Homebrew low CG chassis..

[Impact]

I couldn't stop my self, I've been looking at the outlaw chassis and it looks nice but there are a few things I don't like about it and $85.00 for two sheets of G-10 is a bit much. I made mine from 1/8" aluminium and an eye pleasing shape, it's not finished yet but I plan to get it done in the next few days then take it for a test drive. You can see some pics at this link.........Impact

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/member.php?u=58634

[zfmrchnt]

did you use the stock steering linkage?

[therealrsr]

Looks pretty clean, nice job. What do you use to make the cuts?

[Impact]

did you use the stock steering linkage?

No, the stock bell cranks will go in the trash and links will go from wheel to servo saver, much like the stampede......Impact

[Impact]

Looks pretty clean, nice job. What do you use to make the cuts?

Milling machine, bandsaw........Impact

[TJK74]

Nice work!

[whitrzac]

add some standoffs in the middle, or it will end up in a V shape...

[Revoroller13+]

Nice, glad to see I'm not the only one working on a custom chassis. My prototype was very similar to the Outlaw chassis but I ran into a couple issues and decided to go with a new design thats still a dual deck,low CG style chassis but I'm going to run a Nitro rustler bellcrank setup along with a partial front rustler chassis hacked up and then run 1/8th alum sheets. My uncle runs a machine shop in the ST Louis area and could do it for me cheaply. For now my chassis is on the backburner until next week when I have time to sit down and think about it.

[TJK74]

Why not use the same template as the FLM extended Rustler chassis but just extend it another inch?

[Revoroller13+]

If you extend the chassis any over stock then your going to run into issues with finding bodies that will fit. I already went down that road. And for it to run SC8 Bodies it would have to be extended 2inches and probably widenend aswell and I'm sure the other dudes in mod class (if your racing) would get upset with what you have done.

[TJK74]

If you extend the chassis any over stock then your going to run into issues with finding bodies that will fit. I already went down that road. And for it to run SC8 Bodies it would have to be extended 2inches and probably widenend aswell and I'm sure the other dudes in mod class (if your racing) would get upset with what you have done.

What I'm trying to say is that FLM makes an extended Rustler chassis that is 1" shorter than the wheelbase that would be correct for the Slash.
Why not copy that same design but extend it an inch to match the wheelbase for the slash?

The end result of what your creating with a low CG chassis is identical to whats run on the Rusty/Bandit but just longer.

[Revoroller13+]

Forgot the slash was longer then the rustler,my bad

[Gage2502]

Looks really good to me, keep it up.
~Gage~

[phildogg]

chassis looks great...

[Impact]

Late tonight I plan to get 2-3 hours more work done and I will put new pics up at the same link. Thanks for the input everyone. To be honest I thought about doing this about two weeks after getting the slash(preorder, first batch to come in) but it really handled well and rolled a lot less than I thought it would. Now with the outlaw chassis, SC10 and 6 months to race it against 1/10 buggy,stadium trucks I find I would like better performance, It remains to be seen if this chassis will make it better or if it's just a big turd. I haven't seen any feed back yet about the outlaw, like spec lap times vs spec with outlaw chassis, I'm sure there will be a lot soon. Check back for pictures very late tonight(12:00am or later)........Impact

[Impact]

Getting close now just a few last things, like steering links, a way to hold the battery in and a couple of threaded holes for the front bumper. If I get the time I might finish it tomorrow and tuesday is on-road racing night and they happen to have a very nice heated indoor offroad track also so I'll give it a try and report my feelings.....Impact


New picture link..
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/member.php?u=58634

[LordFhtagn]

Looks good, but why did you make it so narrow? Weight reduction?

I'm working on designs for one that uses the stock body as a template, just need to wait for parts for the plasma cutter.

[Impact]

Looks good, but why did you make it so narrow? Weight reduction?

I'm working on designs for one that uses the stock body as a template, just need to wait for parts for the plasma cutter.

That's as wide as it needed to be.........Impact

[LordFhtagn]

That's as wide as it needed to be

Clear as mud now. Thanks.

[Impact]

Clear as mud now. Thanks.

Sorry, I felt the chassis only needed to be wide enough to hold the things it needed to hold (speed control, battery, servo) The receiver box can go just about anywhere so I didn't factor that into the overall shape.......Impact

[Impact]

I finished it enough to rip around my driveway and street, with two feet of snow on the ground here there isn't much of anything to play on so I was left with making speed runs up and down the street and drifting all over the place. With this sort of conditions it's hard to tell if the low CG helps or has any affect but what did seem promising was at top speed(40ish) I couldn't get it to roll, it would push, turn or slide but never did it roll so that's interesting. With the steering directly from the saver to the wheel(no bell cranks) it's extremely positive and 100% slop free. Next tuesday I'll drive it on a indoor offroad track with another stock chassis slash and try to compare the two........Impact

[Impact]

I got a chance to test drive this chassis at my local track yesterday and I'm pretty happy. The track is super hard pack that reminds me of brown concrete and offers varying traction, with the right moisture traction is great but with it dry it's very slippery and seeing it's winter in these parts the track is very dry. I've been running my stock chassis slash here all along so I have a good idea how it handles in these conditions, with the new chassis it felt much the same as the old, slippery with tons of steering and no rear traction. I'm sure when it warms up and I can run outside on a track with softer dirt that you can bite into I'm sure the lower CG will be noticeable. There where a few good surprises last night, once and a while everyone ends up on a pipe/board while racing and with the chassis being all flat you don't get stuck like with the suspension braces hanging down so that's cool and this track has a lots of short doubles right out of corners and with it being very slick they are difficult. If you were to case it most times you would come to a dead stop because you would be hooked between the front and rear S/braces now with the new chassis you would continue to slide and only lose a little speed so that's a plus.. I'll be running it tuesday with a stock chassis slash for some comparison.............Impact

[Impact]

New picture at the same link........Impact


http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/member.php?u=58634

[Fox]

nice job. I plan on making a custom chassis sometime soon...maybe out of carbon fibre if I can find some..or aluminum liek what you did..I just need a technical drawing of where the holes and stuff would go...might make one on the CNC I use at work...

[Impact]

I had a chance to put another 1/2 hour on the slash last night, same track and it's still slick. I really like this chassis, while having a smack down with a mod 2wd buggy it was all I could do to stay in front. As I explained before the track has lots of doubles right out of corners and I would have been screwed with the stock chassis, when you come up a bit short it doesn't stop the truck. I don't even know who the buggy driver was but he drove well. I removed a bit of preload in my shocks, I normally run none in the front and a 1/2" spacer in the rear. I ran a extra 1/8" spacer in both front and rear last saturday and I would say it's better without than with....More info next wednesday, stay tuned........Impact

[71Gearhead]

The dominant feature of that chassis is the low battery, it will run well no matter what you make it look like or how wide it is, that's nice.

[bde742]

were did you get the alum?

[Impact]

were did you get the alum?

My local lowe's, it was roughly $18.00 for 6' of 1/8" x 2".........Impact

[dodge_guy43]

I know this is off topic, but can you tell me about your battery? How much power it has, run time, cost , where you got it? I have been gaining interest in the A123 LiOn batts. If you want you can reply in PM.

[Impact]

I know this is off topic, but can you tell me about your battery? How much power it has, run time, cost , where you got it? I have been gaining interest in the A123 LiOn batts. If you want you can reply in PM.

The A-123's came from a 36 volt dewalt pack bought from e-bay. Power is great, I also use them in airplanes with configs up to 12s and they pump out the power. In cars/trucks I use a 2S2p set up and run times range between 20 to 30 minutes depending on track and gearing, charging is one of the strong points of 123's they can be charged very fast. 15 to 17 minutes is a normal charge time and faster is possible but I'm at the limits of my charger. Cost was $150.00 for the battery which holds ten cells or 5 2s packs, so roughly 30.00 for a 2s pack + 3.00 for a deans connector and 2.00 for shrink wrap= 35.00. Most places sell the same 2s 2300mah pack for about 45.00. Aside from a few small airplanes and my 1/12 car I'm 100% A-123 now.......Impact

[Impact]

Here's a link to some 123's........Impact

http://www.bphobbies.com/view.asp?id...2&pid=C2126944

[Impact]

I posted a few new pictures with the body on, low is the word ........Impact

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/member.php?u=58634

[slashMax]

Nice work, looks great

[thecoolman101]

hahaha, looks kool!!!

[dodge_guy43]

Now that is what alot of the TORC/CORR trucks look like!! I like it. HOw much to make me one??? lol j/k

[Liam]

Nice! Keep up the good work!

[Impact]

Now that is what alot of the TORC/CORR trucks look like!! I like it. HOw much to make me one??? lol j/k

Sorry, this is the only one for right now..........Impact

[1slash]

that is cool

[Impact]

I ran it again this past tuesday,we had some warmer weather up here for a few days and that pulled a bit of moisture up on the track here and there. Most places were still slick but there were a few spots that had some traction. The truck felt good with the new switch tires in front, the last runs were with switch's only in the rear. I can't wait for warmer weather so I can run outside in more normal conditions these indoor tracks are great but the brown concrete gets old real fast.........Impact

[Slasher12]

That is a really cool Chassis!!! Im not talented enough to make that though
=( Really cool though