My Clod Buster: take 2

[neverfollow]

At the end of my last post my Clod looked like this:

Being that I run this one, I wanted another body to prevent this original from getting damaged. Also it has a tendency to roll over with the raised suspension.

So I picked up a Super Clod Buster body set, wheel wideners from CPE, and CVD axles from RC4wd:

RC4wd axles:

Gear box removed:

Decided that with the gear box disassembled, I would reassemble it with hex bolt hardware.

Stock axle vs. RC4wd CVD axle:

Gear box reassembled with new axles and hex hardware:

Reinstalling the gear box:

Vehicle width before axles and wideners:

And after wideners and axles:

Big difference!

And now onto the body...

I wanted to do something slightly different, and am very pleased with the outcome.

Started with the chrome bits:

And stripped them down with Tamiya polycarbonate cleaner:

Hit everything with Tamiya primer:

For the body I chose Tamiya TS-32 Haze Grey, and for the other bits TS-6 Matte Black:

For more originality I chose to use a GMC Suburban grille and GMC tailgate from CPE:

Side by side with the original body:

Body on for a first look:

Fender flares, mirrors, and clear windows:

Sand Scorcher driver painted:

Fitting the flares:

And securely fitted with hex hardware:

All together with decals applied:

Here you can spot the exhaust pipes poking out:

And that's it for now. I've added a few more decals since these pictures, and have ordered some alloy uprights (found some cracks in the original plastic ones).

Thanks for viewing!

[Grastens]

Looks vicious! I love the GMC conversion - indeed, there is a lot to love about this truck!

[mellowman]

Looks superb, total class.

[berman]

Looks awesome! Nice job on the rebuild! I love everything about it, apart from the lift kit, just looks a little tall or over square, but other than that, perfect!

Would be proud to have that in my collection.

[kontemax]

Now you must increase the lenght.

Max

[neverfollow]

Now you must increase the lenght.

Max

I'm avoiding that because with the extended length, I won't be able to run the dual shocks at each wheel without fabricating some sort of custom brackets. It runs well as is with the wider stance, so I'm happy. For now

[kontemax]

You don't need to fabricate the brackets, you can simply use the existing ones and the dampers will be a little bit inclined. Or you can change the top mount that should be easier. The Clod wheelbase is short and when you lift it, as you did it, becomes shorter.

Anyway what about these CVDs? Can you make some building pictures of them?

Max

[neverfollow]

Max, 3rd and 6th pictures from the top show them. They are a direct replacement of the stock shafts. They come assembled, all you have to do is slide them in, a little tapping of the diff gear's splines (snug fit), and that's it. The hubs slide over the outer part of the shaft and are secured with a pin. The pin is kept in place with a rubber ring. If I didn't use the wideners, the original wheel flange would slide over the silver alloy hub. These hubs can be changed to 17mm to run different wheels.

[emory70]

Looks fabulous.

[kontemax]

Yes, I've already seen them and would like to see the assembly on the hub and the wheel adapter.

Thanks.

Max

Max, 3rd and 6th pictures from the top show them.

[neverfollow]

Ok, I'll update the post with more pictures when I get home.

[Jamesssb]

Looks amazing!!!

You have spent a pretty penny on those mods. I am also looking at most of them but it's the price of the parts plus postage that's criminal lol

[emory70]

Love the fender flares, but I must second the above comment

[neverfollow]

Thanks James...I try to tell myself it's an investment. Or at least that's what I tell my wife

[neverfollow]

Most of the items came from CPE, and being that I'm in the states, shipping isn't bad at all.

[Jamesssb]

Most of the items came from CPE, and being that I'm in the states, shipping isn't bad at all.

Errr I hate you!!! Wish I were in the US sometimes and not in the UK lol.

[neverfollow]

And vice versa for me James! Tamiya isn't at all popular here in the states like they were in the 80's. I go into hobby shops and mention Tamiya stuff and they look at me confused. Or say that I should buy a Traxxas. That's why I love eBay lol.

[Jamesssb]

And vice versa for me James! Tamiya isn't at all popular here in the states like they were in the 80's. I go into hobby shops and mention Tamiya stuff and they look at me confused. Or say that I should buy a Traxxas. That's why I love eBay lol.

I hear ya.

[emory70]

Glad I found TC for just that reason. I never liked hobby shops anyway. But in this new era of box stock 100mph cars... the internet is my only source of info

[neverfollow]

I'm on board with you Emory. So happy that I found Tamiya Club, and even happier that the members here are kind, friendly, and helpful.

The hobby has changed so much in the last couple of decades..as you mentioned with all the box stock 100mph cars and RTR's. We live in an era of instant gratification and kids these days can't be bothered with building a kit. They want to open the box, and start running their new car immediately. No patience to even charge batteries lol.

That's one of the many reasons why I stick with Tamiya. Yes, they can be more expensive and inferior to some of the others. But the others take the hobby out of the RC hobby.

[emory70]

I only come here and on RCMT (hope that's not a faux pax).

I enjoy rc for the fun of it. I like to create, to build.

I love and hate Traxxas. I love the technology and quality that they helped usher into the industry. But the instant gratification irritates me. Just watch a random video of a Clod. Some jerk will say what a piece of garbage it is and how his e maxx can outdo it.

[neverfollow]

Here's a pic with the remaining decals I chose to apply:

And as requested by Max, pics of the wideners and axles...

The CPE widener:

Widener removed, exposing the RC4wd hub:

Remove the rubber retaining ring and locking pin, and the outer portion of the CVD axle is exposed:

Original wheel adapter:

Remove the stock hub:

And then it slides over the RC4wd hub:

It looks like this way you will still have a slightly wider stance, but I'm not sure. I never tried it this way.

Note that you will have to purchase four 5mm x 30mm bolts to attach the wheels when you use these wideners. The axles come with securing bolts of two different lengths, but neither are long enough for the CPE wideners. And, of course, the wideners do not come with hardware. I picked up the correct bolts from my local hobby shop, and they came in a pack of 5, from HPI.

Hope the pics help Max, let me know if you need more pics.

[kontemax]

Hi, thank you very much, these pictures made the difference.

I immediately found a solution to have the Tamiya wheel nut instead of the screw.

Many thanks.

Max

[neverfollow]

Hi, thank you very much, these pictures made the difference.

I immediately found a solution to have the Tamiya wheel nut instead of the screw.

Many thanks.

Max

What do you plan to do? The axle's inner diameter is 5mm, pretty sure the Tamiya wheel nuts are smaller.

[Jamesssb]

What do you plan to do? The axle's inner diameter is 5mm, pretty sure the Tamiya wheel nuts are smaller.

There M4 I think.

You could turn up a M5 to M4 adapter threaded stud but I don't see the point really, other than you would not have to thread lock the bolt each time as the m4 is a nylock nut.

J