impressive!!! i usually bend 1 or 2 shafts an outing from jumping and cartwheels at WOT... my stock length savage never had these problems... but since going xxl (wheelbase 17") i bend them much more often
also i think it is because truggy arms have less flex... but savage arms flex quite a bit before breaking, so shafts bend but arms are fine...???

Christ, lots of questions!!!!

Thats all good, I have the answers

Ok, 1st up the thickness of the braces, sorry about the inch measurements, seem to have lost my metric dial calipers, but found my missing inch ones:

Stock : 0.118"
Bumper : 0.155"
Pinion : 0.250"

Yes the tvp will require some trimming, about 16th of an inch or so. Not much and noting mounts there anyways. These bulks will be going on my 15" wb truck, so the tvps are custom anyways.

No idea on turning yet, waiting on the turnbukles so I can assemble the upper arms correctly.

There are mods that increase the stock lst2 turning ability. I will look that up and post a link. It is on lstforums if you want to look. In the tuning section IIRC.

I doubt the hingepin will bend, the arm will tear off first. I see no benefit in sleeving the pin, but it can't hurt anything.

As for the cvd bone end. I am measuring the size of the ball at its widest point.

Lst2: 0.306 (7.7mm)
Bone from X ss kit : 0.345 (8.7)

The crosspins are the same size, but the lst2 shaft is a bit of a loose fit, and if used with the X ss kit diff output cups it would wobble.

No idea on the vorza diffs, you can be the guinea pig on that! I will try the lst2 diff cups on a savage x ss kit diff and see how they fit. Hope it works or this will have been a waste of time.

Yes, being a welder this would have been alot easier for me.

However I want as amany off the shelf items as possible. And the cvds are a wear item, the braces should last the life of the truck.

I wish your post number would stay with your post. This right here Linc, is post 11,111. You're a super star!

the vorza diff cups look narrow enough to fit the lst2 cvds perfectly... i will only really know once i see how well the steering throw works out so i can purhcase all the parts necessary from the states.

im still interested about the upper arms... obviously not difficult, but interested what spacers you use and whether the turn buckle you have chosen works.

What size is the turnbuckle on the stock lst2 upper arm??? could you fit the lower part of the upper arm off the lst2 attached to the upper arm of the savage? do they both accept the same turnbuckle for that?

btw... it looks like it is 4mm alloy and 6.5mm alloy... do you think it would be ok just using 4mm front and back? or do you really believe the 6.5mm benefits it and would you have gone 7mm if you had the alloy lying around?

I am sure 4mm front and back would be fine. I like the thicker stuff under the pinion as it gives more area for the hingepin retaining screw to thread into, and must be stronger. If you plan to use a different method to reatin the pins I see no need for the thicker stuff. And you would not have to trim the tvp if you went with the thinner material.

The stock lst upper arm is not threaded, only way to do that would be to go with the rpm lst arms and just use the end. However rpm do not make a dedicated lst2 upper arm, the use the lst1 arm they made way back when and just use some spacers to fill the void on either side. Have a look on rpms site for more info on that.

I am not sure of the rpm turnbuckle size, but will bet that it is std thread, not metric.

Keep an eye out, some of my cen parts arrived and I will start a new thread on that conversion tomorrow. The cvds are massive, make the shd shafts look like mini t parts.

thanks for the response linc...
I hope those turnbuckles arrive so we can finally see it all fitted with the LST parts...

But
quite excited by the CEN Parts now. but have no idea what to expect.
I like the lst hubs as they do offer the possibility of using 3 wheel bearings, but the cen stuff must be robust anyway....

Ill be watching.. im ill, and stuck in bed so im glued the whole time

Ok, got the 60mm turnbuckles today.

Put them on and had a look at it. Looks good, but I overlooked one critical detail. As seen in the cen thread the st diff output cup (OC) is alot shorter than the savage. And I did all of my measurements for the pin braces with the savage OC still installed. So I will have to find a suitable OC to fit what I have, or make new pin braces.

So Jahay, I am interested to see how that vorza OC fits the lst2 shaft. I will also be looking for a hot bodies lightning diff OC, as it should be a direct fit in the savvy diff. Also looking at the hellfire OC. I am guessing the hellfire OC will be the same dimension as the stock X OC.

I could make some sort of sleeve to fit the X OC so that the lst2 cvd ball end fits without wobbling. I would prefer a drop in OC of the correct size. I think HB parts will be the way to go.

Ok bud...

GREAT NEWS

the vorza cup is a PERFECT fit for the LST2 CVD

I thought i would take some pics for you just in case...

http://i878.photobucket.com/albums/a...2-15104542.jpg

Looks as if it would fit perfectly in this image below. OC next to it is the SHD savage cup.
http://i878.photobucket.com/albums/a...2-15104038.jpg

The fit in the cup... There is no side ways or any movement for that matter. It is a perfect fit.
http://i878.photobucket.com/albums/a...2-15104255.jpg


So linc, as you made your braces around the savage X cup, what does that mean? does that mean you made the braces a little too long? have you got any images of it mocked up completely and can you show the problem? i didnt think it would make much of a difference if you mocked everything up using the stock x OC or the LST OC?

As i know that the vorza cups work, i am going to rebuild my vorza diffs with teh vorza OC now and make sure everything is shimmed right in the GH Bulk... hopefully no shimming is required...

Any progress? a finished product?
I am getting some plastic hubs and ordering some cvds from the states...
i was going to order a whole load of new era gear, but i dont know. I want to try the plastic hubs out first. Make it work, and upgrade from there.

Good to know the vorza cups will work.

Look at this pics of yours:

http://i878.photobucket.com/albums/a...2-12145937.jpg

See how the slotted portion of the shd (and x) cup is longer than the vorza. My longer hingepin braces may allow the cvd bone end to pop out at max travel. I will have to pick up some cups and try it out.

Business and personal life have got in the way recently. I have to take a week off from fooling with rc but will be back at it next week. I will try to order some parts this week so I have stuff in hand next week.

Ok i get what you are saying... so basically you have made your braces a little too wide. From what you see, can you make them so that the hinge pin sits close to the bulk without any problems???
I have rebuilt my diffs with the vorza cups now, and i have a mate sending all his hubs etc... (i just need cvds) as he got all the new era gear... if i make it work well with the plastic hubs, i may fork out and get new era hubs for my build... Give it a little more strength to deal with all the extra weight of my truck and hold the bearings well... My mate said he may be able to fit 4 bearings in the rear hub!!! But he is going to get back to me.

Ill let you know how i get on!

linc... i started a little today, just mocking up and taking measurements using my Vorza diff ouputs...

I think your braces maybe a little long resulting in your cvd not sitting in the Diff output :/
From what i tested, it seems the hinge pin has to be as close to the bulk head as possible for the cvd to sit in the Diff axle as much as possible.

In this pic you can see the pin in the CVD, so the cvd is sitting in the correct place.
http://i878.photobucket.com/albums/a...2-18154616.jpg

In this pic you can see the hinge pin is compressed right up next to the bulk so the cvd fits perfectly in the diff axle.

http://i878.photobucket.com/albums/a...2-18154629.jpg

In the pic below... the hinge pin is as close to the bulk as possible.
The measured disance from centre of original Hingepin bulk head hole to the centre hinge pin sat next to the bulk is 0.6mm

It would be even better if it was 0.5mm but nothing can be done about that. (BUT IM CONSIDERING THE FLM XL Arms now that are 0.5mm longer per arm as i could utilise the bulk holes?
http://i878.photobucket.com/albums/a...2-18154642.jpg


Increased width due to lst hub over stock
http://i878.photobucket.com/albums/a...2-18154719.jpg


Linc i am having huge problems cutting out my 4mm alloy braces! I am using a dremel and a bench grinder to shape, and they are just not doing the job! I have only completed what is below
http://i878.photobucket.com/albums/a...2-18211412.jpg
http://i878.photobucket.com/albums/a...2-18211451.jpg

and it took me absolutely ages just to get to this point.
What tools are you using to cut it out????
Or what do people recommend for cutting things out of alloy? and neatly?

A fine tooth saw blade in a reciprocating saw (jig saw) works well. I use a bandsaw to cut al, and it works very well. Grinding just does not work well with al, the al gums up the stones and disks. A saw is the best method I have found.

This is what I have been using to cut aluminum sheets for the small stuff, such as my battery trays for my 5T, but its also not been as thick as what I see you using.

http://www.dremel.com/en-us/Attachme...aspx?pid=EZ476

With the Ez-Lock attachment.

I do like the increased width; what is the diameter of the axle?

thanks ill look into that cutting blade... people are saying to get a bandsaw, but i think it is way too much to spend on a tool for infrequent use

the diemeter is the same as the savage... 5mm

Fiber cutting disks just do not work very well...

I paid about 100 bucks for my bandsaw, well spent money IMO. I cut all kinds of stuff with it. I even cut up some plumbing parts when I installed a bathtub in a tight area last year.

Jig saws can be had pretty cheap. Try harbor freight, if they ship to the uk. I have seen them less than 20 bucks. I have a nice dewalt, but I paid 100 bucks for it. Good tools are a great investment.

linc... can you tell me what upper arm rods you bought ??? have you tried the ones you bought yet? do they work with the stock upper arms?

I am getting my new braces delivered so want to see if it all works.. just unsure which upper arm rods to buyu

Heres a few pics. I did mod the upper arm end where it connects to the lst2 hub as mentioned earlier in the thread, and the hpi 60mm turnbuckes fit perfectly. They have enough adjustment to account for your narrower pin braces too.

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...p/DSCF4841.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...p/DSCF4842.jpg

Thanks linc for the pics!

Are those turnbuckles made of steel or alloy? just out of curiosity... i wouldnt mind getting them anodised red if they are alloy.

I see you are still using the Savage normal HD axle outputs. Are you having to replace those or are you going to make do?

Linc... is the hex pin a 3mm pin? I want to run 17mm hexs and unsure as to which ones would work with the LST CVD...

They are steel, i would never buy alloy turnbuckles, as they always break on me. At least I can bend a steel one straight.

I am looking for a solution to the outputs, thinking a hotbodies diff will have longer outputs that will fit the savvy diff. I like that the vorza cups mimic the lst cup size, and will be using those on the cen setup.

Not sure on the pin size, I will find my metric calipers and see. I know that any lst hex will fit (of course) and sportwerks stuff fits too. I run sportwerks 17mm hexes on my lst2. You can also make the cen 23mm hexes work with a little filing on the backside (my 6x6 lst has those). Check out lstforums, they should have a list of the hexes that will work. The critical dimension is the distance from the pin hole to the outer bearing face, I know ofna hexes will not fit, as they have the hole in the hex spaced differently.

linc, how long is the LST axle? And what is the distance from the pin hole to the outer bearing face? And what diameter is the pin hole?

Thinking about trying to use some LST/LST2/etc CVD axles on an RC8T to be able to run the proline 23mm hex adapters; or attempt to use my 4mm sleeve + 24mm Baja hubs...

Ok an update!
Look what i got made... CHECK MY SAVAGE THREAD FOR MORE PICS


http://i878.photobucket.com/albums/a...ay87/001-4.jpg

As you can see... they mount the hinge pin outside of the bulkhead pefectly. This will give me the extra clearence i need to mount the LST Hubs!!

my build
http://www.rc-monster.com/forum/show...077#post399077