Thread: 2.2 Rock Racer build

Ok well I couldn't make it to RCP this evening for FNF & I was looking at my parts inventory then my rigs then my parts, you get the idea.

So I decided that I needed a rock racer but can't find any rules for them so I am going by the 2.2 crawler rules, chime in if you guys have suggestions.

I am working on a few chassis ideas but nothing solid yet so if you guys have ideas let me know, I probably won't start working on the chassis until Sat evening or Sunday.

Here is what I have to start with:

What turn motor you gonna use T-N-L I have my old Axial chassis laying around, and was thinking the same idea.

I will probably start with the axial 27T that I have but also have a 12T titan as well as 35T & 45T integy's. I am trying to decide between going TVP with a Losi MRC body or getting out the torch & doing another tuber.

The only thing that bugs me about the rules besides there not being any for racers is that a bodied vehicle has a height requirement of 3" while a bodiless (tuber) has a height requirement of 3 3/4"

I haven't decided yet, the tuber is a bunch of work again which would be fun & I have everything I need in stock. The TVP I would need to get a body.

I will get it all setup with temp TVP plates & see how it works. then see if the 3/4" will help or not, if not I think I will do a tube chassis, if the 3/4" would be an advantage in CG then I may go TVP.

I am waiting for parts for the Slash, I don't want to trash/bash the comp rig, the new jeep scaler still isn't scratched yet since I missed the last GTG so I need something to go play with. Actually I was sort of picturing a run what you brung King of the Hammers sort of race, long flats to open it up on with slower crawling areas in between. Maybe a timed race instead of points with loose gates as course markers.

their will be a koh style race or two. but as the rock racers go i prefer 1.9. i am building one right now. it will be a 1.9 koh scale. but at the races everyone will be able to run, 2.2 just might have to take special harder gates.

in some of my past rock racers i found a 27t motor to be a happy medium, but during our races at fnf i would run a 12t on a 3s, made big jumps and specular crashes.

Yeah I will play with gearing on a 27T first & see how it works.

What does a KOH style rig look like, this may be a strange question but I have seen every thing from jeeps to toyota buggies to Campbell style rigs at KOH?

Well after playing a bit I have a simple design, this is going to be function over form. Since it will be for higher speed than a crawler & obviously not able to run full droop I will place as much of the weight as possible low in the chassis or on the upper links so as to force the suspension to work/move. I am also going to make it as strong & as protected possible which is the reason for setting up the shocks inboard.

Thats the shit tubed...I like the design brother!

Originally Posted by Trail Blazin

Thats the shit tubed...I like the design brother!

hehe Thanks!



I figured that this was about the best way to do the upper link mounts & add strength at the same time.













I think that I need some type of bracing from the back of the shock hoops to either the roof or to the A pillars. There is the below pictures of a simple tube brace from the center of the shock mount to the roof tube that I could follow up with a diamond pattern in the roof structure to triangulate & support it.

Or I could do triangular gussets like the link mounts between the shock hoops & the a pillars.

Thats sweet but I think the triangle would look bitchin man!! just my .02

Originally Posted by tubed-n-lubed

What does a KOH style rig look like, this may be a strange question but I have seen every thing from jeeps to toyota buggies to Campbell style rigs at KOH?

it will be something like this but with a tracker hood.
as soon as i start the tube work i will start a build thread.

Originally Posted by Trail Blazin

Thats sweet but I think the triangle would look bitchin man!! just my .02

Thanks! Yeah the more I looked at it the stupider it looked with 1 support tube. I am going to work on the gussets tomorrow.

Originally Posted by Illeagle

Ya that cage is sweet lookin man!

Thanks a bunch!

Originally Posted by roadkill424

it will be something like this but with a tracker hood.
as soon as i start the tube work i will start a build thread

Sweet, I will be watching.








Well I threw on an rtr upper link on the rear just because I wanted to see it as a roller before I go to bed & the wife was going to bed so I needed to vacate the workshop.

I have a problem, the suspension design that I thought would work well has too much articulation!

Now it does not look too bad in the pictures below but keep in mind that it does not have weight in the wheels, there is no battery, there is no servo, there is no esc & the tube work is far from done. At 3 lbs 10 ozs it should not be sitting on all 4 tires when 1 tire is sitting 9 inches off of the ground.

I wanted it light & flexy for a rock racer but this is not good, I will have to do some redesigning tomorrow.

Ok I got the rest of the tube work done, found some stiffer springs, limited the shocks a bit & changed the shock oil.

Now I will clean up the chassis & prep for paint, then I will put it back together & run it for a bit & see if there are any changes that need to be made to the chassis before I paint it.

Damn tubed thats sick bro!! I cant wait to see that thing wheel, your right it had waaayyy too much articulation....I like the stance...looks mean!! nice work

Well the only thing I didn't have in stock was servo mount blocks & aluminum upper link mounts so I am waiting for them.

I decided not to do my usual silver/blue color scheme & tried to match the anodized red of the shocks. I used white primer & shot the Krylon X metal finish over that, the X metal finish reminds me of a candy.

The rest of the goodies should arrive tomorrow so today I will make the required spacers & start assembly.

That is like candy...........SWEEEEEEEET!!!!!!!!!!

Im liking it tubed....

very niiiice!

I figured I would show it before I ugly it all up with panels & electronics because when the final stuff gets here tomorrow I am sure that it won't be long before it is running & I have it outside & all scratched up.

Holy crap this thing if fun! I ran 2 packs through it & they are recharging now.

As I figured I trashed the paint, I guess I should have waited to do the roof panel before running it. Oh well.

It runs perfect, is quite stable & very predictable. Like driving a 4WD slash.

I will now finish the panels, shorten the battery leads & touch up the paint on the roof.












It comes in at 4 lbs 2 ozs total without any wheel weight & is a ball.

Tubed....that thing is kickin ass brother.....post up some vids bro

Ok I have run a few more packs through it & I love it. I will order an FXR for it & will be 100% happy, the Axial esc that I had laying around is a pain in the butt.

Here is the video:

You will see why the roof got so chewed up so quickly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkbcHFvv_vI


And some pics of the roof & hood panels.

Ok some nylon tubing split/trimmed to fit the tubing for protection & 2 charged batteries & I am off again.

So far the most fun I have had with an RCV. Between the Slash, comp rig, scaler & now the racer, the racer is the most fun.

It has no body roll which was a concern because of the shock placement as well as torque twist is minimal when crawling but the 3 wheel donuts are fun.

I am taking baby steps into the world of lipo as I have heard/read bad things about the longevity of the 2/3A cells, I just got 2 8 cell packs today from TCS so we will see how they hold up.

I am looking for a newbie basics on lipo if anyone has a link. I have some ideas on what I want to do but am not sure on running & combining 2 2 cell lipos. Lets say run 2 20c 2 cell 1000mah packs in parallel so that I would have 7.4v at 2000mah or would I have double the amperage & the same run time?

If I am going to go lipo the whole point for me is size, I can run 2 of these 1000mah packs within the dimensions of 60x30x30mm combined which is a very little package. The other reasoning is I can get these packs for about $10 so I could afford to have a dozen or so & just change them out.

Anyway I will keep searching for a solution and thank you for your input on my projects. The rc thing is fun but the camaraderie of the people here make is great.

Unfortunately this one is for sale:

http://socalrcrc.org/forum/showthread.php?t=2016

Now it is on ebay ;-)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...STRK:MESELX:IT

And my M11 DSSS

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...STRK:MESELX:IT