Old Skool Mid-tank Build (only temporary)

[xtremsavage]

Ok guys, since I really tore my truck up a few weeks ago and had to do a full rebuild, I had to use my stock TVPs (non-X) and still wanted a mid-tank. So, saving money for a better set of TVPs I went the old-school route. I've only spend about $75-85 and that was for parts I needed. For those who don't know what I mean by old school mid-tank, I'll explain. When mid-tanks first started, all people did was clear out the room in the stock radio box to fit a tank. You still used the stock steering servo mounting location, steering post mounts, and still able to mount the Rx in the radio box for a little extra protection without having to mount another box for it. I'll still be keeping the battery box mounted to the front shock tower since it's already installed there. The parts I used for the mid-tank are as follows ,I'm sorry to say this, but the parts I used are Traxxas parts (all the LHS had in stock and didn't want to wait for orders to come in), Revo fuel tank, Revo fuel tank mounting kit, and a body post set. I'll add the part numbers later for those interested. I also used the RPM servo mounts that I already had. Ok, time for the pics, and I'll explain about each one.

Pics of partially assembled truck

Gutted radio box (cleared out) with steering servo mounted. where the steering posts attach to the radio box is where the Rx is gonna sit.

Modified tank mount w/ RPM servo mount and modified bosy post mount w/ RPM servo mount. One of the RPM mounts had to be trimmed down. I'll post which one it was later.

Radio box with servo and tank posted installed

Fuel tank mounted in radio box from different angles. Since the pics were taken, I've moved the tank closer the transmission end of the box to give more room for shock tower flex. I also believe that the Rx is in the box in one of the pics.

In this pic, the radio box is mounted in the truck. You can see how close the tank sits next the the shock tower, hence the reason for moving it back some.

I'll update it more once I get more done. Hopefully by the weekend. Thanks for lookin.

 

[frddyj]

looks good jr, i like how your using available parts to get back in the game +1

 

[Jeremy]

Yea man great pic ? Why is it old school ? Just b/c your not spending 100 bucks on parts .. I like this way better

 

[Mickey]

looks good xtreme

 

[Larsenracing]

Looks pretty nice. You would be more than able to use that for a long duration. You did some nice clean work there.

 

[Bankrupter]

Yea man great pic ? Why is it old school ? Just b/c your not spending 100 bucks on parts .. I like this way better

They why don't you run the one I sent you ?? LOL jj

Nothing wrong with old school... Looks good and clean!

 

[xtremsavage]

looks good jr, i like how your using available parts to get back in the game +1

thanks freddy, it's only been almost a month since the damage. I can't wait to run it again. But, it's supposed to rain most of the week.

Yea man great pic ? Why is it old school ? Just b/c your not spending 100 bucks on parts .. I like this way better

I'm considering it "old-school" cuz I'm using the radio box to mount everything up front. From what i've seen in the past, that's how most mid-tanks started. Plus, i didn't spend the extra time to mount the steering servo to the TVP. I've wasted enough time already.

looks good xtreme

Thanks mickey

Looks pretty nice. You would be more than able to use that for a long duration. You did some nice clean work there.

I could use it for a long time or until I run into another curb head on, which I don't plan on doin again. I may just build another truck peice by peice. Not sure yet though. Thanks for the compliment on the clean work.

They why don't you run the one I sent you ?? LOL jj

Nothing wrong with old school... Looks good and clean!

Thanks Justin. I plan on puttin that diff/bulkhead plate to good use.

 

[Bankrupter]

They why don't you run the one I sent you ?? LOL jj

Nothing wrong with old school... Looks good and clean!

heheh that first part was to Jeremy... and it has a typo. they /then*** I sent him a old school mid set up like this for him to try Loooong ago. He never ran it..

the bottom was to you though!

 

[xtremsavage]

Well, guys and gals, the truck is almost finished. I would have had it finished Sat. night when I got home from my B-day dinner, but my wife had surprized me with a little B-day party with friends and fam. So, I didn't get to finish the truck Sat. night. All I have left to do is run new fuel and pressure lines, fix up the exhaust coupler(1-piece pipe design with the little springs, 2 springs are stretched so gonna use some small wire as a temp. fix til I get new springs), secure the exhaust to the TVPs, and recheck the throttle/brake linkage. Then just put the new tires w/ old rims on and give it a run. Here are a few pics and a little explaining on each one.

3/4 top full view

Close-up of how I mounted the on/off switch.

Close-up of the plate I made to mount the throttle/brake servo.

Close-up of throttle/brake servo mounted with linkages. Gonna try Banks throttle mod and see how it works.

Close-up of how I had to mount the rear in-board Cen shocks. With the stock length TVPs and runnin Cens, the inner shock is in the way of the header. So I mounted the lower part of the shock to the upper A-arm where it attaches to the rear hub carriers. So far, from a 4ft. drop, everything seems ok.

Sorry the pics are a little blurry, I don't have that steady of a hand. Enjoy the build and pics.

 

[xtremsavage]

heheh that first part was to Jeremy... and it has a typo. they /then*** I sent him a old school mid set up like this for him to try Loooong ago. He never ran it..

the bottom was to you though!

I know one was for Jeremy and the other for, I just didn't feel like changing it.

 

[frddyj]

jr, whats that carbon-fiber looking pipe you got on there bud?

 

[xtremsavage]

jr, whats that carbon-fiber looking pipe you got on there bud?

It's the one that my wife got me for Christmas, well sorta. The one she actually got was for the Savage 21 and that pipe wouldn't work with my motor. So I swapped it out for the one that's mounted now. It's made by Vantage Racing.

 

[AllanQ]

Looking good JR!!

 

[xtremsavage]

The truck is now 100% back together. At first, I thought my Hitec servo for the throttle/brakes crapped out on me, but I was wrong. I accidently plugged it into the failsafe backwards, that's what I get for getting in a rush to finish the truck. So, I initially installed an extra Jr Racing Z270 servo as a temp. fix til I could get a better servo cuz the Jr servo wasn't strong enough for that use. It wasn't strong enough to pull the throttle to wide open, let alone apply enough brake pressure. So, back in went the Hitec once I found out it still worked. Got the linkages all hooked up and tested the throttle and brake action. Getting full throttle, but not enough brake. I know I'm in need of a new brake set (need money first) so I had to rebend a few linkages to get the brakes to clamp enough to stop the truck. Anyways here are some more pics for your veiwing pleasure.

Left side of truck

Straight shot of left side of truck

Right side of truck

Straight shot of right side of truck

Straight shot of the front of the truck

With the body I'll most likely use. Really old and beat up. Perfect!!!!!

Pic with body used with my old ext. chassis. It's a little too long. Although the wheel wells line up perfect with the center of the rim/tires, almost perfect.

Close-up of same body hangin past the front bumper.

Close-up of same body hangin past the rear bumper.

And again, got shaky hands so some pics are a little blurry. I'll try to work on that.

 

[xtremsavage]

Here are some size comparision pics of the rims/tires that I have. I think with the smaller rim/tires I should be able to pull a wheely now. Gotta wait til weather changes to test it out.

Cen GST 7.7 rim/tire sitting behind Pro-line 40 series Commando bead-locks with 40 series Moab tires.

Close up of the above picture with same rim/tires.

Cen GST 7.7 rim/tire sitting behind Proline 40 series Commando bead-locks with 40 series low-pro Dirt Bones tires.

As you can tell, that's a pretty big difference between the two in the last pic. I gave the Moab tires to my buddy cuz he needs some new rims/tires so that way all he has to do is get the rims. I bought the Dirt Bones and mounted them to the bead-locks along with taping the inside of the tire before mounting. Since the bead-locks are well used almost to the point of useless/needing replaced, I went ahead and put a few drops here and there in the rim bead for the tire for extra hold. I then CA glued all the screws in place that hold the rings on. Once all that was set up and dry, I ran a bead of CA around the rings that touched the tire. Tires should stay put for awhile now. We'll see how long they last. Plus, I've still got the Cens as back-ups.

 

[frddyj]

idk about "temporary" jr, I'm really likin how it came out. the low pro tires & rims look good, the whole truck came out kinda killer. :jamout:

 

[xtremsavage]

Thanks Freddy. I still want the ext. chassis again, to me, it seems to handle better. Or I may keep it the way it is and build another. Who knows, but, I do know one thing, I definately want to make another set of TVPs. It's my little secret as far as material goes for my next custom set. You all will just have to wait and see.

 

[Crash]

well done jr

looks great

 

[pmp]

cool build. love the cf pipe

 

[xtremsavage]

Since I haven't fully decided on what rim/tires I'm gonna run, I took a couple more pics to show the differences between the two. I'm gonna try both sets out and see which ones I like the best.

Truck with Pro-line low-pro bowties on Commando beadlocks. I know this pic has already been posted, but I'm adding it for an easier to look at comparison.

Truck with Cen GST 7.7 rims/tires. Makes the truck lot a whole lot different.

Truck with Cen rims/tires in the rear and Pro-line combo in the front.

Truck with Cen rims/tires in the front and Pro-line combo in the rear.

 

[Jon]

looks like a tractor pull tractor with the second to last pic.
i like the pro lines myself

 

[xtremsavage]

Got a small amount of run time in with the truck Sat. night since the rebuild. Runnin good so far. Still no full time wheelies yet, I can get it to pop every once in a while, but not everytime. Even with the smaller rims/tires. I think I now have a traction problem. I give it full throttle and the wheels just spin and kick up dirt and grass, then it slow gets goin. If I'm movin slow and blip the throttle, I can get the wheels to pop up and then go full throttle and it'll wheely. I post some more once I get a better run. Busted a CVD Sat. night.