multi clod project

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emory70

Well-Known Member
went out with the new girlfriend and her kids this past weekend. came home to my latest ebay clod sitting on the porch. both the son and daughter did the "ooohh" and "ahhhh," followed by " i wanna drive it!" i said i'd build one they could play with, but the gf corrected me. "he will build TWO so you can BOTH play."

now i have to build three clods that are mechanically identical. they have to be fun enough for me, and durable for a 10 and an 11 year old. brushless is out of the question. 6 systems? no way.

so i turn to the experts... how do i build three fun, durable clods without spending a metric ton of cash?
 
william g

william g

Retired
Moderator
unless you plan on selling your 1:1 to fund 3 clods you will need to hand make as much as possible.

Buy some lengths of 6-32 threaded rod and 1/4'' brake line. Then about 4 or 5 packs of traxxas rod ends for links and steering rods.

Chassis, buy some 1/8th alumnum sheet or fiberglass sheet. Draw pattern out and cut out 1 to start. Then after you can adjust and tweek the others properly once assembled and tested. You can use more 6-32 and tubing with locknuts for crossbraces.


Junfac, or CPE upper link mounts, CPE internal axle braces.

Bearings, go for duratrax.

Buy 1 new clod and part out what you don't need. The rest I'd say try finding some used sub 100.00 clods on e-pay.
 
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emory70

Well-Known Member
i have a design i wanna try for a chassis, keeping the stock wheelbase. my 3 ebay scores are a zilla 2, a cpe evo, and an esp rockzilla, each with usable axles. i have a lathe at work, so i can cut and thread 1/4" aluminum rod for links. i should be able to get away with only buying upper link mounts, some of the steering parts, and shocks for the chassis. i have aluminum duratrax evader shocks on a brushless lunchbox project, and may use them on a clod as a test (but i adore savage units, and may spring for more of those)

my first ebay clod has been fitted with random ebay bearings, and will probably be fine. still have another set in a box, and i think the other clods already have bearings.

as for the electrics... that's another story
 
joe

joe

ɹoʇɐɹʇsıuıɯpɐ
Site Administrator
Super Moderator
Moderator
id say for the kids, use stock chassis and all.
but if you already have the aftermarket stuff to use that might not work.

as for electrics; you could make the ones for the kids 2wd only.
then you can use pretty much any esc and just a couple stock motors.

if you need radios, ive got a pair of tqs i could sell ya cheap.
:tmb
 
william g

william g

Retired
Moderator
I would try to do axle mounted servos, kids will get frustrated fast if you have any of the stock linkage sloppy components and they can't steer.
 
A

AirForceOne

Well-Known Member
I vote for stock chassis with oil shocks, and axle mounted steering. Once you start getting into aftermarket chassis, you open up a can a worms and the project cost can snowball rapidly. You should have bought Wheely Kings, cheaper and bashable out of the box! Wicked fun for kids too.

On another note, do you do everything she tells you to do? My X wanted me to build a TXT for her 5 year old, and got upset when I told her he wasn't ready for that much truck. You probably won't run into that issue with double digit age kids though. :)
 
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emory70

Well-Known Member
i already had the zilla 2 and cpe evo. the rockzilla is just the latest incomplete truck. i want the trucks to be identical. if i built them as they are, there would be arguments over which chassis was cooler. even the bodies are gonna be the same, just different colors. i know the gf wouldn't like it too much if i had a dual bl setup and the kids had silver cans.

i am considering downgrading to stock chassis with cpe 4 links, oil shocks, and axle mounted front steer only setups. i just hate what stock chassis go for on ebay.

i'm also thinking about changing the plan to lunchboxes, since the kids haven't played with any "real" rc stuff yet. and if they hate them, i have 3 extra 'boxes to play with.
 
D

draft158

Member
I just built a Lunchbox for my kids, the oldest is 9. As fun as it is, they are pretty hard to steer. Also the stock rear suspension is pretty poor. Overall it has held up to their bashing.
 
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