Announcing the BIT LAR-G. Yes, that?s right. A Monster Truck Bit Char-g.
I went to Toy?s R Us and found a truck with wheels the size I wanted (they were actually made by Tonka) and started on the modification. I started with the back. I took the wheels and gear off the original axle and decided the axle was too short for clearance with the frame of the bit. So I hunted for a piece of metal with .048″ Diameter. I searched through paper clips, wire whisks in the kitchen and finally found a safety pin to fit exactly. This was a great find since a safety pin is much harder and won?t bend. I slid and glued the gear on. Drilled out the wheels to fit snugly over the axle. I had to make spacers to fit over the axle and in between the body and wheel to move the wheel out away from the body for clearance. I glued the spacers and wheels on and I was done with the back wheels.
Now the fronts are a lot trickier since they spin on the axle. I found some nails that were .070″ diameter and drilled the front wheels with a .075″ hole so they would spin freely on the axle. The head of the nail is on the outside of the wheel holding it just like the original wheels. Then I measured how much spacer I wanted and added the thickness of the steering knuckle (white piece of the bit that the axle presses in) and cut my axles that long. Now the tricky part. The axle is too big to press in the knuckle so I put the head end of the nail in a drill and took a cut off wheel with my dremel and hacked some lines in the part of the axle that was to be pressed in the knuckle until it was down to .053″ diameter. Be careful, I had to try this a few times to get it right. If you go down to .050″ it will fall out. So, I take the axle, put on the wheel, put on the spacer and push it in the knuckle. All done, just need to reassemble the front steering and I?m done.
Well, now, of course, the body won?t fit so I raise it up and use hot glue to hold it between the wheels along the side. (can?t see the glue since it?s up inside the body) and now I?m really done.
OK, now for the test ride. Of course it takes about twice as long to get up to speed but it was a lot peppier then I thought it would be. And finally, the steering actually works! Yes, it?s sluggish but it works great! I am so happy with this modification. Now I?ll have to build an off road coarse that regular bit?s can?t do that mine can.
Anyway, I wish I had a better camera. It turned out GREAT!
http://www.geocities.com/pfabersac/bitlarg.html
Custom “bit superchar-g” dual motor to come soon.
-Peter
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Then we can have some real fun with the WRX, Skyline,and EVO.
