[quote]
Originally posted by crazy88
Everyone talks about the articulation mod, but even searching for it, I can't find it.
I have a Zip Zaps Monster Truck in need of some articulation lovin', and all I can tell is that you cut the chassis in half to articulate over a modified drive shaft, but how is the drive shaft modified?
Please help, and thank you for anything I get. [/QUOT
OK, I'm going to try and explain it the best I can. The factory drive shaft kind of floats in the "hull" of the chassis. When you lop off the rear end, you need something to keep the drive shaft and the rear end attached to the truck as the chassis will be in two parts. Putting a sleeve around the drive shaft allows you to make a channel for the drive shaft to spin in, attach that to the chassis. The bearings allow you to fasten things to the outside of them, while still allowing for the inside to spin. SO, the sleeve keeps the drive shaft assembly attached to the trucks main body, and the back end, attached to the outside of the bearing allows the arse to swivel on that point, and the gear inside the rear end, on the very end of the drive shaft, actually keeps the rear end from separating from the rest of the truck.
The reason for the modified drive shaft is that the bearings I pulled from a CPU fan didn't fit the factory drive shaft, and finding a sleeve that is just slightly bigger than it is tough. I actually used an extending antenna as all the parts fit perfectly inside of eachother, and the end piece, which is solid, fit my CPU fan bearings. Oh, and it's all chrome so it looks cool as hell.
The wheel donut thread has info on it, and a dude named Diets I think, was the first one to actually prove to the MT world it would work.
Word of caution though, this is one of those mods that is easy to screw up, and once you do, there's no going back. Patience is the key, as is having like 6 hands to keep everything together. Mine is also high maintenance as those motor wires keep coming apart due to all the flexing they go through. I will say it is definitely worth it as it gives the truck awesome offroad ability, and stability. It also looks pretty wicked...see video
here