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Restoration and modification of my Clod Buster

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Recently I picked up an all original 1987 Clod Buster. For the most part, it was very clean. Needed some cleaning up, a refresh, some paint touch up, and a couple of axle tubes. It appears that it had only been run a few times and it spent much of it's life either in storage or on a shelf.

With all of the available modifications and hop up options available for Clods/Bullheads, I decided to mod mine while restoring, and make it just as capable as any modern day 4wd RC truck.

Here it is, after a thorough cleaning

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I forgot how big Clod's were, as it takes up most of my work space. Here you can see the size difference compared to my FF-01 VW Golf. It is indeed a true monster truck.

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For mods, I did some research, and with some help from our great TC members, decided on my mods. Before I had the chance to tear the chassis down, some parts started arriving ;)

Pogo sticks had to go, so I replaced them in favor of Gmade 103mm piggyback shocks. Also picked up some alloy wheels and tires from RC4wd.

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Trying on the new shoes..

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Slightly taller than stock

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The shocks

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Stock friction dampers

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After assembling 8 of these, I think I can do them blind folded :D

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Friction damper vs. piggyback

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Fitted

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With new wheels and tires fitted

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Mod and hop up parts from CPE, ESP, and Tamiya started arriving

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Stripping down the chassis

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Disassembling the axles

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CPE's inner axle stiffener fitted with new sealed ball bearings

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Gears in excellent shape for a 27 year old truck. Now ball raced and re-greased

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This is ESP's steering rod linkage. I highly recommend that you DO NOT buy this. It is supposed to remove steering slop, but it does the exact opposiste. Looks great, but fitment is poor, and it does not do what it was designed for. Money wasted.

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Here you can see CPE's steering rod upgrade, along with the HPI Firebolt 15T motor

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My only dislike with CPE, if any, is that the hardware they supply is standard and not metric. Other than that, they are top notch in quality and support.

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Savox monster torque titaniium gear servo to replace the 27 year old Aristo-craft servo

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Chassis supports fitted from the Super Clod Buster

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Modded axle vs. stock axle

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Axles back in, and CPE's 1/2" lift kit and alloy body posts installed

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Looking like a monster truck again

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After the no name dual motor ESC I purchased from eBay fried during testing, more money had to spent. I wasn't thrilled with the steering performance of the single servo, even though it is one of the highest torque servos on the market.

I decided to go with a dual servo and 4 link suspension set up, a Tekin ESC, and a servo reverser harness for the rear steering

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Disassembly

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Axles back out again

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Axles stripped down again

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CPE's axle servo mount fitted as well as CPE's dual shock mount

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4 link rods, axle pates, and chassis stiffener from CPE fitted

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When going the 4 link route, it can get frustrating especially when you want to retain 2 shocks per wheel. The links tend to stretch the chassis a bit, which is fine, but if you are running dual shocks, you can not access your mounting points for the top of the shocks. CPE's rods are not adustable. So with some thinking, fiddling, and drilling, I was able to make it all work out...thankfully

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I cut down some extra supports from the Tamiya metal pressed parts bag which I originally purchased for the chassis supports. I cut them so that they would act as a brace on the inside of the chassis mounting points of the inner 4 link rods.

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4 link complete

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To gain a little more steering angle I cut down the stops on the wheel hubs

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Wheels back on

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More views of the 4 link. Keep plently of extra hardware of different lengths handy, as well as many alloy spacers. You will need them to get everything to fit correctly and keep the links from contacting the motor or gear box.

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Steering links mocked up until the new servo saver arrived

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I was disappointed that I could no longer use the stock axle guards due to the axle mount servo. I think the red guards give it the truck a nice touch. But there are some alloy options out there, so that may be added in the future.

More views

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Body back on, standing tall :D

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Nice looking Clod, looks like you started out with a very nice truck.

Those RC4wd wheels and tires look tuff!

It truly is King of the Monster Trucks

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Time to wire the Clod up...Novak wires, Tekin ESC, Tamiya bullet connectors, deans plugs, and included in the picture is an aluminum spacer set which I used in the 4 link installation.

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I made the wires a bit too long, but since bullet connecting everything and making it like a harness, it can be removed and altered at any time.

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I added a fan that I had laying around to keep things cool

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RC One alloy servo savers fitted front and rear

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Complete

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I got to run it yesterday on a weak battery, and it handled pretty well on the grass. It definitely has a high center of gravity and would benifit from the available widening kit. I plan to replace the axles with the CVD's, and see if I can squeeze a 3s Lipo in (currently using 2s). Since these pics, I've done some more touch ups of the body, and painted the front grill inserts.

I ordered another body so that this one can stay original for the shelf, as I will be doing something different with the new one when it arrives.

Thank you for viewing, your comments/suggestions are always welcomed and appreciated.

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Nice looking Clod, looks like you started out with a very nice truck.

Those RC4wd wheels and tires look tuff!

It truly is King of the Monster Trucks

Thanks Mike! I have to admit, the previous owner took good care of it. Besides the 2 cracked axle tubes, all it needed was a thorough cleaning and regreasing. It was 100% box stock down to the plastic bushings. Very happy with it so far.

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Can't get over how aggressive those tires are, they look like they will rip up some grass :)

I remember buying my first set of aftermarket tires for my clod, started with stubbies, then when the pro Line pro tracks I think they they are called, came out had to have them.

Have had Clods since they first came out, one of the funnest RC's I've ever run, they just look so cool!

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This is my first, and I'm already addicted. I think I may get a Bullhead next and go full blown crawler with it and use an alloy chassis.

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Ha Ha, cool vid, yep you better get a runner body :0, matter of time before it's on it's lid.

I added a lot of hop ups back in the day, about the only suppliers back then were Sassy Chassis and ESP, mail order, send a check-money order and wait.

Still have a Clodzilla 4 chassis to finish.

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Do you have any part numbers for the wheels and tyres handy please?

I looked on their website but can't see them.

Also do the wheels fit directly or do you have to use adapters.

They look amazing on your clodbuster mate.

James.

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Thanks James! Your Clod was a big inspiration for my build. I got both from eBay. Here's screen shots of both. They are still available. No need for adapters, direct fit. Though I did order the wheel widening kit and CVD's yesterday.

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Added a home made brace to tie in the lower links for added support. Didn't have any aluminum laying around, but did have 3mm carbon fiber. Should do the trick.

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Beautiful truck. Very nice to see a well done resto mod.

My question is why are your lower links attached to the chassis with such long spacers?

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Beautiful truck. Very nice to see a well done resto mod.

My question is why are your lower links attached to the chassis with such long spacers?

Thank you!

With the lift kit and long links it tends to push the axles outwards. With the axles that far out I wouldn't of been able to run the 2 shocks per wheel. If I had shorter links it may have worked, but by adding the spacers I insured that the motor and gearbox wouldn't contact the links.

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