Project: Traxxas Zero (true 1/10th revoflux)
 

Project: Traxxas Zero
The ultimate true 1/10th basher

The traxxas stampede 4x4 came out a few months after I came up with this idea.. but I feel like the Stampede 4x4 made by Traxxas is too weak and doesn't have a TVP chassis our laydown suspension. My project will end up being slightly longer and wider then the Traxxas Stampede 4x4. I want this thing to be exetremly durable... skatepark durable, Bmx track durable, huge jump durable.

My goal: To build the Ultimate One-battery, One motor, true 1/10th scale electric basher.

Features I look to put into the project:

Built like a Tank
4wd
Custom TVP Chassis
Center Differential
Laydown suspension
High ground clearance
Long suspension travel
Inexpensive
Electric
Gear Diffs
Strong a-arms/hub carriers
Roll cage
2.8 wheels/tires
Accommodate 7.4v or 11.1v lipo
Defies Gravity
Stampede stance and look

My starting point...my Traxxas Evo8 project... I have no where to race it so I'm turning it into this project.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...o/IMG_2493.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...o/IMG_2492.jpg

Updates to come.

Man, you're always cooking something up. Can't wait to see this one. :nod:

Haha yea that's very true always got a project planned.

Last night I disassembled the buggy and took all the parts that I will be using for this project. I then went thru and cleaned all the parts. This project is ofcourse going to end getting dirty but it has to be clean for the finished pictures.. plus, I don't like working with dirty parts.

The Slayer a-arms will probably be replaced with Slayer Pro a-arms and the rear hubs will probably be replaced with Rpm hubs.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...o/IMG_2504.jpg

I layed out partial front and rear ends to get a idea of how long its going to be .. and how everything is going to be layed out. Ofcourse the center diff and motor and all that are going to be raised up from the position that they are at in the pictures since its a monster truck.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...o/IMG_2514.jpg

Here is my list of stuff to get...

1/4" lexan or 1/8" 6061-T6 aluminum for chassis
Traxxas Updated slayer a-arms
Losi High Roller Body
Dust boots
2.8 Badland or Trencher Tires
Rpm revo hub carriers
Rpm Front/Rear bumpers
Rpm Front/Rear bumper mounts
Traxxas front/rear body mounts
Ace 5000mah 3s lipo
Reciever

I have the esc and servo. And the motor is shipping out monday.. I will show you guys what motor I'm going to be using once it comes.

I recieved the motor today. I'm a bit worried it might not be the right motor for this application.. its a Speed Passion Silver Arrow motor. Diameter is 36mm and length is 63mm. Its 3214kv. Its a short course motor

I picked it up used for $40 shipped. I'm going to be using 3s. What I'm worried about is that I have a feeling this truck will be pretty heavy..especially if I use aluminum Tvp's. I'm not sure whether or not the Kv is too high. I'm shooting for around 40-45mph. I'm worried that the motor will get too hot or won't have enough torque. What do you guys think??

Heres a picture of it by itself and also a picture compared to a mamba 5700 and a Feigao 8XL.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...ilverarrow.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/eds24/IMG_2528.jpg

I'm going to actually start building the truck today. I'm going to try and get the bottom chassis plates/skid plates done and maybe even the top ones. Who knows we will see how far I get.

Unfortunatly, I have to switch my concentration back to a custom 2wd buggy I just finished..I recently became a "project' contributing editor for RcDriver magazine and so they want me to send it to them for pictures and have me write an article about it. Currently its fully disassembled and requires some new parts..Sooo I'm going to have to work on that for the next week or so. I'm sorry.

but, I did receive the wheels and bodies for this truck.
I decided to go with a Losi High Roller body becuase it is meant to fit on trucks with a 11.5"-12" wheelbase. I feel like the Stampede 4x4 is alittle bit too short so this body was the perfect size. Usually these bodies are $30 brand new.. $16.87 +$10.00 shipping...if you buy two then its about $33+$10.00 shipping .. Considering that means these are almost half price I decided to buy too since I'm sure they won't last very long..and the 1/10th High Roller has disappeared from Losi's website so who knows how much longer these bodies will be around.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...o/IMG_2538.jpg

I decided to go with Imex Eagle Black Jato 2.8 rear wheels. I saw a picture of these with Badlands on them and they looked pretty sick.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...o/IMG_2541.jpg

I mocked it up to get a feeling of how this beast is going end up looking.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...o/IMG_2548.jpg

Bummer to see evo8 removed from the picture but i can see why you did it...

Subscribed here since URC hasnt shown the thread yet!

After a 4 month hiatus from this project.. I have made it my top priority project again there are just too many awesome bashing spots around here to not take advantage of them before winter comes...so updates will be coming soon.

Sweet EDS! keep up the good work!

no where to race! There are 4 soon to be 5 excellent tracks in colorado!

looking forward to updates

Muggy: A lot of the tracks are somewhat far from me...I'm in the centennial area..and when I finished that project electric 1/8th seemed pretty dead.

The past couple of days I have been working on the lower skid plates. I have been cutting them out of 1/8" 6061-T6 aluminum with my hand-held jigsaw. Today, after an hour of filing and drilling I finished the front skid-plate. I also mounted the steering rack to the skid-plate. I'm duties a Team Associated Rc8 steering rack to take care of the steering duties.

Tomorrow I will finish the rear skid plate and have pictures of that one up also but for now here are a couple of pictures of the front to prove that I am actually making progress! ;)

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...1814-45-02.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...1814-51-35.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...1814-51-50.jpg

wow... good luck man. cant wait to see how it ends up

Not a whole lot of excitement today... but I did finish the rear skid plate. I made sure to bend it so that it provided rear kick up like the Revo/Slayer. I cut both the front and rear skid plates to be a bit longer then they will end out being. I'm not sure exactly how long they needed to be so I made them longer just be safe.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...1919-33-22.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...1919-35-32.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...1919-38-36.jpg

Next I will be working on the upper chassis plates and also the braces which will connect the skid plates to the upper chassis's These are also the pieces where the main twin vertical plates will connect to the front and rear of the truck.

I ordered another sheet of 6061 1/8" Aluminum plate from ebay for the main chassis plates. I will start drawing the design for those also very soon. I have a feeling that this truck is going to be a pig.

I'm getting excited about this build..and after experiencing a time of having no motivation to work on my projects...it's nice.

Another small some what boring update for today...

I got the front upper chassis cut out and filed. This part reminded me about how much work making custom cars really is..The part didn't take long to cut out..but it took a couple hours to file it down to get it fit right. I also had a hard time bending the piece to accomodate for the front kick-up. I resorted to sandwiching the piece between two 2x4's and crouching on top of the top 2x4. Then I pulled with all my strength upward to achieve the bend.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...2119-01-41.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...2118-59-10.jpg

Today my piece of 1/8" 6061-T6 aluminum for the main chassis plates came. Its 12" x 24" and I have a feeling it will last me awhile.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...2114-54-31.jpg

Tomorrow I'm having a dental implant done..so not sure if I'll be up for doing any work but tomorrow or Saturday I will finish the rear upper chassis plate and also post pictures of that one. Hopefully soon I will be able to start providing more interesting updates : )

Well....today no progress was made becuase of me feeling under the weather after the dental implant. BUT as a reward for making it through the process of someone drilling a screw into my mouth I decided I should order most of the parts needed to complete this project.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...Zero/order.jpg

I also ordered some 2.8" Proline Badlands. Unfortunately, now that Proline has started making tires to fit Traxxas wheels they have discontinued the tires that fit there wheels. I purchased some Imex Jato wheels awhile ago for this project and they don't have the same bead type as the Traxxas wheels. So I had to hunt down some of the old Badland tires. Everywhere I looked either didn't have them or only had one pair! So I ended up having to buy one pair from one place and the other pair from another! I also ordered some Rpm revo hubs for the rear to match the Rpm hubs which I have for the front.

Perhaps, tomorrow I will be able to get back to work on this but no promises.

man i love this thread.first thing i check when i get home.keep up the good work!

I'm glad to hear that man.. I will try to keep posting updates regularly. It's always nice to hear that people are watching.

I started to feel well enough to do some work on this today... it took quiet a bit of convincing though. Once I got started though I was able to fly through finishing the last of the 4 upper chassis plates/ skid plates! The rear one that I just finished doesn't fit exact..but the top plates will be covered in flat black vinyl and that will hide many of the in perfections.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...2319-24-23.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...2319-24-39.jpg

I couldn't just keep feeding you guys boring updates with repetitive pictures...so to spice things up... I threw some rockers and shocks on there for a couple of pictures.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...2319-35-39.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...2319-34-47.jpg

Tomarrow I am hoping to get the designs drawn up for the chassis braces which will connect the upper and lower chassis and also be the mounting location for the TVP's. Also, would like to get those pieces finished and mounted so that I can start designing the TVP's. I think once I start working on those...things will start to get interesting quickly!

a duel deck spaceframe with tvps? I have the sneaking suspicion this thing is going to become indestructible;)

Nice, your very talented

Nice build. Cant wait to see the final product

This thread is like turning the page to the centerfold of a playboy magazine. I just want to see the product come alive. Think I will be subscribing....

:eek::eek::eek::eek::weird::weird::weird::weird:

Must see more....;) Work isnt that important....take a few day and go hard at it:D.......

very nice!

Guys loving the support and interest you guys are showing this project! Trust me though...I have only gotten started.

Came home from work and had three packages awaiting me.. One had one pair of badlands, another had the other pair, and the last one had the RPM revo hubs.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...2713-55-09.jpg

I'm still waiting for my big shipment from Rcplanet to come though...

Also, I had a bit of time to mount the front shocks...The rockers I have mounted are for the rear.. they will be replaced by the correct front long travel rockers once they come.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...2722-35-09.jpg

I wasn't planning on doing that till further on in the build.. but things started to get complicated fast..as I found that the only way to make the motor fit in between the front and rear shocks was to slide the center differential as far forward as I could. How far I could push the center differential forward depended on where the shocks where mounted..so I had to mount the shocks first then return to trying to design the lexan parts which will be sandwiched inbetween the top and bottom aluminum plates and will be where the TVP's are mounted to. The lexan parts will support the center differential so that's why it's taking me longer than I had expected to design and cut those parts. A picture of the complication...
*note the center differential be raised up and the skid plate bent upward to provide more ground clearance*

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...2722-37-30.jpg

I'm crossing my fingers that tomarrow I will make large strides and be able to get the lexan chassis braces mentioned earlier mounted and also mount the center differential. (Something else I hadn't planned on doing before the chassis was completed)

Hang tight guys.

Subscribed.......:cool:

wahooooooooooooooooooooooooooo more updates. MAN I WANT TO DO A PROJECT NOW!!!!!! your a Pioneer of building custom bashers. I respect you greatley. send it to New Zealand. that would test it hint hint.

Alex

lkptrex: Thanks for subscribing! I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

Hotbodies: Haha I'm glad that you like the updates and you definitely should do a project..its alot of work..but the outcome is great. Oh..I have plenty of places to test this thing her.. ; ) more on that once its done.. and I get some videos up.


Had a wicked long day at work today..cooking burgers 8 hours a day at mcdonald's tires a guy out...but hey people gotta eat and I have to have money for my projects..and college.. anyway.. I came home to find this at my door step...

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...2816-12-55.jpg

I wonder whats inside...
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...2816-17-02.jpg

Shortly after taking the pictures..I tore into the packages in an organized and controlled matter...haha yea right!

I started to throw parts on the front end of the truck and I'm very happy with how things are turning out. The width of the truck looks like its going to be around between 13 1/2" and 14" ! Which will fit the wheelbase nicely and is much wider than a Stampede 4x4. I'm very excited about the front bumper as it will fit the Highroller body perfectly. I can't show guys pictures of it with the body.. but I'm going to tell you that the stance is killer.

Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to do any heavy machining on the chassis braces like I wanted too. Maybe tomorrow... but till then.. some pictures of the front end...I think it looks good..but will look even better once I dye the rockers and cover the upper chassis in flat black vinyl!

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...-38-04_org.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...2822-37-18.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...2822-34-13.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...2822-32-48.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...2822-30-49.jpg

Yep....this looks like it will be cool!!! Nice job so far!!!

wow nice job. cant wait to see it done

looks great, cant wait to see how the chassis will look when its all completed!

I finally got the front chassis braces done and mounted today. These parts took some time because I had to make sure that I had the holes in exactly the right spots so that that the center differ would be straight and would spin freely. I also had to make sure the tops and bottoms where completely flat and that my cuts where straight so that these parts would fit flush and weren't crooked.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...3120-03-02.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...3119-58-50.jpg

Once I got the pieces cut and drilled then it was another challenge to mount them to the upper and lower chassis. These parts have to be square and straight so that the TVP's will be parallel and won't be crooked.

I think I ended up doing a pretty good job considering that I'm useing hand tools and I'm happy with how it fits together. I think it will prove to be very durable

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...3121-12-46.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...3121-12-26.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...3121-14-07.jpg

I also discovered today that Long Travel Rockers fit the front of the Slayer but will NOT fit the rear becuase the push-rods interfere with upper a-arm. So I will be have to use P2 rockers on the front and back.
The front clip as it stands..
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...3121-13-54.jpg

Now that I have the majority of the front clip completed I'm going to start working on the rear clip. Once I get the rear clip done I will finally be able to design and fabricate the chassis plates!

lol i want one. nice work mate.

Thanks!

Today I started off the day by a nice trip to the hobby shop. Knowing that I couldn't move on with the project until I knew how far from the rocker posts the shock mounts were placed on a Revo or Slayer. So I picked up a Revo rear bulkhead. Took it out of the package and measured it. I was talking to my girlfriend about how I just bought this part for $15 and won't even be using it on my project..and that I just needed it to get the measurement. She was like " Uh...Ethan why didn't you just measure the part at the store and not wasted $15?" I responded.."umm I didn't think of that" haha :lol: Since I had opened the package I wasn't able to return the part..she thought it was hilarious.

Anyway..knowing the distance of how far I should mount the shock mount from the rock posts on the rear and I got to work and mounted the rear shock mount along with the shocks, rockers, and Push rods. I also put the a-arms on and the hubs. Then, I bent the rear lower skid plate up to allow for better ground clearance to finish the day off.

The rear clip as it stands...

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...0422-20-11.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...0422-20-26.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...0422-20-44.jpg

The front and rear clips..
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...0422-33-02.jpg

Tomorrow my goal is to get the rear chassis braces drawn up , cut out, filed/sanded, and mounted. Once I do that....I can FINALLY start designing the TVP's.

getting closer.well done

Thanks..yep its coming together slowly..

Another small update today. I got the rear chassis braces designed, cut, and mounted just as I had wanted to. I bent the rear skid-plate up dramatically to increase the ground clearance. I then cut the skid-plate and bolted the other end to the brace. The pieces aren't the best looking because in order for the lexan and aluminum to be flush I had to file the aluminum while the lexan was mounted. It doesn't matter though since the lexan parts will be covered by the Tvp's

Here's a of pictures of the rear chassis braces.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...0522-52-56.jpg

The front and rear clips in there respected positions..
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...0522-56-23.jpg

The picture makes the truck look pretty short but in reality I am shooting for a wheelbase around 12 inches. Considering that the Stampede 4x4 has a wheelbase of 10.83 in. I believe that 12 inches should be perfect.

I'm currently designing the TVP's as we speak. I'm not sure when I will be able to work on them but it should be in the next few days.

Stay tuned..once I get the TVP's done..this thing will really start to come together quickly.

Over the past couple days I have been gradually working on the Twin Verticle Chassis Plates (TVP's). I started out with a basic drawing with dimensions I knew the Tvps had to fit into. I then made a couple copies of that drawing and taped them to the 3mm (1/8") 6061-T6 Aluminum sheet I bought off of ebay.

Once I got the basic rectangles cut out with the ol' reliable jigsaw , I drew the cut at the bottom of the plates that increase the ground clearance. At this point I was ready to mount them to the lexan pieces. I won't explain the boreing and lengthly method I used to get all the holes in the right places and to make sure they line up..so i will skip to the pictures...

*Keep in mind that these Tvp's aren't even close to being finished.. once I get the motor, battery, servo,etc mounted I will take everything back off and finish the design, shorten them, cut sections out to reduce weight, and file the pieces*

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...0819-55-01.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...0819-56-25.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...0819-56-08.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...0819-55-12.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...0819-46-31.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...0819-49-14.jpg

The next task on the list is to cut a section out of the left TVP for the motor to fit through and also get the motor mounted up.

Its like a wet dream every other day!! I LOVE it!!!!

NICE bro... you might like to perforate the tvps to get rid of a bit of weight up high...

looks like a great project, cant wait to see the final product.