CC01 with Portals

[OldSchoolRC1 1080]

Working on getting some projects that have been laying around unfinished drivable for the summer. This one's interesting....been a while since I messed with a CC01. I sold off quite a few, I'm down to three and a pile of parts.  I have 2 built and ready to go -one's an on-road runner, and the other is my Tamiya/HPI/Vaterra hybrid Mu. This one has been sitting for ages - time to get it done! .Hopefully setting up for a CC01 day out on the trail. 

This is an old chassis, about 15 years I guess? The Tamiya ABS tends to crack after a while, and this one is no exception. Even the gear cover is cracking around the screw holes, so I'm not sure how durable it's going to be. Thankfully, I have enough spares stocked up for a full re-build if needed.   

Some old 3Racing CR01 portals up front and an SSD AR44 case in the rear. The portals are a 1.5 reduction, so I need an overdrive gear in the rear axle to make it work (on order) - by my math, it'll end up with about 14% underdrive in the rear.  As it sits, it's about 42% - way too much. Also, I need a body (also on order!) but I've got it mostly mocked up and ready to go. Trimmed off a lot of the chassis, and some cut up Wraith chassis parts for rear shock towers. Electronics are in and it's driveable, just needs some finishing work before I can give it a go. I've got a Holmes 20t 5 slot in there with the torque ring removed, I think it'll be geared just a bit tall, We'll see once I get out there.  

Good clearance with the portals! I'll need a front bumper of some kind, ignore the mess. It'll get cleaned up. 

Bottom shot - no more links hanging down...I've got a bearing carrier tucked in under the plate for a smoother bottom - it's a HiLift F350 steering bridge, works perfect!  

Thought it was worth a post.  Will update as it evolves. 

[Tamiyastef 2758]

29 minutes ago, OldSchoolRC1 said:

1.5 reduction, so I need an overdrive gear in the rear

Sorry if I misread but if the front portals have a reduction shouldn't you get an underdrive gear for the rear to get the wheels front and rear spinning at about the same speed? I thought getting the front wheels spinning somewhat faster is better for climbing with a crawler. 

Nevertheless nice project! I don't know if Tamiya still makes CC-01's, seems to be all CC-02's now.

Edited April 28, 2023 by Tamiyastef
Extra

[OldSchoolRC1 1080]

You didn't misread. It's kinda complicated.  

The portals give me a 1.5 reduction at the front axle, so leaving the stock rear axle on would give me 50% overdrive in the rear.  That's no good. The rear axle has a 1.83 gear ratio, so just to get the front and rear at the same speed, I need an axle with a ratio of about 2.75. So that's my baseline. 

I swapped out the rear for an AR44 style axle (which matches the front track width perfectly I might add) but with stock gears which is a 3.75 ratio. Now I'm way underdriven in the rear, about 40%.

So, I ordered a set of front overdrive gears to lower the gear ratio to more closely match the front. A set of 8/24 OD gears gives me a 3:1 ratio, 8/27 a 3.375. 

So with 8/24 OD gears, I'm only 10% or so behind the front axle ratio-wise and with 3/27 gears I'm about 22% (i have no idea where I got 14% above)

I've ordered 8/24 gears to start. So technically they are OD gears, I'm just using them to make up the difference in gear ratios. I'll under up with a slight underdrive at the rear which is the goal. 

Does that make sense?

 

 

[Tamiyastef 2758]

5 hours ago, OldSchoolRC1 said:

It's kinda complicated

Yes it is!

5 hours ago, OldSchoolRC1 said:

Does that make sense?

Yes it does.

5 hours ago, OldSchoolRC1 said:

So, I ordered a set of front overdrive gears to lower the gear ratio to more closely match the front.

But only if the first "front" in the above actually means "rear", I think 🤪

[Mad Ax 10597]

Ooh, I like this   I always love a good CC01 build.  I love that it's still fundamentally a CC01 but this is a complete new direction, top stuff

[OldSchoolRC1 1080]

My New Years resolution this year was to drive every one of my trail trucks at least once, so some of them are coming out of a long hibernation. I actually have 4 CC's, I forgot about one. It's been so long since I drove it, I completely forgot until I dug it out. It's got TL01B arms, a Vaterra rear axle, and is set up for 2.2's. Ran very well last time I ran it, though the gearbox was not overly happy with the 2.2 size tires IIRC. 

I'll have to get some pictures of the group while I wait for the parts to come in. 

[ad456 468]

This is ace, love a good mash up. Totally out of the box and looks pretty capable too! Well done man

[Tamiyastef 2758]

1 hour ago, OldSchoolRC1 said:

some pictures

Yes please 🙂

[OldSchoolRC1 1080]

Got the body in for the portalled CC01... An Element Ecto body seemed to fit perfectly but it was a bit on the long side for the stumpy CC chassis. I took about an inch out of the back bed and it seems like it'll work out perfect! Need to figure out some mounts yet and do some trimming once the E6000 dries. I swapped out the wheels too. Still waiting on the gears for the rear axle, but it's coming along. 

Pictures you say? Glad to! Been a while since I dug out my CC's... 

I'm slowly going through them - checking electronics, cleaning off the dust, fixing anything broken and generally getting them ready for a trail run. 

This is my Mu, the body came to me a bit worse for the wear and missing the back window so I fixed it up as best as possible. PO used a lighter to flare out the wheel arches in the back (!!)...I used some sanding and a heat gun to try and get it back straight. Came out OK I guess. Added an interior and a roof cage to take the place of the rear window. Chassis has a hybrid HPI front end grafted on for a bit more steering and 8d of caster and a Vaterra rear axle narrowed 1.5"... give just a bit of rear underdrive. Mini motor and a 3:1 reduction is perfect for trail duty. 

Note the "trail repair" hole... the GPM steering had a habit of working loose. Eventually, some red threadlock went on and it's been ok since. 

My 2.2 "Beast" - I usually run it with about 5" 2.2's. Hacked an FJ body in 1/2 and made a rear cage out of brass. TL01B arms and another Vaterra axle out back. I did the same center carrier bearing trick as the portal truck here as well. Again, a 3:1 reduction and on old Integy motor is still mounted. When I built this, Integy motors were pretty much the only choice for crawlers...it's certainly been a while! Wheels and tires TBD and needs a bit of work before seeing some dirt. Been about 5 years since I last ran it. 

And though it won't see a trail run, here's my other complete CC....been awaiting paint a long time as you can tell by the dust. Has a low ride kit, custom rear links and center 1-way installed - I had planned a drift truck, but added some Tamiya tires for now. Won't see the bruiser style paint job, not sure how I want to paint it yet. Do plan on installing all the lights though . 

I have another in parts, but no plans to build it. Basically it's a spare parts truck at this point. 

 

[Tamiyastef 2758]

22 minutes ago, OldSchoolRC1 said:

once the E6000 dries

I guess that's the glue you use to put back together a cut up lexan body? 

The roofcage on the Mu and the rear cage on the FJ are spot on IMO, very neat work! 

[OldSchoolRC1 1080]

Yes, E6000 or Shoe Goo, whatever I have handy. Both work very well. 

Body mounted and trimmed (mostly, got a bit of cleanup work to do) and the Ecto front bumper is mounted. Ignore the mess in the back, my tape ripped up the covering on the lexan. I'll leave it on next time.  

Made an aluminum cross brace for the front shock mounts and stuck some body mounts on it - worked out well! Wishing I could go a bit lower with the body, but it's sitting on the chassis in the rear. It's about as low as it can go and still sit level. Need to figure out a rear bumper and start laying down some paint. 

[OldSchoolRC1 1080]

Making some progress....slow but steady! Been messing around a bit with tires, in the end I think I've settled on some 4.5" Pitbulls. Not set on the wheels though, I think a set of black wheels will fit the body better.  

I picked up a set of Gmade sliders and modded them slightly to fit the body. I trimmed a few mm off so they didn't stick out so far and mounted them a bit further back than they normally go. Came out ok and they'll do the job. 

Trying a new color for me - Mojave Sand. I've been having a lot of airbrush issues, I'm just glad I got it sprayed. 

I sprayed the bed in black on the outside for a more satin look, and to hide the body butchery. I should have finished in matte clear, but I'm out! I can live with it as is, nothing a little trail dust won't fix.  

[OldSchoolRC1 1080]

Stickered up and ready to go! I really like this body, it comes with the little roll cage, bumper and fake winch. Not a bad body for the price! I may add some headlights to it at some point, but it's ready to go. Looks great with the bob too. 

Wouldn't be a crawler without a flex shot.

I really don't like the blue ano up front - really clashes with the body... but not enough to change it out at this point.  

I got to work on the body and completely forgot about the bumper. I whipped up a quick one out of brass - it's somewhat hefty which is good - this truck was way light out back, some additional weight seems to have balanced it out nicely. Just needs some black paint and this project is ready for the trail. 

 

[Badcrumble 4422]

That's a cool looking little truck.

When bobbing the bed, did you cut it, join with E6000 and then paint over it? You've got a really tidy finish - my own experience with Shoe Goo has been good but, shall we say, less than smooth 

[Saito2 7720]

On 5/12/2023 at 8:30 AM, OldSchoolRC1 said:

Stickered up and ready to go! I really like this body, it comes with the little roll cage, bumper and fake winch. Not a bad body for the price! I may add some headlights to it at some point, but it's ready to go. Looks great with the bob too. 

Does Devastator approve? Nothing defeats the Devastator, nothing! Well, maybe not the Dinobots, but Bruticus sure did.

[Mad Ax 10597]

Fantastic work there, that's a great looking truck!

[OldSchoolRC1 1080]

3 hours ago, Badcrumble said:

That's a cool looking little truck.

When bobbing the bed, did you cut it, join with E6000 and then paint over it? You've got a really tidy finish - my own experience with Shoe Goo has been good but, shall we say, less than smooth 

Yes, I cut about an inch out, and then used the piece I cut out as reinforcement inside the body. Glued on from the inside with some E-6000. I had to paint on the outside, I was hoping it wouldn't be super noticeable with inside paint, but it looked terrible. 

Thanks for the kind words!

Devastator keeps me on the straight and narrow..  Cup, Hot Rod, and Starscream are all floating around down there too. Galvatron always keeps an eye out (Still waiting for me to finish his truck) and Optimus Primal and Megatron are locked in an eternal dual at the entrance to the hobby room over my VQS.  I've got a Transformers/CC01 crossover build in mind, I've been wanting to do it for a long time. Just need to get off my rear and get it done.  

 

[OldSchoolRC1 1080]

Finally got a chance to get a run in... CC's are pretty stable little rigs, their biggest downfall is ground clearance, gearing, and steering. Well, I took care of the ground clearance for sure - the portals made a huge difference. The gearing was still a bit tall for pure crawling work, but with a 5 pole motor it did ok - for trail running it was perfectly fine. The steering is ... well, CC01 steering. But the HR steering kit held up perfectly. The truck ran smooth and tackled some pretty impressive terrain. Might be my best performing CC build to date. 

Still some more work to do, the suspension needs a bit of tuning - the rear springs were a bit soft overall and I think I could add a bit of weight up front but all in all very happy with how it turned out! 

Portals give a ton more clearance. My other CC would never clear this root. I'd really like to do something about the blue - it just throws off the look imo. 

Somewhat harsh terrain for a CC, but this rig climbed right through it. 

Found an odd crack in the chassis, right in the battery tray. This chassis has been well used, so I'm not surprised to see some cracks. This is in a bit of an odd spot though, there's nothing pulling on it per-se. Strange. 

[Tamiyastef 2758]

1 hour ago, OldSchoolRC1 said:

odd spot though

It is. Maybe it has been run with large capacity Nimh stick packs? I found these hard to remove when some grit got stuck between the battery pack and the chassis, that might give some stress to that area when trying to remove it.

[Mad Ax 10597]

That is a very cool looking rig!  I'm not usually into the wide track look but it really suits that body.

[Tamiyastef 2758]

15 minutes ago, Mad Ax said:

very cool looking rig

I think so too