Stampede_fanatic's stampede 4x4 vxl build...

[o0wiz0o]

I think one of my trenchers either needs balancing or it has gone egg-shaped. Getting some very odd bouce from one A arm!

[stampede_fanatic]

Sweet, should be ordering a set for my slash soon.

I actually just installed them today. Will post pics as soon as I can.

Nice dude its looking awesome are you going bashing this weekend???.....peace

Thanks man! And yes, ran with the 3s. Took a while to finish the battery actually. Close to 35 minutes of runtime total, with a 5 minute break in between.

Glad I did the upgrades since nothing broke, even after 3 cartwheels!

That's quite a "bonus item". Can't wait to see what breaks. Stripped hex maybe?

Took the chance to get the bonus item since it was on special on spcracing.

Fortunately, nothing broke but the hex on the right wheel moved a TINY bit of of place, meaning that it SLIGHTLY started to strip. It was good I was running my talons and not the trenchers.

I think one of my trenchers either needs balancing or it has gone egg-shaped. Getting some very odd bouce from one A arm!

Were you running on 3s when this happened?

[o0wiz0o]

I found out it was water ingress. I seal the rims normally but this one was full of water. I have since put holes in all the tires and tuned it upside down and booted it for 10 mins...The amount of water that came out! The rig is a fair bit lighter now.

[stampede_fanatic]

I found out it was water ingress. I seal the rims normally but this one was full of water. I have since put holes in all the tires and tuned it upside down and booted it for 10 mins...The amount of water that came out! The rig is a fair bit lighter now.

I see. I thought it was caused by the 3s...

Updates... Sway Bars! (Traxxas part num: 6898) with a little mod done to it. Read on to find out.

Thanks a lot to forum member doubletapdaddy for this mod!

Anyways, the sway bars came with solid ball screw connectors (circled in red). I took all the hollow ball pivot connectors from the original shocks that came with my stampede 4x4 vxl (Circled in yellow). I then removed the solid ball screw connector on the sway bars and replaced them with the hollow ball pivot connectors. I did all of this in order for me to pass the original screw that attaches the shock guard (inner hole) on RPM A-arms without any mods at all since the hollow ball pivot connector is the same length as the original spacer that came with the truck.

Here's a comparison between the solid ball screw connector (circled in red) and hollow ball pivot connector (Circled in yellow):




Here you can see what I did. Left side is the hollow ball pivot connector (Circled in yellow) VS the solid ball screw connector (circled in red). I did one only one side for comparison:




Front sways done with hollow ball pivot connector :




Rear sways done with hollow ball pivot connector:




Before Sway Bars:





After Sway Bars:




Quick recap on "Blue Bayou's" mods:
-->Blue RPM A-Arms (Fronts) - DONE!
-->Outerwears Shroud - DONE!
-->DIY Lid lowering - DONE!
-->T-Bone racing front bumper and Servo Guard - DONE!
-->Aluminum Bearing Adapter - DONE!
-->Kingheadz motor mount - DONE!
-->Blue Aluminum Bearing Carriers - DONE!
-->Blue RPM A-Arms (Rear) - DONE!
-->Blue Aluminum Steering knuckles - DONE!
-->Blue Aluminum Caster Blocks - DONE!
-->Rear Teknos - DONE!
-->Front MIP CVD's - DONE!
-->ESC Fan - DONE!
-->Motor fan - DONE!
-->Aftermarket shocks - DONE!
-->Better wheels and tires- DONE!
-->Sway Bars - DONE!

Upcoming mods:
-->Wire Mesh over ESC
-->Aluminum hexes

Projects:
-->Plastidipped Talons in Black - DONE!
-->Chassis Dye, Black - DONE!

[o0wiz0o]

Cool....Like to know how they affect handling and with stand bashing? They look like they could pop out?

[stampede_fanatic]

Update! Tekno Rear Aluminum Hexes! I already have MIP alum hexes in front, so I just needed the rears.

Before Aluminum Hexes (Plastic):




After Aluminum Hexes (I used Red loctite to help keep the screw in place):



One more pic (Right side):



Quick recap on "Blue Bayou's" mods:
-->Blue RPM A-Arms (Fronts) - DONE!
-->Outerwears Shroud - DONE!
-->DIY Lid lowering - DONE!
-->T-Bone racing front bumper and Servo Guard - DONE!
-->Aluminum Bearing Adapter - DONE!
-->Kingheadz motor mount - DONE!
-->Blue Aluminum Bearing Carriers - DONE!
-->Blue RPM A-Arms (Rear) - DONE!
-->Blue Aluminum Steering knuckles - DONE!
-->Blue Aluminum Caster Blocks - DONE!
-->Rear Teknos - DONE!
-->Front MIP CVD's - DONE!
-->ESC Fan - DONE!
-->Motor fan - DONE!
-->Aftermarket shocks - DONE!
-->Better wheels and tires- DONE!
-->Sway Bars - DONE!
-->Aluminum hexes - DONE!

Upcoming mods:
-->Wire Mesh over ESC

Projects:
-->Plastidipped Talons in Black - DONE!
-->Chassis Dye, Black - DONE!

Cool....Like to know how they affect handling and with stand bashing? They look like they could pop out?

I'll definitely let you know if they are worth it.

The sway bars (Front and back) are held tightly by the two black screws... I just have to find out when I go bashing later this week.

[doubletapdaddy]

I'll definitely let you know if they are worth it.

The sway bars (Front and back) are held tightly by the two black screws... I just have to find out when I go bashing later this week.

Remember that they should be secure, not tight. The bars need to pivot with ease.

[stampede_fanatic]

Remember that they should be secure, not tight. The bars need to pivot with ease.

Thanks for telling me that man. I thought those bad boys should be on there tight.

[doubletapdaddy]

The bars need to pivot so that load can be distributed. On the front, for example, if the left side is compressed (while turning), the sway bar will provide additional resistance in concert with the left shock. When the left and right sides are both compressed (landing after a jump), both sides of the sway bar will move at the same time, providing no additional resistance and leaving the work to the shocks.

[4x4stampedevxl]

Nice looking truck! We've got quite a similar mod list lol

[baylorar]

Awesome thread. Keep it up.

How different were the trenchers from the stock tires? I've thought about getting them - a bit more grip would be nice.

[4x4stampedevxl]

^ I just bought them Friday, and the stocks are nothing compared to these. I can pull mini wheelies through the snow on the driveway. And also through deep snow at full speed it goes where it never went before! Pretty much the best upgrade so far

[stampede_fanatic]

The bars need to pivot so that load can be distributed. On the front, for example, if the left side is compressed (while turning), the sway bar will provide additional resistance in concert with the left shock. When the left and right sides are both compressed (landing after a jump), both sides of the sway bar will move at the same time, providing no additional resistance and leaving the work to the shocks.

Cool! Now I know how the dynamics on how the sway bars work on an r/c.

My car (Daily driver) has sway bars on the front shock towers and rear differential and they are bolted on really tight so my car can take corners faster. This is the reason why I assumed that sway bars on the stampede should be held on tight as well.

Nice looking truck! We've got quite a similar mod list lol

Thanks! Tough as nails huh?

Awesome thread. Keep it up.

How different were the trenchers from the stock tires? I've thought about getting them - a bit more grip would be nice.

One of the best investments I made man! I should've done this mod first than anything else. My pede handles much much better than stock and on semi-loose gravel, it just turns wherever I point it to. The talons just kept on drifting on semi-loose gravel.

You will not regret getting Proline Trenchers.

^ I just bought them Friday, and the stocks are nothing compared to these. I can pull mini wheelies through the snow on the driveway. And also through deep snow at full speed it goes where it never went before! Pretty much the best upgrade so far

baylorar, he said it right!

[baylorar]

Nice, good to hear!

[4x4stampedevxl]

Super tough, and easy/cheap to fix! I'm also looking into bodies for mine, and the raptor is what I want too lol

Wish they had a 2010 dodge ram body

[stampede_fanatic]

Nice, good to hear!

Yup! Really worth the investment!

Super tough, and easy/cheap to fix! I'm also looking into bodies for mine, and the raptor is what I want too lol

Wish they had a 2010 dodge ram body

Hahahha. We have the same taste!

Ram bodies are nice as well. Too bad proline or jconcepts did not make a body like that for the stampede.

Update! I want to thank forum member Pede Pede for this one!

Got this for free at my local hardware store:




Cut a small piece to make this shape:




This is how it looks from the side:




Made sure one side was open to make space for the connector:




Before:




After (Wire Mesh Mod over ESC!):



Quick recap on "Blue Bayou's" mods:
-->Blue RPM A-Arms (Fronts) - DONE!
-->Outerwears Shroud - DONE!
-->DIY Lid lowering - DONE!
-->T-Bone racing front bumper and Servo Guard - DONE!
-->Aluminum Bearing Adapter - DONE!
-->Kingheadz motor mount - DONE!
-->Blue Aluminum Bearing Carriers - DONE!
-->Blue RPM A-Arms (Rear) - DONE!
-->Blue Aluminum Steering knuckles - DONE!
-->Blue Aluminum Caster Blocks - DONE!
-->Rear Teknos - DONE!
-->Front MIP CVD's - DONE!
-->ESC Fan - DONE!
-->Motor fan - DONE!
-->Aftermarket shocks - DONE!
-->Better wheels and tires- DONE!
-->Sway Bars - DONE!
-->Aluminum hexes - DONE!

Upcoming mods:
-->jconcepts F150 raptor body

Projects:
-->Plastidipped Talons in Black - DONE!
-->Chassis Dye, Black - DONE!
-->Wire Mesh over ESC - DONE!

[doubletapdaddy]

What about the other two fans? You getting lazy?

[stampede_fanatic]

What about the other two fans? You getting lazy?

Its funny coz I immediately stopped doing the mesh for the other two fans when I realized that I always run my pede with a shroud (*DOH*. Gave a slap on my forehead after... )

Nevertheless, it was a good mod to do.

[doubletapdaddy]

Thats pretty funny. Modding just for the sake of modding. Throw the mesh up on ebay for $18.00. Someone will buy. Actually, just let it bid up from $1.00 - would love to see that!

[Lexlop]

I just received my shroud today. The pics in the instructions are not clear on where to put the Velcro on the front and back. The sides are self explanatory. Can you take a couple pics by chance?

Thanks!!
L

[stampede_fanatic]

Thats pretty funny. Modding just for the sake of modding. Throw the mesh up on ebay for $18.00. Someone will buy. Actually, just let it bid up from $1.00 - would love to see that!

Hahahaha. Someone will bid on it for sure! LOL! I'll just keep this one since it's already on there. Anyways just in case I forget to put my shroud on (I did forget to put it on a few times), I still have the ESC fan protected.

I just received my shroud today. The pics in the instructions are not clear on where to put the Velcro on the front and back. The sides are self explanatory. Can you take a couple pics by chance?

Thanks!!
L

You don't have to put velcro on the top front and top rear on the chassis. Just on the sides but all around. Start putting velcro on the front where the gray part of the chassis starts, then follow all the way through the back where the gray chassis ends.

Just remember, you don't put velcro on top of the chassis, just the sides.

[Lexlop]

Thanks.

The reason it didn't fit properly is because I was sent the wrong one.

[stampede_fanatic]

Update!

Before upgrade:







After upgrade (Stiffer blue shocks):







Used this to fill up the shocks:




Quick recap on "Blue Bayou's" mods:
-->Blue RPM A-Arms (Fronts) - DONE!
-->Outerwears Shroud - DONE!
-->DIY Lid lowering - DONE!
-->T-Bone racing front bumper and Servo Guard - DONE!
-->Aluminum Bearing Adapter - DONE!
-->Kingheadz motor mount - DONE!
-->Blue Aluminum Bearing Carriers - DONE!
-->Blue RPM A-Arms (Rear) - DONE!
-->Blue Aluminum Steering knuckles - DONE!
-->Blue Aluminum Caster Blocks - DONE!
-->Rear Teknos - DONE!
-->Front MIP CVD's - DONE!
-->ESC Fan - DONE!
-->Motor fan - DONE!
-->Aftermarket shocks - DONE!
-->Better wheels and tires- DONE!
-->Sway Bars - DONE!
-->Aluminum hexes - DONE!
-->Stiffer shocks with 50 wt shock oil - DONE!

Upcoming mods:
-->jconcepts F150 raptor body

Projects:
-->Plastidipped Talons in Black - DONE!
-->Chassis Dye, Black - DONE!
-->Wire Mesh over ESC - DONE!

Update... Here's my first painted body!

Indoor shots:





Outdoor Shots:






Grass pic:



Quick recap on "Blue Bayou's" mods:
-->Blue RPM A-Arms (Fronts) - DONE!
-->Outerwears Shroud - DONE!
-->DIY Lid lowering - DONE!
-->T-Bone racing front bumper and Servo Guard - DONE!
-->Aluminum Bearing Adapter - DONE!
-->Kingheadz motor mount - DONE!
-->Blue Aluminum Bearing Carriers - DONE!
-->Blue RPM A-Arms (Rear) - DONE!
-->Blue Aluminum Steering knuckles - DONE!
-->Blue Aluminum Caster Blocks - DONE!
-->Rear Teknos - DONE!
-->Front MIP CVD's - DONE!
-->ESC Fan - DONE!
-->Motor fan - DONE!
-->Aftermarket shocks - DONE!
-->Better wheels and tires- DONE!
-->Sway Bars - DONE!
-->Aluminum hexes - DONE!
-->Stiffer shocks with 50 wt shock oil - DONE!
-->jconcepts F150 raptor body - DONE!

Upcoming mods:
-->None so far

Projects:
-->Plastidipped Talons in Black - DONE!
-->Chassis Dye, Black - DONE!
-->Wire Mesh over ESC - DONE!

[spenniepoos]

Awesome paint job bro looks sweet i bet it will not look like that in a week or two....peace

[stampede_fanatic]

Awesome paint job bro looks sweet i bet it will not look like that in a week or two....peace

Thanks man! My younger brother actually said the same thing, that's why he told me to take as many pictures as possible while it still looks clean. Lol!



Update! Guess what it is...





Top View:




Front section done:




Rear section done:




Finished pic:


Quick recap on "Blue Bayou's" mods:
-->Blue RPM A-Arms (Fronts) - DONE!
-->Outerwears Shroud - DONE!
-->DIY Lid lowering - DONE!
-->T-Bone racing front bumper and Servo Guard - DONE!
-->Aluminum Bearing Adapter - DONE!
-->Kingheadz motor mount - DONE!
-->Blue Aluminum Bearing Carriers - DONE!
-->Blue RPM A-Arms (Rear) - DONE!
-->Blue Aluminum Steering knuckles - DONE!
-->Blue Aluminum Caster Blocks - DONE!
-->Rear Teknos - DONE!
-->Front MIP CVD's - DONE!
-->ESC Fan - DONE!
-->Motor fan - DONE!
-->Aftermarket shocks - DONE!
-->Better wheels and tires- DONE!
-->Sway Bars - DONE!
-->Aluminum hexes - DONE!
-->Stiffer shocks with 50 wt shock oil - DONE!
-->jconcepts F150 raptor body - DONE!
-->Shock Covers (Blue) - DONE!

Upcoming mods:
-->Revo slipper clutch upgrade
-->G-Loc tires for speed runs

Projects:
-->Plastidipped Talons in Black - DONE!
-->Chassis Dye, Black - DONE!
-->Wire Mesh over ESC - DONE!

[spenniepoos]

Nice bro where did you pick those up too man.......peace

[stampede_fanatic]

Nice bro where did you pick those up too man.......peace

Thanks man!

Got it from here: http://www.badhorsie.com/

[spenniepoos]

Thanks dude thats another thing on my ever growing list of hop ups i want......peace

[doubletapdaddy]

These look groovy too. Cut to fit.



You gotta give it up for the pink argyle.

[Crackelaktor]

Thanks man!

Got it from here: http://www.badhorsie.com/

Those shock covers look great for $10 but shipping to Australia at $40 is a ripoff. Will look at ebay to see whether I can find some.

[4x4stampedevxl]

Looks sweet! I definitely need a set of those to keep debris/snow out! Trucks coming along very nicely still!

[stampede_fanatic]

Thanks dude thats another thing on my ever growing list of hop ups i want......peace

Price is not bad either. It really keeps debris from going in the shocks. Good news for me since there is less cleaning and more bashing! LOL...

These look groovy too. Cut to fit.

You gotta give it up for the pink argyle.

My wife was telling me to get the pink one so that my truck will look unique. Outerwears are not bad either, but they are pricier. Anyways, I just want to stick to the blue theme so I chose blue.

Those shock covers look great for $10 but shipping to Australia at $40 is a ripoff. Will look at ebay to see whether I can find some.

Yes, ebay is a good place as well. They are cheaper actually, but they didn't have the color that I wanted so I went to badhorsie.com instead.

Looks sweet! I definitely need a set of those to keep debris/snow out! Trucks coming along very nicely still!

Thanks man! You should get a set as well. Worth the investment in the long run. When I ran my truck on sand without the shock covers, the springs look like it was sand blasted from all the sand that go to the shock. Anyways, I took the shocks out the truck so many times for cleaning afer bashing in dirt, gravel, and sand that it created some loose thread on the A-arms and on one of the shock towers. The shock covers fixed this problem. No more taking shocks in and out! I just use compressed air to clean the dirt off.

[4x4stampedevxl]

^ that's what I was thinking too, my stock shock springs are beginning to become chipped. When I upgrade shocks I will get a pair of those for sure!!

On the other hand time to upgrade the shock towers!! Haha

[stampede_fanatic]

^ that's what I was thinking too, my stock shock springs are beginning to become chipped. When I upgrade shocks I will get a pair of those for sure!!

On the other hand time to upgrade the shock towers!! Haha

You should definitely get a set. Well worth it man.

Speaking of shock towers, are you getting the RPM brand or traxxas blue alum?

[baylorar]

You should definitely get a set. Well worth it man.

Speaking of shock towers, are you getting the RPM brand or traxxas blue alum?

Did you replace the shocks completely or just the springs? If so, what springs did you get?

I have 40wt shock oil, stock shocks (with aluminum caps), but still find my self bottoming out from jumps where the truck is ~4ft in the air. Would like to not bottom out ever hah

[spenniepoos]

Dude upgrade your shock shaft to the hardened ones the fronts are traxxas no.1664t and the backs 2656t so they will not bend and use 50wt oil and you should be able to do higher jumps........peace

[stampede_fanatic]

Did you replace the shocks completely or just the springs? If so, what springs did you get?

I have 40wt shock oil, stock shocks (with aluminum caps), but still find my self bottoming out from jumps where the truck is ~4ft in the air. Would like to not bottom out ever hah

I replaced the stock shocks with Traxxas Big Bore shocks, installed stiffer springs from hot racing, and changed the shock oil to 50 wt. IMHO, the big bores helped a lot man.

Less bottoming out since rebound was slower due to the thicker (50 wt) shock oil.

Dude upgrade your shock shaft to the hardened ones the fronts are traxxas no.1664t and the backs 2656t so they will not bend and use 50wt oil and you should be able to do higher jumps........peace

Listen to this guy too baylorar . He knows his stuff!

[baylorar]

I replaced the stock shocks with Traxxas Big Bore shocks, installed stiffer springs from hot racing, and changed the shock oil to 50 wt. IMHO, the big bores helped a lot man.

Less bottoming out since rebound was slower due to the thicker (50 wt) shock oil.




Listen to this guy too baylorar . He knows his stuff!

Sweet, thanks for the info guys

[Mackaylei]

How much did all the upgrades cost you? I'm planning to do all of this to my pede also. Thanks

[stampede_fanatic]

How much did all the upgrades cost you? I'm planning to do all of this to my pede also. Thanks

Hi and welcome to the forum!

This is a good topic to read:
http://traxxas.com/forums/showthread...nt-on-upgrades

You will see in that topic how much guys spent on their 4x4 pede's, including me.