The Ultimate V8 powered Baja Bug

[venomous98]

This is my first time ever doing a build thread, so be nice. I've built alot of trucks from a kit, to custom parts, to full tube chassis but never seem to have time for a build thread. My inspiration comes from too many videos on youtube about baja bugs and trips to the sand dunes. My parts bin was full of good stuff for a build up of a bug. The main ones were a Tamiya Blitzer beetle bug body and a set of headers that came from a friend many years ago. I have no idea where the headers came from, but if someone could tell me that would be awesome. I would love another set. This thing is going to be more of an all around fun buggy, kinda a dual purpose rig. That is why i have two sets of tires for it. I'll try to keep the updates coming. Now for the pics

 

[BadWagon]

Do it to it!

 

[hotwheels000]

I like where this is going, keep the updates coming."thumbsup"

 

[Highmark]

Looking good! Bugs are super fun to build. The headers look just like barts parts headers.

 

[venomous98]

Barts parts? Is that someone on rcc that makes parts? The headers i have look old school. My buddy i got them from said they might have come off an old rc or maybe a large die cast. They are all metal. Aluminum tubes with a brass collector clamped on.

 

[venomous98]

I probably should have started the thread with some 1:1 pics of what i'm shooting for. I was going to make the bug chassis, cage, and suspension from scratch, but time and budget won't allow that. I wanted to do an all independent suspension front and rear using 3/16 rod and keep it 4wd some how. Keeping it as true to 1:1 as possible. The budget and wife said use what i have on hand. I have a scx10 chassis i got from someone that was alittle beat but still usable, axial trans, and either TLT or AX10 axles. that is pretty much my starting point. Onto the inspirational pics.


I need some kind of a rear cage for sure!!!!

Also need some kind of front bumper

I could go on but you guys get the idea where i'm going

 

[venomous98]

A couple of updates. I started on the chassis. If you have one of these Tamiya bodies or have seen one, they are small. I started by cutting the frame on the front and rear so it won't stick out past the body. I took some pics next to a stock chassis for a comparison.

Next, i made some shock relocating brackets cause the wheel base will be a lot shorter than a stock scx10. Made some for the front and rear. Lots of holes for adjustment.

 

[BigSmokinGun]

Bart's Parts Gallery Pic #65

They don't list them seperately in their products but I know you used to be able to get them. Now that I just looked at their FB page there hasn't been activity there for 2 years. You'll have to try and contact them and see if they're still in business. Let me know what you find out.

 

[venomous98]

Lots of progress has been made. I might have forgot to take some pics along the way, but oh well. I'm just too excited to stop the creative juices once they get rolling. One goal was to have a rear cage for looks and to act as an area to hold a full size battery if i wanted. DONE!!!

A little look at the battery tray and rear cage

Headers mounted

And a look at the rock rails.

All the parts are hand made. The only tools i have are a drill press, dremel, hack saw and some nice metal files. It takes time but well worth it in the end. It doesn't help that i'm the biggest perfectionist in the world. I did cheat alittle and have the little fabrication tabs that hold the body panels laser cut at work. I used way too many of them to hand cut out. The cage and rock rails are all tig welded.

The cover for the rear cage and battery. It's held on by only 4 screws, easy access.

These are all the panels for the cage. I thought i would use aluminum for a nicer look, show piece. I might also make some out of styrene for running hard and not care about too much. I don't really like lexan.

That's it for now. Next up is the front bumper. Should be a cool little piece, it will hold an led light bar from RPP hobby. The six shooter.

 

[MAC FAB]

Well done. ��

 

[venomous98]

A couple more updates. I started on some body work. I filled in the sunroof, not a big fan of it. Next i cut and shaped the giant fenders for alittle more style. I wanted to leave a bit more on the rear instead of just a straight cut, i think it turned out pretty well. The rear cage is slightly bigger than i wanted, but its as small as i could get it to work as the battery holder. It would've looked better slimmed down width wise by maybe a half of an inch. That wasn't really possible due to it using the shock mounts as part of the mounting location. Once the rear cage is all "scaled" up i think it won't look so bulky, I hope.
Body pics.

A quick mock up with the body on.

And the rock rails.

It's coming along almost how i had planned in my head.

 

[venomous98]

I finally have the front bumper just the way i like it. Only took three tries. The first two designs were more like a pre-runner style and didn't use the front nose piece. I wasn't digging them too much. The last and final design uses the front nose piece and i think it turned out pretty cool. It wraps around the front for some good protection and also has a built in spot for an led light bar. I made it bolt on just like all the other pieces. It bolts onto the front shock towers and the frame using an existing hole.

This part was alittle tricky. Getting the suspension to flex and also clear the steering servo. I had to turn the servo mount around 180 degrees and use some spacers and imagination to get everything to work without binding or hitting.

I had to cut some of the front nose to clear the led light bar mount. Looks like fangs!

Now some body on pics.

The last pic shows the buggy sitting up high, this was just all mock up. The final stance will be alot lower.

Also started on a quick and easy half interior. Just a simple piece of styrene and an Hpi mini trophy truck interior.

Its getting closer to final tear down and ready for some paint.

 

[venomous98]

It's been awhile but i finally had some time to work on this buggy. The mock up is all done and i started taking it apart and doing the paint work. I've been on a green kick lately and found an amazing green made by Tamiya. It changes different shades of green depending on the angle. I did all the tube work green and the bug body will be a flat black with some green accents. The main chassis was also re-sprayed flat black since i had to chop the ends and drill some holes. Just a couple of pics for now.

 

[hillbillyrc]

Very nice, that green is wicked

 

[The Doc]

Killer build dude "thumbsup"

 

[rckjeep]

Damn nice work. I'm also a perfectionist and dig your attention to details. Well done sir!

 

[venomous98]

A couple more pics of the chassis. Photobucket was a pain the other night so i was only able to post a few.

This last one the bumper looks crooked, but it is just the camera angle. More to come later tonight. I'm working on some scale bits to improve on the looks alittle. Almost forgot, this is the green Tamiya paint i'm using just in case anyone wants to know.

 

[venomous98]

A couple small updates. I'm working on some scale details to dress up the buggy alittle. Did some work on the blower and headers. I didn't really like how the blower was a two piece design and wasn't diggin the chrome. So i glued the two pieces together and did some smoothing and changed the color to green. Next i made some little butterfly flappers for the blower out of styrene. I know the screws are alittle big but the smallest i have are m2. Now for the pics.

Next up is the headers. I wanted to make them look like they have been used. I remembered this trick i saw on one of those chopper shows on tv. They used a torch to create a sooty flame job on a custom gas tank. I just used a gas grill lighter and kept the flame away from the header and BOOM, used headers. This only took a couple of seconds. The longer you hold it the more soot you get. But be careful not to touch it unless you messed up, it comes off very easily. Once i had them just right i sprayed them with clear. The clear changed the look slightly but still gave the look i wanted.

Next on the list is to finish the chassis/wiring, interior/ and the body. More to come.

 

[venomous98]

Well i finally have a complete running chassis. All the tube work is painted and bolted on, the axles and trans are in, suspension is on and i think i have the ride height and flex in balance, and everything is wired up and working correctly. That's a huge part to knock off the long checklist. I know the wiring looks like a mess but it will be hidden under the interior. Here is a couple of pics of the finished chassis.

Next on the "to do list" was to finish up the interior. Its just a simple piece of styrene with an Hpi Mini Trophy truck interior with a couple of scale items to top it off. More pics.

The last thing to do is paint the body and wire up the headlights and roof light bar. There are a couple of other small things to do and its done. Hopefully i can get all of those done this weekend. Its been too long, i just want to go drive it at the beach and rip some wheelies!!!

 

[Highmark]

Wow beautiful work!