- Joined
- Jan 10, 2015
- Messages
- 199
Not so much a "conversion", more of a "put a Nylint Bronco body on a modified R/C chassis", but it was a fun little project.
I'm a bit of a collector, and enjoy R/C trucks, so when I found this original "Fire Chief" Nylint Bronco at a garage sale, I set about finding a way to convert it to R/C without losing it's cool patina. There are several cheap Chinese 4x4 R/C trucks on eBay, I got one that was $30 ready to run. Just basic controls (proportional speed, but only full left or full right steering), but a good size, 4 link suspension, and actual driveshafts.
The wheelbase was a little long for the Bronco, so I moved the rear axle forward a few millimeters, shortened the driveshafts, and converted the stock internal spring shocks to coilovers with higher rate springs to support the metal body. The interior floor and rear wheel tubs I fabricated from flat lexan, sprayed with black Rustoleum Texture paint to resemble bedliner. The shifter is actually an old worn out Dremel bit. I moved the tie rod to the top of the steering arms and used an adjustable servo link with a ball socket at the passenger knuckle to replicate my full size setup.
I kept the body as it was, except for removing the cross brace behind the seats.
It's not fast - the motor is small and low geared, and the metal body is much heavier than the plastic body that came with the chassis - but it's fun to chase the dog around the house. The stiffer springs reduce the articulation some, but it's OK.
I'm a bit of a collector, and enjoy R/C trucks, so when I found this original "Fire Chief" Nylint Bronco at a garage sale, I set about finding a way to convert it to R/C without losing it's cool patina. There are several cheap Chinese 4x4 R/C trucks on eBay, I got one that was $30 ready to run. Just basic controls (proportional speed, but only full left or full right steering), but a good size, 4 link suspension, and actual driveshafts.
The wheelbase was a little long for the Bronco, so I moved the rear axle forward a few millimeters, shortened the driveshafts, and converted the stock internal spring shocks to coilovers with higher rate springs to support the metal body. The interior floor and rear wheel tubs I fabricated from flat lexan, sprayed with black Rustoleum Texture paint to resemble bedliner. The shifter is actually an old worn out Dremel bit. I moved the tie rod to the top of the steering arms and used an adjustable servo link with a ball socket at the passenger knuckle to replicate my full size setup.
I kept the body as it was, except for removing the cross brace behind the seats.
It's not fast - the motor is small and low geared, and the metal body is much heavier than the plastic body that came with the chassis - but it's fun to chase the dog around the house. The stiffer springs reduce the articulation some, but it's OK.
![d18ca97f-1a88-48d7-8e3f-be495dbeb0dd-original.jpg](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/m270/earlybroncoguy/0/d18ca97f-1a88-48d7-8e3f-be495dbeb0dd-original.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds)
![712f2e3e-c5e3-491d-99a1-f9dee94bc4ca-original.jpg](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/m270/earlybroncoguy/0/712f2e3e-c5e3-491d-99a1-f9dee94bc4ca-original.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds)
![2df2be82-ae30-4b48-8bbf-3da418e5cca6-original.jpg](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/m270/earlybroncoguy/0/2df2be82-ae30-4b48-8bbf-3da418e5cca6-original.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds)
![f6ed9ada-6711-437c-a7cb-4c93c930f6c8-original.jpg](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/m270/earlybroncoguy/0/f6ed9ada-6711-437c-a7cb-4c93c930f6c8-original.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds)
![30d56a49-0fdd-4dcc-92f9-d912c8131c0c-original.jpg](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/m270/earlybroncoguy/0/30d56a49-0fdd-4dcc-92f9-d912c8131c0c-original.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds)
![47a6e311-ecab-4440-b0ae-d7deef7e9da6-original.jpg](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/m270/earlybroncoguy/0/47a6e311-ecab-4440-b0ae-d7deef7e9da6-original.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds)
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