This H10 started out as an RTR, I ditched the RTR electronics for a Mamba X and puller pro. Then the VS4-10 portal kit tempted me into buying it and I'm again yanking out the electronics so I can use the portal axles plus a 2nd front axle for the rear. I'm also trying to use the VFD twin transmission from the portal kit too.
While they are decent I didn't love the Geolander tires on the rocks so I swapped on a set of G8 Trenchers which did much better. I also grabbed a set of bronze SSD Contenders.
One thing I've been focusing on is the ride height, the portals raise it 12mm which I dont love.
I was trying to come up with a way to lower it back down to the stock height but there isnt clearance to do it easily, the axle link mounts would hit the cage first. Even with it sitting 12mm higher the link mounts just barely touch the cage. It would take cutting up and reinforcing the cage to lower it. I might try to split the difference by lowering it 6mm and limiting the shocks with an internal spacer.
link mount clearance
In order to fit the behind the axle servo you do need to use the VFD shorty conversion kit(s) and use either a shorty revolver or the new Holmes Hobbies crawlmaster V2 BL. I opted for the Crawlmaster V2 BL 2 in 1, it should be shipping out soon althought JRH said they are stuck in customs.
The cage mount points for the motor plate will no longer line up and the motor plate just barely contacts the underside of the cowl piece, it might need a little trimming. I might see if I can tie that mount point back into something mainly to add back some rigidity to the cage.
I used the VFD twin skid as its the only skid with the correct mount points for the twin. The front portion needs to be trimmed off. I heated it up so I could bend it upwards then I cut it. Before I did that i drilled a new hole for the motor plate mount, its 24mm back from the original hole.
The CMS mount needs a corner cut off to allow the servo horn to clear at full compression. I traced a black outline of the spot.
I notched a slot in the BTA servo mount so the wire could feed through it keeping it a bit farther away from the driveshaft. I forget how it was routed as the RTR but I think it was a bit too close for my liking.
Due to the BTA servo the upper links in the rear dont have enough triangulation and the axle had a ton of side to side play. I outboarded them on the skid side which helped a lot. Brandon from VP mentioned during prototyping the H10 they ran into the same thing up front which is why they moved the uppers out on the skid side. I will probably model up a new piece to go between the cage and skid that mirrors the front (the wider mount points), I'm glad this is separate from the cage as that will be much easier. Sorry no pics at the moment but for the purpose up mocking it up I printed a spacer to fill the original hole which allows the link to sit outside of the skid instead.
The VFD twin will definitely eat into the space for the battery. I'll need to either relocate it, downsize it or maybe even make up a saddle pack. To help keep the twin as compact as possible I grabbed the servo mounts from Scale Metal Supplies. I also picked up the 46% lockout from Colorado Adventure Club, it locks out the selectable overdrive and allows you to have front and rear dig (and burn).
I assembled everything last night and after swapping the front upper links to shorter ones (to fix the pinion angle) I ended up with a 13 1/2" wheelbase which is 1/4" longer than stock. I may just leave it like that though.
I also put the portal knuckle weights (brass) on the front. I used the included steel portal weights in the rear
Now I want to play around with getting this a bit lower. I have a set of 80mm shocks I might try but I think I may need to stick with 90mm shocks and use shorter rod ends on the bottoms, VP does include some that are 5mm shorted IIRC.
While they are decent I didn't love the Geolander tires on the rocks so I swapped on a set of G8 Trenchers which did much better. I also grabbed a set of bronze SSD Contenders.
One thing I've been focusing on is the ride height, the portals raise it 12mm which I dont love.
I was trying to come up with a way to lower it back down to the stock height but there isnt clearance to do it easily, the axle link mounts would hit the cage first. Even with it sitting 12mm higher the link mounts just barely touch the cage. It would take cutting up and reinforcing the cage to lower it. I might try to split the difference by lowering it 6mm and limiting the shocks with an internal spacer.
link mount clearance
In order to fit the behind the axle servo you do need to use the VFD shorty conversion kit(s) and use either a shorty revolver or the new Holmes Hobbies crawlmaster V2 BL. I opted for the Crawlmaster V2 BL 2 in 1, it should be shipping out soon althought JRH said they are stuck in customs.
The cage mount points for the motor plate will no longer line up and the motor plate just barely contacts the underside of the cowl piece, it might need a little trimming. I might see if I can tie that mount point back into something mainly to add back some rigidity to the cage.
I used the VFD twin skid as its the only skid with the correct mount points for the twin. The front portion needs to be trimmed off. I heated it up so I could bend it upwards then I cut it. Before I did that i drilled a new hole for the motor plate mount, its 24mm back from the original hole.
The CMS mount needs a corner cut off to allow the servo horn to clear at full compression. I traced a black outline of the spot.
I notched a slot in the BTA servo mount so the wire could feed through it keeping it a bit farther away from the driveshaft. I forget how it was routed as the RTR but I think it was a bit too close for my liking.
Due to the BTA servo the upper links in the rear dont have enough triangulation and the axle had a ton of side to side play. I outboarded them on the skid side which helped a lot. Brandon from VP mentioned during prototyping the H10 they ran into the same thing up front which is why they moved the uppers out on the skid side. I will probably model up a new piece to go between the cage and skid that mirrors the front (the wider mount points), I'm glad this is separate from the cage as that will be much easier. Sorry no pics at the moment but for the purpose up mocking it up I printed a spacer to fill the original hole which allows the link to sit outside of the skid instead.
The VFD twin will definitely eat into the space for the battery. I'll need to either relocate it, downsize it or maybe even make up a saddle pack. To help keep the twin as compact as possible I grabbed the servo mounts from Scale Metal Supplies. I also picked up the 46% lockout from Colorado Adventure Club, it locks out the selectable overdrive and allows you to have front and rear dig (and burn).
I assembled everything last night and after swapping the front upper links to shorter ones (to fix the pinion angle) I ended up with a 13 1/2" wheelbase which is 1/4" longer than stock. I may just leave it like that though.
I also put the portal knuckle weights (brass) on the front. I used the included steel portal weights in the rear
Now I want to play around with getting this a bit lower. I have a set of 80mm shocks I might try but I think I may need to stick with 90mm shocks and use shorter rod ends on the bottoms, VP does include some that are 5mm shorted IIRC.
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