Alright, first post here - figured I'd post up this build I've been working on and off on for the past while. I don't race and only bash an RC8T, mini revo, and a micro t and was getting a touch bored with my RC8T. So what I've got here is a stretched RC8T with a slightly shorter wheelbase than the 5b. Anyways, to the pics.
Here's what I started with: one RC8T electric conversion, a nitro RC8T that's in pieces in the boxes, losi claw MT tires on alum beadlocks, turnigy HV300 servos, and a castle 1717.
Here's the cardboard chassis mocked up
Used two driveshafts for the front center shaft
The stock RC8T axles held up fine, but wasn't sure how well they'd hold up to nearly 7'' tires on aluminum beadlocks, and a ~14lb truck. Stock CVDs are 3.5mm diameter at the shaft (top), lst2 CVDs are 5mm diameter (middle) and mgt 8.0 CVDs taper from 5mm to 4.5mm I believe (bottom).
The mgt 8.0 cvds were the right length (barely) and the lst2s were too long, but I needed to keep the buggy/truggy style stub axles. So I stuck the mgt 8.0 bone into the lst2 stub axle and it was a perfect fit. Just a note: you can't use the mgt 4.6 cvds for this as the the joint is a touch smaller than the 8.0
Needed to get a motor mount for the 1717 I was using....so here's a team grid mount. Needed some grinding to get the 1717 in.
Motor mocked up in mount with center diff
And this brings us to the chassis. The layout is kind of weak, even after bracing it, but it seems okay for now.
Stocker cut with a section ready to be spliced in with nuts and bolts
Bolted in place
Wheels tossed on to see how she stands
I don't have access to a lathe and couldn't find a proper front center shaft, so here's how I'm extending stock center shafts with an mgt 4.6 cvd (perfect mate to the stock rc8t center shaft)
Threw on a baja 5b cage and a bar in the middle to velcro hardcase packs down with
Chucked on the rest of the stock parts and a knock off baja body and wing, and here's how she sat after the maiden run. The stock shocks were way too soft so I doubled up the springs - it looks awful but it did okay. Ran it on two 4s packs in parallel through a HK 150a esc. It felt lethargic, probably due to gearing, and my gearing choice is REALLY limited (maybe +/- one tooth on the pinion i have now )
I love beadlocks, even if it adds stupid amounts of rotating weight
Since then I've been reworking it a bit. Got some 3S packs, integy RC8T diff housings, baja 5b ss front shocks, and a spare set of mgt 8.0 axles just in case
Baja 5b shock vs big bore RC8T shock
Diff housing bling Should also keep that area free of flex
Rebuilt the rear diff with ~30k oil....useless pic of diff here
Needed to make a taller rear shock tower to accommodate the longer baja shocks. Problem is, there isn't a bolt on replacement that will fit nicely where the stocker goes. So I jammed two stockers together and this is what we got. The stock one on the bottom will see larger torques/bending moments than normal, but I think it'll be okay as the truck isn't too heavy (14lb) and I don't launch off jumps.
Here she is mounted with the new rear diff and baja shocks
I've since removed that rear sway bar and mounted the rear end onto the truck. I really like how the 5b front shocks worked out in the rear, so I've ordered another set of baja front shocks and other goodies. Waiting for those before I tear into the front end. It's been a very slow build, started last December haha.