Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Nathan you give new meaning to the word perfectionist.

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Thanks for showing the new tranny system. I have one of the transfer cases' in my Studebaker. Only problem I have found with it is its tolerences. Shafts have way too much 'play' in them. Other than that they are very heavy duty like your gear reduction.
Can't wait to see your Pete completed.

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Wow Nathan you still working on this? lol looking good tho, i think both our projects are taking a little to long compared to other one here! That tranny combo looks bullet proof, i really like it.

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Hi Tim. Yes, if you are looking for a rugged transmission for your C510, this would be a great option. There are quite a few different ratios avilable too. I've got a 3:1 reduction in my axles also, so I choose the 2 stage planetary with a 20:1 reduction. It runs really smooth and makes the motor a torque monster! I test ran this combo on 7.2 volts, and I couldn't even make the motor groan, no matter how little throttle I gave it, and no matter how hard I tried to grab the output shaft with my fingers. I don't think you could stall this combo out, in a truck application. On 12 volts plus, it's going to be unstoppable!

Thank you Craig. Just trying to build the best truck I can! :D

tc1cat, I'm curious if by 'play' you mean shaft run-out. As in not turning true and straight? Or do you mean shaft end play, or float? I don't notice any run-out with the shafts. They look straight and true, but once I get some power going through it, and get the u-joints hooked up, then I'll really know.

Thanks Kyle! Yes, this is turning out to be a life long project, almost! I hope that my work ethic is not rubbing off on you too! You used to crank Aeromax trucks like crazy, till you started the 6x6 boom truck. But, good things are worth the wait, no doubt! If I could only stay off this forum, and avoid looking at what everyone else is building, maybe I'd stand a chance of actually getting some work done on my Wedico! And speaking of that.....

I was able to machine up a new chassis cross member. Since deciding to revamp the drivetrain of my truck, I was in need of way to mount up the new transmission. I also needed a way to mount my cab, after lowering it for the new stance. This is what I came up with.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...transplate.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...ransplate2.jpg

I designed it to fit perfectly between the chassis frame rails. I still need to drill and tap some holes to secure it to the frame rails, but it's a press fit into place and I haven't yet decided it's finally resting place. I may slide it fore or aft, just as soon as I get some mounts made up for the transfer case next. Driveshaft length will determine the final position, but it will be hidden completely by the cab.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...etaryplate.jpg

And then the transmission and motor mount to the cross member, like so...

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...sinchassis.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...arboxmount.jpg

View from the underside...

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...assisclose.jpg

And one from the side of the chassis. Once the fuel tanks are on, it will be almost impossible to see, except if the truck is upside down.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...ntingplate.jpg

The transfer case will find it's home just forward of the lift axle.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...einchassis.jpg

That's all for now guys. Let me know what you think! :D

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Nathan,

You never seize to make me feel absolutely stupid in some of my designs.

Once again, you have raised the bar. :o

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Nathan that truck is so pretty it's gonna be a shame to paint it!!

Brian

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Great truck Nathan :cool: I guess I never paid much atention to wedico's but there have been some realy nice ones show up here on the board. Keep up the good work.

Travis

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Nathan is your new signature a sign of things to come? Don't take this wrong but I already miss the tractors.

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Just mind blowing Nate....A true masterpeice at its best....Great job....:cool:

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Great job.I am enjoying every step.You are the man.;)

Ed

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

WOW.. Great job Nathan.. The one problem I have with seeing artisans like you at work is it makes me feel like my stuff is crap!!!

Fortunately I thrive on that stuff... There is no such word as "Good Enough" in my book..

Again great job. Keep going.. it makes my build better...

-Mike

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Thank you Rick. I appreciate that.

Thanks Paul. Machining up these custom parts is learning process. A couple years ago, I wouldn't have thought I could do it. It's a mind over matter thing. I have still have a lot more parts to make!

Hi Brian, thanks. Believe it or not, painting is my weak point! It will be a chore to paint this rig! :D

Thanks Travis. Wedico trucks are nice, but kind of expensive, and unfortunately, not without their flaws. :D For what a guy has to pay to build one, they should assemble themselves and be perfect.

Craig, maybe a sign of things to come. I do want a dump trailer very badly, but I'll always have something for haulin' red tractors around. :D Less the flames paint.

Thanks John, for the kind words!

I appreciate that Ed! Thanks.

Hi Mike. I used to feel like that too. The great thing about sharing a project for all to see is that we can all learn something new. I'm a bit of a perfectionist too, so I know what you mean about 'good enough' and 'perfect' :D I always pull a lot of inspiration from all the great builds I see. It's what pushes me to get this truck done.

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Hi guys, I've been on a bit of a roll lately, and I whipped up some transfer case mounts for the Wedico! Now I have a nice way to mount up the t-case and I can continue working on the rest of the driveline. There isn't much left to do, but get the driveshaft lengths figured out, and figure out the permanent mounting location of the trans.

Here is a picture of the transfer case and it's new mounts.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...ansfercase.jpg

I'm still sliding things around in the chassis, but the transfer case is practically guarenteed to be sitting where it is in these pictures. I just need to drill some holes through the frame rails and bolt her up!

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...einchassis.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...inchassis2.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...inchassis3.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...inchassis5.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...inchassis4.jpg

Things are starting to come together, and space is getting tight! I still need a way to operate my lift axle and I was thinking of using a servo, but it will take a little creativity to fit one in now, and it will most likely require some more custom machined parts! That's all for now. Thanks for looking.

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Looking good!

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Nice and neat mounting!

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Nathan that is some very nice work. Ed

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

very nice work cant wait to see it done!!!

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Very nice build. I'm not in to trucks just yet but really enjoyed all of your excellent closeups. This gives me more insight into what I'd be up against if I were to build one of these trucks. Do you have the overall weight yet? Or did I miss that in all the replies?

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

I like how you whip thing up. Nice work Nathan.

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Just awesome Nate..This thing looks like it will handel anything you put on it....WOW!!!:D

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Looking superb! nice machine work. tooking forward in seeing more up dates

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Looks real good keep it coming.

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Thanks pugs, tc1cat, Ed, Raiders, Craig, John, Rick, and Losiassociated! I really appreciate the replies. It's encouraging to keep at this build and get it done! :D

Monighan, thanks! I just weighed the truck, but used a bathroom scale and myself, so it's not the most accurate of readings. It's all I have! I was curious to know myself also. The rolling chassis, as you see it in the photos, including axles, the transmission, motor, transfer case, axles, rims, and tires, came out to be about 6 pounds. That's not super heavy, but there is still more to add to the model. I'm going to guess and say it will be about 8 or 9 pounds when done. 10 pounds might be a stretch. I hope to add a lot more machined aluminum parts yet. Front and rear bumpers, fuel tank mounts, steps, a weather tight headache rack, and maybe some sort of sliding 5th wheel. I was also thinking of having a hydraulic pump (wet kit) on board, but I will wait to see if I have the room. These day cabs are a challenge. Fitting 5 pounds of goods into a 4 pound sack! :D Plus I really want to have a full cab interior yet. Not sure if that's possible.

I haven't shown these pictures here yet, but earlier in the build I was mocking up some possible ideas for the truck. Because this is a day cab I thought I might try machining up an aluminum weather tight headache rack for this truck. I built a quick and dirty styrene version, just to see how it might look on the Peterbilt.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...dacherack3.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...adacherack.jpg

I am actually shooting for something like this, of the 1:1 version.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...binet84x67.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...rackonPete.jpg


http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...kbatteries.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...teryholder.jpg

If I hollow out the headache rack, I will be able to stash a couple mini-battery packs inside it, and maybe have a little extra room for other small electronics. The space will be extremely useful for a build like this, being tight on space. If I am lucky, I will also be able to keep the room open, under the hood, for something like....oh a scale diesel engine, radiator, and intercooler. :D

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Nathan, I just went through your truck build, and MAN, it looks good and should be as stout as the real thing. Keep the up the good work.

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

I think your build will encourage the sales of Wedico trucks. Even wher you discuss the down falls you show excellent solutions. Have you thought about selling some of your parts like your hood hinge/ front spring hanger?

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Nate you are doing a great job on the truck keep up the great work..

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Looks sharp. Amazing machine work.

-Ben

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Thanks Dirtpusher! I appreciate your opinion, especially after knowing the skill level you are at with your builds!

Craig, hard to say! The biggest downfall of the Wedicos is the cost. I wouldn't mind machining parts someday, but right now, everything I make is done during off hours at work, and my access to the mill and lathe are somewhat limited. If I buy a mill of my own, maybe that will change, but for now, I'm still figuring things out for this truck, as I go. When this one is complete, I plan to take a break from building trucks, and try a trailer or two. I'd still like to do one more Wedico - a large car with a sleeper, but that will be later, and hopefully I'll be able to knock that build out a lot faster. This heavy hauler being a bit of a test bed for me.

Thanks Ben and Paul, for the kind words! :D

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Paul, the new photos I posted on my thread at Scale 4x4 are actually pictures I have already posted here. :D I've been neglecting Scale 4x4, now that I hang out here a lot more. I was just bringing that thread on Scale 4x4 up to date, so it matches this one. So the new pics over there, are old pics over here. :D Make sense?

Otherwise, no new progress since the last update. I've been working with a friend of mine, on designing and machining up some fuel tank mounting brackets for my truck. I really, really hate the way Wedico expects you to mount the fuel tanks to the chassis. Basically just a strap, wrapped around the tank, and screwed to the frame rail. There is no bracket at all. Pretty ugly.

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Nathan I have RCdamper fuel tank brackets on my King, not sure if they will work on a Wedico but I'm using PMD tanks on my King so they might. They do look alot better than Tamiya brackets. Might not be what you want either.

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Ah Claus they look pretty but still not right . I know what you mean nate I didn't like the tamiyas either . Here's a pic of what I did

http://i830.photobucket.com/albums/z...er/5900i14.jpg

I made them close to what I have on my 1:1

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Thanks Craig. Those are definitely a nice option for the Tamiya trucks, but Wedicos use a c-channel frame rail that is not the same height. So I would have some gaps where those brackets slide over the top and bottom of the chassis frame rails. Still, I appreciate the suggestion! :D

Thanks Steve. Peterbilt seems to have one of the more elaborate tank mounts out of all truck manufactures, so I'm afraid a total custom machined part is the only thing that will make me happy. I've enlisted the help of a friend, who has far greater machinist skills then I do, to help me come up with something better. We've been working on the design together, and while it's not going to be 100% accurate, it should be very nice. There are always practical limits to what you can design, and what can actually be machined. :D

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Nice cab gaurd/tool box. puting the battries in there. do you thank it might make it top heavy?
I know what you mean about your fuel tank mounts. I had to make mine to look like kenworth ones. yours will look good

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Thanks Rick! It could get a little top heavy, but I don't know if it will be a big concern. It's got a fair deal of weight down low too, and we know the scale rigs don't exactly break any speed records, so I think it will be safe to drive in normal applications. :D The drom/toolbox will be pretty heavy by itself. The plan is to machine it out of aluminum, but it will be mostly hollow. The battery packs aren't to bad for weight. They are about 1/3 the size of a standard sub-C pack and pretty light, but it all adds up. If all else fails, I'll just stick the battery packs under the hood, although I don't want to give up the possibilities of sticking a scale diesel engine in there, just yet. :D The 1:1 trucks don't exactly corner like a sports car either.

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

True that, thy are not a sporst car. scale or 1:1 some thank thy were at one time and lost.

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Nathan lets face it you need Scale Art tank straps. Ed:cool:

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Hi Ed. Yes, I've seen Scale Art's fuel tank mounts too. To be honest, they aren't any more accurate then what Wedico offers for mounting solutions. I'm looking for something that looks more realistic.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...tankstraps.jpg

Scale Art's tank mounts for the Wedico.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...Tankstraps.jpg

The 1:1 Peterbilt tank mounts and straps.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...nkbrackets.jpg

Might be a tall order, but hopefully I end up with a halfway decent facsimile.

Re: Espeefan's slow motion Peterbilt Heavy Hauler build
 

Nate , that doesn't look hard at all , just may be a pain in the arse to put together . now that you show the 1:1 I know what you mean .