Project YJ

[helhedded]

Recently I scored a Tamiya YJ body from my buddy rubiredunlmtd. This being my first real scaler build, it will have an "update as I see fit" attitude. I am not planning on finishing it right away with all of the bells and whistles so I won't get bored with it. I do plan on re-painting the body, but I haven't decided on what color. Got any ideas?

I am leaning more towards the 1.55 tire size but for now the SCX-10 take-offs will work.



The drivetrain is loaded with:
36/14 gears in the front and heavy dutys in the rear axle
HR knuckles w/ STRC C hubs
Freak Stuff S.S. front locker w/ Stage3 chromoly rear
CDW 4-link front with A.S.O.B. 4-linked rear (needs paint)
CDW chromoly tranny outputs
DNA motor plate
SCX-10 beadlocks
1.9" grab irons
1.9" Lil Nova's


I am using a home brew frame that a friend let me use with some RC4WD 90mm shocks from my old basher.
I made the lower links out of stainless steel rod.

 

[helhedded]

Here are some pics with the body mocked up.

What do you think about the upper and lower separation? The back is the way it is to get the axle clocking that I was going after. I can always make some longer links for it if needed.

 

[Szczerba]

"Very Nice" I like the wheelbase stretch.
On the link separation, you could always drill some new upperlink mounting holes on the frame to get them where they need to be and then go with some longer links, like you said. I had to do that on an ok K2 frame I had.
From your pics though, the rear uppers front frame mount is the only one that looks a little high. Unless you were going for the squat/anti-squat setup front/rear, etc.

 

[Nick Slemp]

nice man!!!
the paint made me laugh!!
remonds me of a cj i saw in gorman where i go riding

 

[helhedded]

"Very Nice" I like the wheelbase stretch.
On the link separation, you could always drill some new upper link mounting holes on the frame to get them where they need to be and then go with some longer links, like you said. I had to do that on an ok K2 frame I had.
From your pics though, the rear uppers front frame mount is the only one that looks a little high. Unless you were going for the squat/anti-squat setup front/rear, etc.

hmm yeah I'm not sure yet on how I want to run it. I think it would be best to even them out and start out that way.
I'm gonna go ahead and drill some more holes and make some longer links for it.

nice man!!!
the paint made me laugh!!
remonds me of a cj i saw in gorman where i go riding

thanks! I have no idea who painted it. They did a good job, though.

 

[helhedded]

and so it begins....

 

[rottenbelly]

Whats that!! You let your dog chew on the fender!!!
You got lots to do!! Gonna have it wheelable by sunday??

 

[helhedded]

Whats that!! You let your dog chew on the fender!!!
You got lots to do!! Gonna have it wheelable by sunday??

It has a few cracks that I need to fill. I figured that I would go ahead and trim the fenders out to where I wanted them before I did all the fill work.


Sunday? I doubt it.

 

[helhedded]

I got a little more work done last night. One thing I really love about this build is that I have a layed back attitude on finishing it. An hour here, and hour there... I still need to finish up the fenders and clean my cuts but I am kinda on the fence about what to cut out.


Here is the rig where I am getting some ideas from
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=756414

 

[ROLANDROCKSHOP]

its getn there..
i cant believe you let oli get ahold of that body!!:shock:

awww..go ahead and cut the front fenders,just extra you'll have to come back and redo later.. 2cents.

you might play around with some different types of rodends,when i had it
mocked up,i used traxxas jato links front and rear #5598 or #5599 i think?

revo rodends are longer than the slashes,and the long jato rodends
are twice that. something to look at if you havent already,but knowing you,you did your homework.

get it going,im planning a scaler run after the 4th of july!"thumbsup"

 

[ROLANDROCKSHOP]

heres when i had it.
http://www.rccrawler.com/forum/showthread.php?t=191331&highlight=wildman

 

[helhedded]

its getn there..
i cant believe you let oli get ahold of that body!!:shock:

He didn't get a hold of it... Justin is just making wisecracks:ror:

 

[Szczerba]

Coming along nicely.

As far as the rear fender cuts. You could always cut them at the rear (where some of your lines are at now) and then fab up some aluminum corner guards to give it a custom look, rather than just a cut up body.
http://www.tellico4x4.com/index.php/cPath/3819_990_1316
Just my $0.03...

I have 2.2 cherokee in the werx. "thumbsup"

 

[helhedded]

Coming along nicely.

As far as the rear fender cuts. You could always cut them at the rear (where some of your lines are at now) and then fab up some aluminum corner guards to give it a custom look, rather than just a cut up body.
http://www.tellico4x4.com/index.php/cPath/3819_990_1316
Just my $0.03...

I have 2.2 cherokee in the werx. "thumbsup"

thanks for the extra change"thumbsup"

I was thinking something along the lines of this

 

[Szczerba]

spiffy

 

[j0e]

looks good so far.

i wish i saw this thread before you stripped the paint!
i would have traded a new body for that one.
i believe Wyoming painted it; i remember Butter owning it, too.
i wish i grabbed it back when one of them was selling it... i know i cant paint like that.

 

[93 FORD BRONCO]

i hate looking at these bad a$$ builds. it makes my bronco look like a wal-mart toy

i want a bronco hardbody so bad dude

nice start by the way

 

[rottenbelly]

He didn't get a hold of it... Justin is just making wisecracks:ror:

TEE HEE!! You done with it yet!!! Yaaaaahh mule, get to work!!:lmao:
Looking good, Hope you have it done by the time i get home next month!!:roll:

I saw some clear lexan diamond plate somewere. It was painted with that spastix chrome and cut out to fit around the rear panel like you are showing. I thought it looked sharp. Might try something like that on the JK myself."thumbsup"

 

[helhedded]

Thanks everyone... and yes a new body would have been less work. I like working on stuff and making repairs so after I realized what I was in for I just decided to make the best of it.

I like the cuts. Now since I am set on the look of them I will go ahead and clean them up (shitty). I picked up some led's and light buckets from Rottenbelly so I should be able to work on the tail lights this week.

 

[helhedded]

I picked up a few new goodies! I was a bit surprised at the 43/13 gears though upon closer inspection. It was nothing that a little pick work couldn't fix, though. They are for the rear axle. I also put on some trimmed Losi mrc springs that are way softer than the RC4WDs. I think that they will work great for this rig.

The Axial C hubs are nice! The machine work on them is great and I really like the use of the set screws.

before

after