First day - busted chassis

[tomvaillencourt]

so.... yup. - second run.. (first run after break-in tank) zipping down a dirt road and a bump sends her scootin to the side right into a pole. Left front wheel first.
Think Ill be getting a chassis brace with my new chassis... DOH!

[westtex26]

That sucks. Time for an upgrade! I would check out kraken rcs chassis.

KRAKEN RC X3 STEEL POLYMER CHASSIS FOR HPI BAJA 5B/5T/5SC - BLACK

[tomvaillencourt]

Originally Posted by westtex26

That sucks. Time for an upgrade! I would check out kraken rcs chassis.

KRAKEN RC X3 STEEL POLYMER CHASSIS FOR HPI BAJA 5B/5T/5SC - BLACK

Thanks for the link. Actually just bought the factory chassis and a steel reinforcement plate for the front end. Should do the same thing. Just more pieces, and I may have to powder coat the plate first. I think its raw steel. The part that sucks is having to pull apart the entire truck to transplant everything to a new main chassis.

[tomvaillencourt]

Originally Posted by tomvaillencourt

Thanks for the link. Actually just bought the factory chassis and a steel reinforcement plate for the front end. Should do the same thing. Just more pieces, and I may have to powder coat the plate first. I think its raw steel. The part that sucks is having to pull apart the entire truck to transplant everything to a new main chassis.

After closer review I decided to go ahead and get the Kraken X3 chassis. When the stock replacement shows up I'll just ebay it. same with the reinforcement plate I ordered as well. Since they emailed me to tell me the plate will take about four to six weeks to ship. F that! What is this 1990?

[pgk]

That's a bummer Tom, you didn't even have a chance to get it dirty. lol

Pete

[tomvaillencourt]

Originally Posted by pgk

That's a bummer Tom, you didn't even have a chance to get it dirty. lol

Pete

I know right??

I finally got the main chassis off last night, which I'm sure some of the guys with more experience with it could have done in half the time... In the mean time, I've been servicing the stock shocks, as they are a bit leaky it seems. I'm putting together a Kraken TSK for it, and trying to come up with the scheme I will use to make it stand out..
I'm actually thinking of maybe going US Army desert tan or camo... I know thats not traditionally done with this truck, but I'll always be a scaler at heart, and its hard not to try and make it look like a real vehicle. I'm not a fan of short course or trophy truck styles.. My truck was bought from day one with the intention of making it a class 1 buggy. But I want something somewhat unique.

I also have a Spektrum DX4s AVC radio and SRS4210 receiver waiting to go in.
I wanted the extra channels so I can get my Killer Bee kill switch and some LED lights going as well. I may or may not use the vehicle stability function. Not sure if it will do more harm to the handling than good on this truck.

I should be getting my replacement chassis (Kraken RC X3) in today... and then comes the fun of trying to get it all back together...

I downloaded the SS assembly manual so that will help.

This is why I perfer kits. I don't like having to get to know my trucks a little at a time when something needs repairs or service. I'd much perfer to build it myself from the get-go, and know every bolt before I even run it for the first time.

[tomvaillencourt]

Update! So I got the new chassis installed and the whole truck back together with really no trouble at all... Somehow i was able to remember where every bolt went back, and just put it back together like a complex puzzle. Only had to consult the assembly instructions once to find out where a particular washer was supposed to go. Not bad for my first time tearing the truck down. (Well, most of the way anyway..)
In the process of putting her back together i got my kraken cage assembled and installed, i just need to finish drilling the body panels before i can paint them and add some vinyl. I'll finish all that tomorrow, and hopefully swap the Receiver and install the kill switch by the end of the day.

[Killer RC]

Sounds good.

Here's help on installing the super bee on a Baja
Killer RC Forums • Super Bee install - HPI Baja

Radio setup
Killer RC Forums • Radio Aux Setup

[tomvaillencourt]

Originally Posted by Killer RC

Sounds good.

Here's help on installing the super bee on a Baja
Killer RC Forums • Super Bee install - HPI Baja

Radio setup
Killer RC Forums • Radio Aux Setup

Awesome! Thank you! The less I have to experiment the better.. When I set up my DX4s to work the lights on my Trail Finder 2, it was a pain in the ass. Finally figured it out though!

Thanks again for the helpful links!

[tomvaillencourt]

So yesterday was a productive day... I got the killer bee installed, the new 4ch receiver and transmitter combo, got the Kracken cage assembled painted and dressed in some OBR graphics. Today included painting the beadlocks and a few other doodads. Time to get her back out in the dirt!

[torn body]

Nice job rebuilding your truck!

[Nitrocat]

Yes very nice but you don't have to brake it just to rebuild it the way you want

I know but it's more fun that way

[tomvaillencourt]

I cant help it!

[Bajhaha]

I'm jealous of every one who rocks this cage!!! It's sooooo dope!

[arthurdaley]

Originally Posted by tomvaillencourt

Awesome! Thank you! The less I have to experiment the better.. When I set up my DX4s to work the lights on my Trail Finder 2, it was a pain in the ass. Finally figured it out though!

Thanks again for the helpful links!

I have the same transmitter, receiver after many hour's of frustration I got in touch with Kent of killer-rc and after a couple of backwards and forwards IM's, I came up with this, if running the AVC you can not use any known kill switch at present time, but no doubt Kent is on the case, this also applies to a light controller, but I have found that once the killer-rc V3 light control unit is setup it will work on which ever setting the unit is set to even after switching over to the AVC system. Nice build I went the Kraken-RC route and it makes an awesome looking buggy, when I did my build the only chassis Kraken did was the earlier with no steel brace that chassis should be indestructable, I have abused mine from day one and it has taken it all, the front bumper, roof light's, rear light's and spare wheel mount were still not available but I added them as soon as each became available, now have two cages and a spare set of panel's all with wraps, so go enjoy it.

[Deeann]

I finally got the main chassis off last night, which I'm sure some of the guys with more experience with it could have done in half the time... In the mean dolphins pearl
 time, I've been servicing the stock shocks, as they are a bit leaky it seems. I'm putting together a Kraken TSK for it, and trying to come up with the scheme I will use to make it stand out..