Datsun 4WD

[SMOKE-DOG]

This is a project I made last year. It was a "budget" truck where I tried to get away with spending as little money as possible after finding a NIB TLT for $80. It was a fun build and a fun truck to drive. Not as capable with the stock TLT chassis, but more offroad ready that my XC so I think I got my moneys worth. Here is the build.

I started by locking the front and rear diffs with an extra gear. I then used my Dremel to cut off the servo mounts on the rear diff housing to clean up the look a little and made links to lock out the rear steering.

[7point2]

that is a great little truck.

[Larrio]

neat little build!

[SMOKE-DOG]

I found a Mauri Big Bear body in good shape for cheap. I used Easy Off to remove all the thick layers of red paint and found all kinds of body detail I couldn't see before. Here is a mock up of the body before and after.

I also changed the suspension by getting rid of the canalivers and adding some old Duratrax shocks. Very smooth and look good too.

[monster_beetle]

sweet body. I really like it.

[Wyoming]

Hey budget builds are always some of the best, love this rig B, very simple and it looks very scale :D

[SMOKE-DOG]

Thanks fellas.
I stretched the chassis out with Traxxas links to fit the Datsun body. The motor is an Integy 55t lathe motor. I used a TLT shock as a steering stabilizer up front. I like the look of this especially when its running as you can watch it work. The rear of the body is held down with body post while the front uses velcro to keep the body in place. I painted the truck Tamiya light gunmetal and painted the HPI stock car wheels semi gloss black to simulate powder coated Cragar wheels. I used a driver from the Tyrell P34 six wheeler and painted him with Tamiya paints. I also used some old school Tamiya decals from the Midnight Pumpkin.

Next up: action shots

[CM_113]

nice truck ... gunmetal is an awesome color on a truck!

[SMOKE-DOG]

Complete.
This is the first version of the Datsun 4WD with BFG tires.

[SMOKE-DOG]

First mud.

[william]

that body always looked good, at 1/12th scale it was small but you've done a great job :)

[SMOKE-DOG]

that body always looked good, at 1/12th scale it was small but you've done a great job :)

Thanks. I just wish it was a full 1/10 scale. It has crazy detail.

[Pete359]

First mud.
You call that mud? :LOL:

[SMOKE-DOG]

After a few runs I decided I needed a little more ground clearance if I was gonna use the TLT chassis. So I made a few adjustments to the chassis and added some Hilift tires to retain a somewhat scale appearance. The Datsun performed much better with the added ground clearance and slightly grippier tires.

[pagedm]

This is a sweet truck, I love budget builds, but somehow my budget builds snowball on me... I love the Datsun body,man, i wish I didn't sell my big bear all those years ago, hindsight I guess. Sweet job Smoke-Dog :)