The “tough” part is over

The major parts of my rebuild are over for now. It’s been a while since I posted so I’ll update anyone who missed what I did, which wasn’t much really. I started with a fresh chassis, my original one snapped on the rear end, and dyed it black. Then I decided to dye EVERYTHING black, so I did. Anything plastic, with the exception of the drive shafts and differentials, went into the black dye bath, even if it was already black. It’s silly, but I wanted to be sure everything was a uniform color, and now it is. After everything was said and done, I decided that while it’s all apart I’d hold off on putting it all back together until I got the red push rods and red turnbuckles, and I would replace the major bearings on the truck. I ordered bearings for the diffs, rocker arms, and axle carriers from Avid RC. Just regular bearings with rubber seals, no ceramics. I also picked up a set of red push rods for the front and back, and ordered the red turnbuckles at 106 Race Park.

The bearings showed up and I started rebuilding the front and rear suspensions, no major problems there at all, the bearing went onto everything easily. I had considered rebuilding the differentials again, but they seemed ok. Once I got the front and rear back onto the chassis, with the axles all attached, the differentials did not seem to be working well. So I decided to pick up two differential rebuild kits when I got the red turnbuckles I had ordered. Rebuilding the differentials did the trick, I stuck with the 50k in the front and 30k in the rear as that worked well for me so far. I put together the push rods and turnbuckles, and put the rocker arms back on the truck, and everything seems good now. The truck looks nice with all black, and the few points of red aluminum. I did screw up and scratched one of the push rods already, so I shoved that one in the back. Right now I just have to put the electronics back on, then a quick shock rebuild and they’ll be set to go back on too. I’m debating buying some of the shock socks from Badhorsie just to keep things from getting so dirty so fast, maybe that will extend the time between shock rebuilds too.

I don’t think anything else is left after that, except to clean the body, but it really is time I picked something and asked Herb to paint it for me. I’ve just been delaying for one reason or another, right now it’s so I can get a body for the new Slash 4×4 with it, and have both painted to match. I could get the regular Slash body, but the new one looks really nice. I actually found a new body from JConcepts, called the Gladiator, I am considering for the E-Revo. The body is built for a Slash, so I know it’ll fit, just not sure if it’ll be too wide. The body is built to look like the new Ford Raptor SVT, which I really like. I also still might just stick with the Slipstream from Pro-Line. I just need to buy one already and be done with it I guess.

That’s it for immediate upgrades, I still need to order the Tekno Sway Bar Kit, but that can wait until closer to race time. I think the E-Revo will be shelved until the Spring series anyways. It is kind of large for the indoor track, which I believe has been dubbed “The Barn” now. I’m heading up there this weekend to take some more pics, and help with the races this weekend. There is no points series just yet, I think that will start in January, hopefully with the new Slash 4x4s. It’s getting closer to the expected release of the Slash 4×4, and I really can’t wait for it to arrive. It should be a great truck, and it looks like it will be very capable on the indoor track.

Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving, and hope everyone has a nice holiday, whichever one you celebrate. See some of you this Saturday at the track, anyone else, hope your having a good winter and getting some race time in.