I made new supports for the stinger area. It's mocked up below and almost a roller.





The bombproof goodness arrived "thumbsup", that I picked up in the classifieds from Savage03



Pro4HD installed. I need to re-waterproof it but we'll do some testing before I take the time to do that.



More metal work to go.

Dna

 

[northkona]

That's looking good , I reckon the Wraith platform is just perfect for these rigs.
The axle/wheelbase/wheel scale is spot on and the performance matches it, keen to see this one running.

 

[dna4engr]

Trying to mimic the rear shock mounts as much as possible, I took some 1/2" square tubing and cut out the bottom and added three mounting holes. Planning on 1 shock for now but could do 2 in the future.

On the front I kept it simple with some 16ga steel cut out with a few holes for adjustments.

Next was adding all the small bits for the panels and such.

I do plan on running a 5" vanquish bar inside the cab for protection so I mounted some fab tabs for that. I have. 2" bar for the front that I used to verify it'll fit.

Speaking of the 2" bar it'll be up in the nose. The tziworld winch will be right behind it (assuming I get the replacement gear set one of these days)

Last thing I got on her was the mounts for the rear sway bar.

Dna


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[dna4engr]

I was attempting to glue the tires and wheels together but the axial tires just don't fit tight enough on the 6 bolt wheels so I couldn't get them to hold. 3 tries and I could always pull the tire off the bead easily after the glue dried for a day. Just not enough contact area to hold.

Decided to go back to the scaler shop trail readys. Much more scale but I was hoping to keep the lighter weight of the 6 bolts.

Here is the suspension at full bump

And at full droop

I should have all the Dlux parts to finish the axles tomorrow.


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[northkona]

That's looking real nice , its gonna stick to the trail really well with that brick on the roof !!!
Just kidding, have you given up on the plastic wheels yet ? The releasing agent on the tires needs to be completely removed, I use a sanding drum on a dremel and take the top layer off so its rough and clean them up with metho. A light sand in the groove on the wheels helps too ,it might be worth a try if you still want to give them a go. "thumbsup"

 

[dna4engr]

That's looking real nice , its gonna stick to the trail really well with that brick on the roof !!!

Just kidding, have you given up on the plastic wheels yet ? The releasing agent on the tires needs to be completely removed, I use a sanding drum on a dremel and take the top layer off so its rough and clean them up with metho. A light sand in the groove on the wheels helps too ,it might be worth a try if you still want to give them a go. "thumbsup"

I might revisit the wheels. I also have another application for those on a another rig.

Small update. The dlux goodies showed up. Here are the axles complete with the dlux mod housings and the U4 trusses f and r. Axial unis and stock rear shafts. Hr lockers and 43/13 gears. Vanquish chubs and lockouts. Cheap knuckles for now.

During assembly, I threw in some avid revolution bearings on some critical joints, these have the metal shield on one side and rubber on the other

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[Ballistic17]

Those Dlux truss' are nice. I like mine. Next build gonna get the ultra 4 ones to try.

 

[Stormin2u]

Complex build Dana it looks good I hope to see it in action soon. "thumbsup"

 

[dna4engr]

Complex build Dana it looks good I hope to see it in action soon. "thumbsup"

Thanks. I will have it running for the sept scale event. Maybe a little sooner who knows.


I made some progress this past week.

I started with the proline 73 ford bronco for the revo 3.3

After some trimming, she's down to the panels

Then I sandblasted the frame to get all the crap from brazing off.

Throwing on some mockup links and the axles/tires to layout where the body panels will fit.

Then the bronco body panels out on for fitment

I just threw the hood on for measuring where to cut.

I hope to get her trimmed up and lay down some paint this weekend. The roof panel will just be some .3 lexan sheet cut to fit.

Dna


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[dna4engr]

Got some time this weekend to paint the body panels and the frame.

Went with a engine enamel in Aluminum color for the chassis.

The paint scheme is based off the old trans am mustangs. Still needs a batch of decals and such.

Hpi apache interior is on its way. Titanium custom length links are on there way along with the 5" light bar for the cab.

I plan to use scx10 rock sliders mounted with some boatsides to replicate what venom1 had. I just can't fabricate something that looks as good as the 1:1. Here it is just held on by some wire for the effect.

I'm leaving the back open like the venom1. Will either put a 1.9 trep in there or a small 2.2.

I'm using the rear light bar from an exo for the rear u4 lights. Need a heyok light controller.

Some flex shots.

The built in link mounts worked out well. Rears are UN the upper position for anti squat. Well see how this works.

Next I'll be laying out the electronics. Traxxas et3s and 3500kv pro4hd, castle bec, and savox 1231

Dna


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[Ballistic17]

That paint job looks great. Rig is looking good. Nice work as always.

 

[djjiz]

My prediction is you'll love the raised links but go down some in both locations.

Glad to see you're eating the jar of pickled finger nails we sent you.

 

[dna4engr]

Got a package today, earlier than expected. Time to Vanquish up this rig.

5" light bar and a bunch of vanquish titanium link lengths for the front and rear uppers. Had to bend the uppers on both a little bit.

Now its time to place electronics.

Dna


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[Ballistic17]

Lookin good. "thumbsup"

 

[captainmorgan]

Looking good. Can't wait to see it running at the next GTG.

 

[Robs07junk]

That's An Awesome Build You Got Going !

 

[dna4engr]

Lookin good. "thumbsup"

Looking good. Can't wait to see it running at the next GTG.

That's An Awesome Build You Got Going !

Thanks guys. I should have it running this weekend. Well see how she performs ripping around the yard.



Super small update. I got my traxxas et3s hacked into a true castle mmp. Only plan to run 3s anyway but wanted to try this. Also took it apart and put a couple coats of conformal coating to waterproof it.
Not bad to get a brand new mmp for $63 "thumbsup"

Dna