TOPIC:

Wow, it's been a long time since I last tried anything to fix the Sand Rover / Holiday Buggy fragile gears issue ...

This seemed like the appropriate place to post this, as my previous fails at fixing the gearbox issues (modifying/combining off the shelf single gears, + “easy” belt drive conversion) are documented here.

Sticking an SRB gearbox and front end on a modified Sand Rover tub/body (though not the Holiday Buggy as far as I know) is nothing new, there are several already out there & the builders have naturally taken similar paths. All seem to agree on cutting off the gearbox and front shock tabs at the least, and that the height/width of the SRB front suspension is an issue. 

My plan is to make a “best”/most original Sand Rover & Holiday Buggy out of what I have & keep those for the shelf, and then make an SRB hybrid of each (with no body modifications) that I can run with (almost) impunity. I’ve already swapped the Sand Rover bodies around, so my shelfer is now a fully intact chassis with all original fasteners, 380 motor setup & part worn original rear tyres, and the body in Rover Nightfire red. The “hybrid” will be a cracked/repaired chassis, Ford Electric Orange Metallc body & “Troll” brand rear tyres

The SRB gearbox is already on (note the chassis tub mods & sawn off rollbar), the front end will be slightly more difficult…

Woooohaaaa, it already looks like a real LM buggy. I love this scratch building. That's crazy Jonny

Two of the holes in the SRB plate already line up with the Sand Rover tub




Lots of bits cut off the front end:

Progess has been quite rapid - I'm pleased that all the original body fittings still work...

Shock tower top & fittings will need some reduction before I can get the front shocks on, otherwise I just need a servo saver + electrics

 

Oooohhhhh Jonny that's awesome I want to do the same. That's crazy. I love it.

Decided the exposed torsion bars in the bottom of the tub were a bit unsightly, so made some 10mm spacers, plus platforms from black pinseal styrene sheet. 

First pic shows the "rough" turning I did on the "big" lathe, but it was miserable out there so I came in to finish them off on the Unimat - at which the 24V PSU popped & I had to use a 7.2V NiMH battery instead. 2nd pic shows everything finished, plus some "mushrooms" as the forward battery retaining band loops would no longer be accessible.

Countersunk M3 screws all round, I think the result is fairly tidy

Also tackled the front shock mounts - Dremelled off a bit of the reinforcement web + used a longer button head screw + washers, a short section of rubber tube & nyloc nut.

The fit is quite tight, but it does fit

I still have to do the electrics, but I think I have everything I need.

It does sit a bit higher at the back than the original chassis, due in part to me twisting the torsion bars to stiffen them up.

Nice Jonny 

Jonny wrote:

Decided the exposed torsion bars in the bottom of the tub were a bit unsightly, so made some 10mm spacers, plus platforms from black pinseal styrene sheet. 

First pic shows the "rough" turning I did on the "big" lathe, but it was miserable out there so I came in to finish them off on the Unimat - at which the 24V PSU popped & I had to use a 7.2V NiMH battery instead. 2nd pic shows everything finished, plus some "mushrooms" as the forward battery retaining band loops would no longer be accessible.

Countersunk M3 screws all round, I think the result is fairly tidy

Thats a super nice mod to add in the rubber band battery retainers.