RC FJ40 buildup

[Mike C]

Okay this is super cool.

What kind of cost does one incur whilst building one of these?

Rough break down of the current price... off the top of my head

TLT kit for the axles and shocks - $100-140
servo for steering - $40
Brushless esc and motor combo $120
Center tranny - $80
Body - $30
paint - $5 a color on average
tires - $30 for the 4 larger tires, plus another $20 for the smaller car tires that I cut up for their smaller beads. Then a couple hours of cutting and glueing, plus the cost of the glue.
Rims $15
Leaf springs $25
Straight axle adapter blocks $30

Total so far... about $500, some of the parts I got for free, or in trade. And I make most of the parts my self. I did not include the radio in the price, since I use the same radio for several different trucks.

I made the frame my self using steel stock, its all mig welded. So the amount of money into the frame is minimal, just a matter of time.

I am also curious aas too the cost.....I know I can't afford it but man

I wonder how hard it would be to design a fj60 body and frame? That would be awesome

lunyou

Making the body would be a challange, though there are guys that can do it. The frame is not as bad.

You going to make a custom front bumper??

lunyou

EDIT: could you take a close up on the end of the frame? Thanks

I will be making front and rear bumpers once I decide what I want to do for them.

What part of the frame are you looking for? And from the front, back, side, angle?

 

[lunyou]

I was looking more for the cross section shape so from front or back either one......mabye with a pencil beside it for perspective.

You must be one heck of a welder to weld on something that small.

lunyou

 

[Mike C]

So a top view? I am kinda lost on the angle you want, I might already have the shot you are looking for.

I am still learning how to weld... Really not that good at all. All of the welds are ground smooth, with its small size they do not need to be as strong. The frame is made from 1/2 square tubing, 16 gauge wall thickness.

 

[Mauger]

Surely you are going with a ARBs

 

[Mike C]

welded the spiders front and back on this one They were locked using extra spiders between the main spider gears. Some people lock them with JB weld, or 5 minute epoxy.

There is someone in germany that makes a selectable locker for them... but it is not cheap, and I am not sure how strong it is.

 

[lunyou]

Mike, I was more interested in the front of the frame where you could see the shape of the C-Channel. So a straight on shot of the frame( front of the truck pointing at the camera) I do not need this now.....studied some of the earlier photos and noticed the basic shot I wanted was basically there.


Its looking great.

lunyou

 

[Mike C]

Ok cool, I thought I had all the angles covered with my pictures

I did this at work today, might start selling them on the rc boards.

 

[Mike C]

Finished the front bumper...

 

[FineWynsFJ40]

Wow!!! It even has the cruiser lean built right in!!

 

[Toyofast]

Thank you, Toyofast posts on one of the RC boards I visit, he has some good ideas too. But I have had one of his old trucks I got in a trade, the work wasn't the best, he rushed it and took short cuts. And that Moab nationals event has only been held once so far, and this year it sounds like it will take place some where else.

Gee... I wonder what you got and from whom? Most of my personal trucks were either parted out or have been sold to only one person in Texas and he messed with them to where they were only parts.

I really don't like to see people bad mouth my stuff.. especially if it didn't come directly from me. There were some copcat parts out there that were being passed off as my products.

Yes, the USRCCA Nationals have only been held once and that was in 2006 at Area BFE... I placed poorly, 31st out of 50 in the 2.2 class. That rig was built in about a week with hardly any parts. That truck was parted out locally. I'll be at the 2007 Nationals too but as a spectator.

 

[Mike C]

Gee... I wonder what you got and from whom? Most of my personal trucks were either parted out or have been sold to only one person in Texas and he messed with them to where they were only parts.

I really don't like to see people bad mouth my stuff.. especially if it didn't come directly from me. There were some copcat parts out there that were being passed off as my products.

Yes, the USRCCA Nationals have only been held once and that was in 2006 at Area BFE... I placed poorly, 31st out of 50 in the 2.2 class. That rig was built in about a week with hardly any parts. That truck was parted out locally. I'll be at the 2007 Nationals too but as a spectator.

It was the bruiser framed tlt from Highmark, It was mainly just the axle link mounts that I didn't like, they were to flimsy in my opinion. There were some other things too, but they were minor and easy to fix. Looking back at the pictures of how you had it setup, I was a bit harsh... I just like things to be over built

 

[Toyofast]

It was the bruiser framed tlt from Highmark, It was mainly just the axle link mounts that I didn't like, they were to flimsy in my opinion. There were some other things too, but they were minor and easy to fix. Looking back at the pictures of how you had it setup, I was a bit harsh... I just like things to be over built

Hmmmm.... Just to let you know, that wasn't mine. I was selling it for a friend, not my build, not my rig, I just took pictures and sent it in the mail.

BTW, here's what that looked like when I sent it out..... it was originally built in Aug 2004. Before TLT's went mainstream like they are now......... TLT's gained more popularity after our Bulu series chassis hit the market in Dec 2004.

http://www.rcrockgear.com/rcrockgear/Jan05_Sale/PICT6621.jpg
http://www.rcrockgear.com/rcrockgear/Jan05_Sale/PICT6623.jpg

 

[wob]

Hot damn, pass the .


This board never ceases to amaze me.

 

[Mike C]

First I tried making a winch hook today, started with 1/8" steel rod. It ended up being to big for this truck, but it was a learning experience. I will buy some thinner rod and try again. I only spent 25 minutes or so working on it.

A couple other things I did this week, mounted the rear shocks and boxed in the frame around the transmission.

 

[FineWynsFJ40]

Simply amazing.

 

[Mike C]

Did a little work on the base of the interior today, I will hide all the electronics later. For now I just needed a place to mount them. Also added some front inner fenders. I really do not like how the front bezel looks, I will probably redo the entire front bib at some point.

 

[bj42turbo]

OMG I am absolutely speechless


BJ

 

[Relix]

needs rear bumber thingies! & a Tire holder

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Holy crap, that's amazing. The whole RC thing must be a world of it's own filled with clever mad scientist types.

That's great. Sick, but great. Thanks for posting the build pics.

 

[Mike C]

Thanks guys

I might start working in the rear bumper tonight, with a swing out tire carrier.