My New 2.2 Clod Crawler, Kerbesäge

It all started when I traded my BL converted MT2 for a HPI Pro4 and a pair of clod axles. Well, I had experience with two super class clods prior to this, so I wanted to do something different, so I decided I wanted to make a 2.2 class clod.

So I went to work. First I made my own 4 link posts out of 3/8" aluminum rod. Then I opened up the axles and locked the diffs using the hot glue method. Because this is a 2.2, I needed a way to lock out the rear steering, so I came up with a way to do it for 50 cents and without the use of links.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...r/DSC03480.jpg
That's right, grade 8 1/2" zinc washers.

Here is the completed rear axle, ready for installation:
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...r/DSC03483.jpg

I new from the second I saw them, I was going to make the Home Depot beadlock wheels, so I had to make a way for these things to work on a clod, so I used my trusty drill press and cut off the excess material from the steering knuckles:
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...r/DSC03459.jpg

For tires, Proline 2.2 Moab's were a natural choice because they pretty much grip anything:
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...r/DSC03571.jpg

Now for the front axle. Did the same locking treatment as the rear and the same 4 link post. Then I did a behind the axle steering conversion because the other way just plain sucks, especially on a 2.2 rig. The servo plate is a piece of 1/4" aluminum, cut, drilled and tapped to make it fit:
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...r/DSC03569.jpg

With the the axles prepared for installation, it was time to make a chassis. I just went with a basic design using 1/8" aluminum for the sideplates, 1/4" aluminum for the skidplate, and 3/8" aluminum rod for the cross braces. To make the links, I used 8-32 allthread inside of 1/4" tubing with nuts on the ends for the lowers and 8-32 allthread inside of 3/16" with nuts on the ends for the uppers.



Ladies and getlemen, I present to you, Kerbesäge (German for "hack saw" because I made this with a hack saw and drill press):







http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...r/DSC03651.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...r/DSC03650.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...r/DSC03654.jpg

The mandatory articulation shot:


Here it is next to my brother's ghetto rig:


With a body this awesome, I had to paint it the original military olive drab. Also, since I don't want to destroy this body, I have my beater body:
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...r/DSC03574.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...awler/DSC03575

Naked pictures! :D
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...r/DSC03563.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...r/DSC03564.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...r/DSC03566.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b5...r/DSC03568.jpg

Thanks for reading this über long post!

looks good. nice work

Very nice.. Looks very similar to the rock crawler I build about a month ago... I'll snap some pics and post them later :)

[coolhandcountry]

That looks like a cool project. Way to go camel