5-year ongoing "Rustler" project
 

The Rustler was my first "real" RC truck, and I got it almost five years ago. It's been through a lot, and here are some pics detailing a couple of those years:
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v132/4x4pede/Rustler/

Now it has:
-polycarbonate lower chassis, side plates, and front and rear shock towers
-aluminum upper deck
-XTM X-Cellerator steering bellcrank/servo saver
-FLM extended front arms, front bulkhead, and tranny case
-RPM rear arms
-Nitro Rustler spindles/block conversion with Powerline aluminum c-hubs
-Powerline aluminum 4-tec rear axle carriers (3 deg. toe-in)
-Ofna 1/8 Super Shocks in front and rear
-HPI dogbone conversion
-Revo slipper clutch with MGT mod1 spur and 20t pinion (this spur shouldn't ever strip!)
-Lunsford titanium upper turnbuckles in front and rear
-Airtronics 94162z servo
-Spektrum SR3000 receiver (controlled by a Nomadio React transmitter)
-Mamba Max ESC
-Great Planes Ammo 36-56 2600kv motor
-4s2p A123 (13.2v 4600mah)

Here are the only stock parts:
-stock plastic diff (doesn't strip with the use of the aluminum tranny case)
-steel top gear

That's why I say "Rustler" :lol: Onto the current pics:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...8/IMG_6939.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...8/IMG_6950.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...8/IMG_6956.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...8/IMG_6958.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...8/IMG_6967.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...8/IMG_6974.jpg

This truck still needs minor things, like bracing the chassis between the ends of the side plates and the gearbox (basically where the motor is), thicker oil in the front shocks, and thinner oil in the rear shocks. But it's driveable!

Very nice. Looks great!! The Rustler was actually my first real rc as well. Then I converted it to 100% FLM, and then I realized how pointless it was... :lol: But it was definitely a great truck. Looking at yours makes me wish I kept it.

The rustler looks really good. What did you use for the chassis? Plexiglas? If so how thick? Thanks!

Trev

I like how the motor is on the other side of the Shock tower. Nice work metal!

Yayyy Rustler! :lol: I got mine- oh about 8 years ago. Been upgrading ever since!

Nice job on that rear shock tower. Have you driven it yet with the transmission flipped around? It's night and day as far as control. I think you'll like it.

Looks like the ultimate basher, considering thats all i do, i can appreciate this project. Good job dude!

trev3813 - It's probably Lexan, or an equivalent. Like plexiglass but much stronger and more elastic so it doesn't crack under pressure. It appears to be 1/4 inch thick. 1/8 inch on the upper deck.

That looks really neat metalman! Can I borrow you revo slipper idea?:mdr:

What mods need to be done to put the tranny on the other side like that?

Not much really, a couple new holes at most. You do need an after market chassis though. Other than that it just flips around.

everyone had a rusty.... !!
Phew, aren't you glad it's finally finished... :)

Oh ok thanks. I wanted to make a cool chassis like that. Very nice rustler.

MetalMan,

I happen to have 2 of your converted chassis. One I have almost ready for some 10S fun with my Hacker ION-X motor. Keep up the great work. Awesome Rustler BTW.

2 of my Rustler chassis? I still have each one of those I made.

Thanks for all the comments, guys!

What's_nitro? is right, an aftermarket or custom chassis (he is also correct about the material of mine) is required, with an alteration of a couple holes (in this case, 4 new holes were drilled). Also, I had to swap the left/right rear arms to match the new positioning of the shocks, so the arm marked "L" is on the right, and vice versa.

Takedown, surely I can't be the first person with mod1 on a Revo slipper in a Rustler (but maybe the first with this setup on a MGT spur), so you're more than welcome to use it! There are two reasons for why I did this - low motor RPM (it's geared 20/46 after all) and a 5mm motor shaft.

From driving it so far, it actually seems like the rear doesn't have enough weight on it since the rear diff diffs out so much, even though it will wheelie/flip over without any difficulty. Hopefully thinner shock oil in the rear will help this. But there is way more steering with this setup!

I took a look at your photos and the XTM that I have now is in there.

Wow, that's crazy! I gave my X-Terminator and an extra chassis of mine to a buddy and he sold it on Ebay. Never would I have guessed that it might end up in the hands of a fellow RCMer!