Frizzens First Xmod - evo truck

[frizzen]

I started this over on BitPimps, but might as well start a thread over here too.

Original plan was to keep this secret until I'm all done, but if I do I'll end up forgetting some of the modifications. Plus, this Xmod board seems quite dead, so this might generate a bit more interest...

Xmod Evo chassis (channel 5) <RadioHack $40>
equipped with 2006 Nissan Titan body
- 4WD upgrade <RadioHack $15?>
- Bearing upgrade <RadioHack $20>
- Offroad Lift Kit upgrade <RadioHack $15>




It's a stock parts list truck, decent performer, with an uninspiring body. I see potential, but I'm not really feeling it yet. Wonder what I'd be more likely to see on a TRAIL than a '2006 Nissan Titan'...

* 1972 Chevy Cheyenne body <another hobby shop $14>

Little bit of hack, chop, bump, grind...



Oh yeah! I'm starting to feel that!!! Though, still a bit fast for a trail rig...

* HiTec HS-55 servo <hobby shop $14>
* Red pinion off a 1/24 SS-M motor <ToyRUs $ N/A>



The HS-55 had the board, and the stops removed, it's now a CrawlerBox. Both mounting ears were also removed. One pinion from a SS-M was installed on servo ouput shaft. Working on a low impact installation, and it will be as easy to swap as the stock motors.

The Chevy Cheyenne body now sports a custom length shortbed, it'll have a tonnau cover.
It WILL have a full interior, setup with a Standard trans and a T-case and a Crawler Box, Amature or CB radio.
Antenna will probably have location changed and will be a scale CB-style loaded element whip.
I haven't decided on the truck paint scheme yet, there are so many good ways to go.
And lots of small details I think you'll miss the first few times you look at it.

The Nissan Titan body will also have a few custom mods... All I'm gonna say right now is that everybody has seen the finished product in real life. *cough*soccermom*cough*

Increased articulation.
Steering rack will get the slop removed (brass bushings).
Another goal is to eliminate as much bump-steer as possible (offroad arms gave it a LOT).
Considering a Hi-Steer setup to eliminate all the damn bump-steer!
Softer springs would be nice.
Rear diff probably will get locked, but I want to use a way that it can be returned to open.
Various other mods I haven't yet decided on...

Let me know what you think.

[dpslusser]

Awesome. So you changed the pinion gear? How slow/how much more torque does it have? Good for offroading?

[dpslusser]

This is how I made my Gen1 NSX all wheel drive w/mechanical locker

Did you ever take apart the front or rear differential (red) w/the 3 screws? You can pull the entire thing apart, take a knive and separate the tapered half (w/ the gears on it). After aligning the parts back together, i realized you could drill a tiny hole through the entire thing; even the metal disk. NOTE: align the hole your going to drill, to hit in between 2 of the 5 bearings becasue the red disks are the same size and diameter of the bearing spacing. It must go through both metal disk basically. The hole was small enough to fit a small pin through, if pushed hard enough. I trimmed the pin so it barely stuck out, were the gears meet to turn the axle. It worked great.

Now, I have yet to buy a GEN 2 truck. But maybe it will give you an idea. With a pair of pliers I can easily reach in and pull the pin out of the front and rear Diffs.

[frizzen]

I wouldn't really say I swapped the pinion, that would imply having left the stock powerplant. This is a modified servo with a pinion on the output shaft. Anyway, my new crawler box is much slower than stock, but it's not painfully slow. Torque is great though. It should be able to ramp on anything it can get a wheel onto. Building the motor mount is proving a challenge though because the torque keeps pulling it out of mesh.

The Evo diffs are a cylinder held together with a long pin, something similar should be able to work though. I dunno, I've still got a long way to go before I'm really 'finished' with it.

[drewdown84]

hehe... nice truck... was thinking about grabbing a truck... shoulda picked up a f-150 for that 30 bux and then found a body from the HS... but i got my firebird getting ready for the chopping block.. and a body that i gotta figure out how to make work...

either way... you're doing a great job... i really cant wait to see the finished product... or even updates of it...

[mcmv181]

i dont have a truck but i have a dodge viper body(started as a scion tc)and a moter upgrade and a suspencion upgrade to many upgrades to list. hope to get a truck soon. sweet!