Difference between the Gorillamaxx G2, G3 & G4 chasis
 

Hey guys,

What are the major differences between the Gorillamaxx G2, G3 & G4 chasis. It is not really easy to see the major differences that are either positive or negative. Any feedback from those in the know would be appreciated. I also see that there are extended G3 chasis out there. Are you able to use a monoblock on all of the chasis, or only some of them?

Great information there, thank you very much Justin!

A bit random but just wondering, why did they stop making them?

George, the owner of GorillaMaxx, was an architect(still is AFAIK) by day and made the Gorilla stuff as a hobby/side business. Between Traxxas threatening a lawsuit for the "xx" in the brand name, and the economic downturn that crushed a lot of people's discretionary income in late '08, it just became more of a task than an enjoyment or money maker for him, so he threw in the towel(I wanna say maybe in '09 or '10 - don't remember exactly). The Gorilla stuff was always nice - I have a few Gorilla trucks around(of course) and have no intention of parting with them. I hooked up with George early on with the G1 chassis(won one at a race when it first came out) and was pretty involved throughout the tenure of GorillaMaxx, so a bit nostalgic for me. :-)

Such a shame, always seems the way with epic things these days haha!

Yeah i wish they still made the chassis for the revo

Does anyone know how many G1 Chassis Gorillamaxx made? And in what years they were manufactured? I would love to make this thread a bit of a written history on Gorillamaxx if I can... It is one of my favorite brands for the Maxx platform.

I agree. It deserves a WIKI :)

Good quality products, for a fair price.

can't help you here on a timeline, but I'm pretty sure Mike can.

I know the initial G-maxx chassis used x-braces with hollow pockets. It was a very light chassis with the thin carbon plates and these braces. Later George stopped doing this, don't know what the main reason was thouh. Strength or cost.
Too bad he stopped producing them, his revo chassis is still the best aftermarket till date i've come across.

I think it was the G2 that had the hollow x-braces, and the G3 was improved with strengthened x-braces... but I could be wrong. Never been into the revo platform, but the Gorillamaxx revo chassis does look awesome. The G1 was a very raw chassis compared to the G2 & onward:

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...tblkr/G1_2.jpg

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...lkr/G1-2_2.jpg

The above truck is not mine, I found pics of it on the UE forums. But the chassis below is being shipped to me as we speak. Pretty excited. Mike do you know if the Gorillamaxx Single Speed Conversion plate will work with the G1 Mount?

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/.../_57%202_1.jpg

There aren't a whole lot of G1s out there - no idea exactly how many, but when I won the G1, GorillaMaxx was brand new and the G2 came pretty quickly. The G2s should be the most available(though the G3 is largely the same, but with thicker plates and no "short" version).
The Gorilla motor mount is compatible with the single speed - the Gorilla mount is not very rigid, though. The 2nd generation gorilla mount was better, but still not stiff enough for common motors around today.

Man that is awesome information, thanks Mike. Did not know that the G3 was only ever made in the longer EXT length... I don't plan on ever running this truck, so the rigidity of the G1 mount is not hugely important to me. I would like to keep it as close to possible to what parts were available when the truck was still in production.

I've been told that you can tell a G2 main chassis plate from a G3 by the sides of the chassis. If the curves up, you got a G2. If the edge of the chassis is flat then you have the thicker plated G3.
That goes for the G2 & G3 and G2R & G3R.

The G2 used 2.5mm thick plates, while the G3 used 3mm thick plates. The G3 was only sold as an extended chassis, while the G2 was sold as a shorter chassis, with the extension a separate item. The G2 braces had an extra hole on the uprights, where the Gorilla motor mount attached(and my V1 Slipperential transmission) - the G3 braces did not have the holes. Like Justin mentioned, the G1 and G3 battery plates were flat, while the G2 battery plates were curved up at the edges.

Ha! I am loving this thread. Learning new stuff about the Gorillamaxx brand I did not know. Cheers guys. My next project is to find a way of using the G1 Single Speed Conversion Plate with the G1 Twin Motor Mount seen in the bottom pic of my post above. I can't see how it will work, as there will be a gap between the Tranny & the Motor Mount... Have you guys ever seen these parts used together on a G1?

The Gorilla single speed basically replaces half of the tranny case. The input shaft has to be cut, and only one idler is used, but the lower(output) shaft is the same. You simply bolt the tranny onto the braces using the 2 holes closest to the mount - everything will line up just like a full tranny(except the back half isn't there). :-)

Ahh got ya. I understand. So if using the single speed tranny with the G1 motor mount, the tranny bolts facing the other way compared to if you use the brushless mount. That is what was confusing me, as all other motor mounts I have seen bolt onto the tranny itself. Are you willing to share any pics of your G1 Mike? I would love to see it if you were.

So that you guys know I'm a serious Gorillamaxx man, here is my G4 build slowly coming together...

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/.../Trucks/18.jpg

Photo doesn't work, Sam :)

I did like the gmaxx suspension for the maxx. Very sleek design. Layout of the shocks was great too.

loved the carbon g2 chassis with Mikes CD and the UE extension.

Sam,
The single speed tranny can be mounted on either the 2 forward-most holes or the 2 rear-most holes. If using a motor mount that bolts to the tranny, it doesn't matter which you choose as long as the tranny is properly oriented(for output shaft position). When using the Gorilla mount, it will be obvious where the tranny needs to be. :-)

Thanks heaps guys. Really weird that the pic of my G4 above does not work. It displays successfully for me on my home laptop, but now that I am in at work, it doesn't. Sorry, will edit the post tonight and re-upload it from Photobucket to see if that helps...

That is a shiney truck!!! The G4 uses the 2nd generation transmission, so the Gorilla single speed is not a direct bolt-on - guess you better send it to me and get the new tranny! :-)

Pic shows here too! Someone has developed mad polishing skills. !

Didn't Jamie made some aluminum brackets that enable the use of an old transmission onto a new truck? Only catch could be the dogbones

here are a few of my gmaxx/ue trucks. Most of the RC on that page is sold. I do still own a few SebAirbrush supermaxx shells. Perhaps that's something for your truck. Never found a good home for them..

Yeah, Jamie(FLM) made them a few years back...but hasn't made them in years. It wouldn't be too hard to make something, though.

Wow Serum, that is a nice collection of trucks you had there at one stage. I would do anything to get my hands on a V1 or V2 Slipperential for one of my Gorillamaxx trucks. Would be the icing on the cake, beautifully engineered pieces from the looks of it. Mike, if I organised enough prepayments, would you consider ever doing another run? We have discussed it on Centralemaxx and there seemed to be a lot of interest...

The V1 was specifically for the G2 trucks, so G2 braces are required(or modification to a G3 brace). The V2(Rene/Serum had a prototype and provided install instructions/pictures if I remember correctly) was intended for the G2R and Neu 15 series motors, but I only ever made 3 or 4 of them. It wouldn't be too hard to put together a batch of the V1s.

I would be in for a few sets;) that would be great if you could do this Mike;)
OK thank you for the the news;)

WEB

Well look what arrived on my doorstep yesterday:

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...616_113036.jpg

Beyond excited to build this badboy!

Now for some hard work. Will start on wet sanding this Gorillamaxx rear skid after work each night this week and see if I can get it up to scratch by the end of the weekend.

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...617_190608.jpg

I have this front Gorillamaxx skid, but think it may be a bit past saving other than for a basher build haha

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...617_190615.jpg

You could try caustic soda on a small edge to how that works. It cleans aluminum very good. Some alloys will turn black though (but are easy to be buffed to a high luster of silver again) Make sure to do it outside the house, DON'T inhale the fumes.. (don't use it on the purple parts, it will loose the color very quick :

My G1 is all purple - it was a race truck, so it has its scratches for sure. it actually hasn't been built/run in years, but is resting under a shelf with a Gorilla suspension installed. Last time I ran it, it had lexan mud guards and a 1/8 buggy body on it - looked like a wide 1/8 buggy. :-)

The G1 would look awesome with a buggy body on it! Good to know there is another purple G1 out there though. So far, I have only heard of 2 purple ones (yours & mine mike) 1 blue one, and 2 black ones... I have seen a silver one too, but do not know the owner... (I found it by googling Gorillamaxx G1)

Bumping a old topic...

Just wanted to see some new gmaxx builds .. :)

https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...fb&oe=5721E189

I found some awesome gmaxx stuff :)

and always on the lookout for parts ...