Proline Powerstroke shock BLING
 

I figure some of you might like to see this little project I came up with to add a little BLING to the powerstroke shocks and get rid of some plastic. I decided to take pictures along the way to show the progress of how these were created.

Started out by doing a little drawing of the spring separator/retainer.
http://i47.tinypic.com/24pbd5u.jpg

Then off to the old Enco lathe.
http://i45.tinypic.com/kbq3x4.jpg

Grabbed some 1" bar stock that we had laying around the shop. I can use materials for myself as long as it is something that the shop can't use to make something with.
http://i49.tinypic.com/jrwehi.jpg

Drilled/bored the center and took it down to the largest diameter
http://i46.tinypic.com/33zd7jd.jpg

Then took it down to the diameter that the upper spring sits in
http://i50.tinypic.com/s12kas.jpg
http://i45.tinypic.com/ny9urk.jpg

Then started taking it down to the diameter that the lower spring sits in
http://i47.tinypic.com/kbulhj.jpg
http://i50.tinypic.com/205qf11.jpg

Since the part is so thin it doesn't break off clean when you part it off.
http://i50.tinypic.com/2v81lah.jpg

To solve this issue without marking up the part with the jaws of the chuck I had to hold it in a small chuck with sand paper wrapped around the part and then put that in the lathe and machine it off.
http://i45.tinypic.com/11tv12w.jpg
http://i47.tinypic.com/30lcwmw.jpg
http://i50.tinypic.com/nb7ius.jpg

Then it's done.
http://i45.tinypic.com/hx89kz.jpg
http://i50.tinypic.com/2vkg75k.jpg
http://i47.tinypic.com/mudcoi.jpg
http://i48.tinypic.com/o5uwld.jpg

So sweet, great work :D!

Great project!
I like the sand paper idea! Any reason sand paper in specific?

Thanks for the comments guys, glad yall like them.

I use the sand paper because on the one side it is smooth so you can put it on a finished part and not worry about it making any marks on it even if it does slide some. Then it has the grit on the other side which grabs onto the jaws of the chuck very well to prevent any sliding or spinning of the part.

very nice work indeed

Smart idea with the sand paper, but why not just put on a set of smooth jaws?

I don't have a set of smooth jaws and I don't think I could get my boss to understand that the shop needs a set so I can make my rc parts:(

What!!! You need to tell your boss that isn't acceptable....:whistle: Just kidding. Very nice work indeed. I wish I had access to a machine like that. I could make a ton of RC parts for sure

:lol:, I agree with you, but the boss doesn't, at least not yet. Maybe I need to come up with a job at work that they could be used for and then say we need them:yes:. But honestly the sand paper works perfect and its really cheap.

Very cool :great:

I have been away from R/C for a while now, but its good to see people still making custom parts!

Even though these may not have much functional purpose, they are cool to say the least, and they give your truck some of that custom "I made that" feel. kudos!

I used to do a lot of this. I love looking at something and knowing I made it from scratch and didn't just buy it.

Hopefully I can get back to it, now that I'm coming back into the hobby, and have more time. :yes:


-Travis

Thanks Wheelman. I could actually adjust the part a little bit from the stock Proline piece and give myself more travel in the upper or lower spring, but I just made exact copies. Figured Proline probably came up with a decent setup since they are about the best shocks you can get for the maxx, at least it's all I will run when I do run.

You've got a point there :mdr: Its what they do, so I'm sure they designed them the way they did for a reason.

Either way, your alloy versions are very cool!


-Travis