Custom-Widened Truck Chassis.

[xmodkidd33]

Well, since there have been an (apparent) lack of chassis modification projects and stuff, I've decided to post my "Secret Project". I got bored one day, and decided to try to widen my truck chassis, just because. There's isn't any real reason. I would say it's 20% done. I still need to do a steering rod, the whole rear end, and get some custom dogbones made.

Here are the pics:

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z160/Xmodcrawls/100_4737.jpg

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z160/Xmodcrawls/100_4740.jpg

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z160/Xmodcrawls/100_4742.jpg

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z160/Xmodcrawls/100_4744.jpg

...And a little video, demonstrating the custom double-shocks:
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z160/Xmodcrawls/th_100_4745.jpg (http://s190.photobucket.com/albums/z160/Xmodcrawls/?action=view&current=100_4745.flv)

[snowboi1289]

Nice. I've been working on something like this, but I have yet to find some dogbones that will fit nicely.

Hope this major project comes out good.

[xmodkidd33]

I have a way to custom make dogbones. Cut the dogbone in half and lengthen it with some type of tubing. I've done it, but nothing as long as I'll need for this.

[snowboi1289]

If you find some good length dogbones, please let me know..

[KITT222]

hmm... maybe try using putty if they're plastic, or solder something like a screw to lengthen it if they're aluminum.

[fieldfairy2]

Very nice. Good work. I would try some micro t/dt dogbones they are preety long and might work instead of making some custom dog bone. How smooth is the suspension? because the screw is threaded that connects the supsension plate and knuckle. Can't wait for the end...

[texan_idiot25]

That sucker is crazy looking, lol.. Sorta like on of the Unlimited cars in Baja:

http://race.off-road.com/race/data/articlestandard/race/472007/473648/1200_noe2.jpg
Fully independent suspension, long travel shocks.

What do you have for the lower control arms? Material wise.

[xmodkidd33]

I just used a peice of brass plate, maybe 1/64" thick. It's pretty sturdy, doesn't bend much. The thing looks sweet with my H2 body, I'll get some pics of that later.

[texan_idiot25]

Nice.

For tierods, you can try and do it out of paper clips (done it before, but it's a PITA), or maybe give xmodification's way with those tierods that had the cup and ball ends on it. Would help prevent any bump-steer and such.

[xmodkidd33]

I was thinking about doing something like that, maybe even using the stock tierod and extending that.

[noturday]

not bad dude, it looks pretty good, i see you got those shocks to have a little more travel, they look good, but bump-steer will be a huge problem unless you do some kind of modification to fix it, maybe change up the suspension design

[xmodkidd33]

Steering rod is done.

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z160/Xmodcrawls/100_4746.jpg

It doesn't have much bumpsteer at all.

Started work on the rear:

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z160/Xmodcrawls/100_4747.jpg

[noturday]

sweet, that is looking good, the longer tie rod screws will help the bumpsteer, but you'll need extra large wheels to clear them. cant wait to see more on it, it should look awesome when its all complete, good luck

[xmodkidd33]

Here are the wheels/tires/body I plan on using:

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z160/Xmodcrawls/100_4748.jpg

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z160/Xmodcrawls/100_4750.jpg
^Next to an off-road tire.

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z160/Xmodcrawls/100_4752.jpg

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z160/Xmodcrawls/100_4753.jpg

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z160/Xmodcrawls/100_4754.jpg
^Superman, FTW! :D

[GearHeadV8]

that thing is sick lol any plans like for ir to go fast lol

[texan_idiot25]

Gonna need a mosnter motor for that thing..

Starting to remind me of CowboySiR's X-Maxx

[nitemeer]

lol that wheel is way too big.. maybe a servo can deal with that wheel.. regular motor don't even have enough power :)

[fieldfairy2]

Wow. looking good. I would suggest xi's se 180 motor for the trucks. That might work pretty well.

[xmodkidd33]

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z160/Xmodcrawls/100_4757.jpg

Rear end, take two. The XTruck lowering arms were too flimsy, so I made my own. I'm also using Xmodification's spring technique. These dogbones are going to be looong! :D

[amorton94]

when your finished , you should put a video up on how good it works offroad:D :D

[TheB1GDude]

Crazy dude! Just plain crazy but also totally sick!!

What motor you gonna put in? Servo? Or something fast and upgrade the board?

[xmodkidd33]

I'm still not 100% sure, I'm going to kinda put this on the side for a bit, but it'll still be the main thing on my workbench.

[Mooshu_Beef]

Those dogbones are going to be tricky...

I think the main problem you're gonna face with the dogbones is that you will have trouble getting dogbones that are the perfect length to allow the full suspension bound and rebound.

As the spring is uncompressed (car is at its highest height) the dogbone is a certain length. However when the springs are compressed, the dogbone length does not to be as long. The small angle difference in the regular truck chassis means that the length doesn't differ much. Notice that the cups have some length to them, so the dogbones can slide in and out to accommodate for the changes in dogbone length.

If you want a visual representation, take a piece of paper, draw a dot on the left side. Draw a dot exactly 2 inches to the right of the first dot. Then, draw a dot 1 inch down from the second dot.

Then draw a 2 inch line from the first dot aiming to the second dot. You will see that 2 inches isn't enough to reach.

Dots should look like this:

. .

.

Imagine how much it will be off if you extend the first dot to 4 inches (widening your car).

Suggestion: keep the compression length as far as a normal shock would go, maybe a little more. You can still use the same cups, just have to find the right dogbone...

I just got an idea: You can get carbon fiber shafts for pretty cheap by the foot from some websites, or hobby shops. Get some 1.5mm-2.5mm carbon fiber shaft, get some small metal rod (you might be able to use a small section of paper clip) and cut it to make the actual noogie that fits into, and is turned by the cup. if you can drill a TINY hole, or make a gap or cut into the end of the shaft and stick the metal pin in, and glue it, then that would work.

You will have to make precise measurements though...

Good luck with this. I'll be around once in a while and will definitely keep an eye on the project :D

[xmodkidd33]

CF rod... Great idea, I didn't think of it! (Visually) there doesn't seem to be much difference in the distances you were talking about. I guess I could measure the two distances and find the median of them and make the dogbones approximately that length?

[fieldfairy2]

Try using a micro t/dt dogbone. they are a lot longer than the off road upgrade ones and are aluminum stock/upgraded whatever. lol. they should be the same size(width, and the ball at the ends) just longer and stronger. Good luck tho.

[Mooshu_Beef]

Fieldfairy's suggestion would be the easiest, however this would require you to widen the truck to fit the dogbone, instead of making the dogbone fit the truck.

That might be a better idea though, seeing that you'll have a reliable dogbone as opposed to one that you might make. I think going with the known dogbone distance will be better.

Hehe, with the carbon fiber... I think once you get all the extra parts you've cut out, you could get some carbon fiber sheeting 1/16th of an inch in thickness, and re-make those parts. Though... if you can make CAD drawings and send it to a factory it might be easier. I dunno how easy it is to cut carbon fiber, and if you can do it with a jig saw or something like that.

How strong are your lower arms and upper braces?

[xmodificationer]

Try using a micro t/dt dogbone. they are a lot longer than the off road upgrade ones and are aluminum stock/upgraded whatever. lol. they should be the same size(width, and the ball at the ends) just longer and stronger. Good luck tho.

not sure if that would work.

1. Might not be long enough
2. The ball ends might be too small.



Its worth a try though!

[KITT222]

you could also try an RC18MT dogbone.

[xmodkidd33]

@ Mooshu- The stuff is pretty sturdy. My next year's CAD teacher said we can make anything on the computer and cut it out, so I'm going to try to remake all of the stuff on there in to aluminum. I may try to do dogbones as well if I don't go with trying to make CF ones.