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Marc Reiter's
ClodMangler

My Mangler is built on a Tamiya Clodbuster chassis. This chassis comes with dual motors, 4 wheel steering and 5" monster truck tires. The 2nd Mangler is on a Team Losi JR-X2 chassis. The body isn't mounted, it's just there for show. I may mount the body on this chassis some day if I decide I want a high speed Mangler.

Future plans for the Clodbuster Mangler:

  • build a custom aluminum chassis
  • build a 4 link suspension for the front and rear axles
  • improve the steering by putting a steering servo on each axle
  • replace the simple spring shocks with long travel oil filled shocks
My goal is to score well over 1000 on a 30 degree RTI ramp.

mangler01.jpg
mangler01.jpg
mangler02.jpg
mangler02.jpg
mangler03.jpg
mangler03.jpg
mangler04.jpg
mangler04.jpg
mangler06.jpg
mangler06.jpg
mangler07.jpg
mangler07.jpg
mangler08.jpg
mangler08.jpg

 
Torn down to the tub.
Getting ready for the paint booth.

 
mangler05.jpg
mangler04.jpg


ClodMangler Buildup - Stage 1

I soon decided that I needed a lot more flex then the stock Clod Buster chassis would do, so I decided to build a custom aluminum chassis and a 4 link suspension for each axle, as well as long travel oil filled shocks. The chassis was made from 3/4" c-channel aluminum and 1/8" plate. I found some good places to mount the ends of my suspension links and I made up a test of the 4-link using threaded rod for the rods.

4linktest1.jpg
4linktest1.jpg
4linktest2.jpg
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4linktest3.jpg
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4linktest4.jpg
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My first attempt resulted in some binding when I tried to articulate. After playing with it a little I decided that I had the links too close together on the frame. The upper and lower links were traveling in different arcs which resulted in binding when one side went up and the other side down. For my next test I moved the top link up to try to get the same vertical spacing as I had on the axle. I also moved the connection to the outside of the chassis to reduce the side to side play in the axle.

4linktest7.jpg
4linktest7.jpg
4linktest8.jpg
4linktest8.jpg
4linktest9.jpg
4linktest9.jpg

This setup seems to work a lot better. Next I need to build the rods for the suspension, build some mounts for my steering servos, build some attachment points for the shocks, build my battery box and make some body mounts.

You can see it's a lot different from the stock chassis and should work a lot better.

4linktest6.jpg
4linktest6.jpg
4linktest7.jpg
4linktest7.jpg

I got the rods finished for the 4 link suspension. I also finished the other axle, so now I can see what it's going to look like. Looks like it's going to work great. You can see it's flexed to the point where the rear axle is completely vertical with the tire sitting square on the ground. I wish my real Bronco flexed this good. Of corse it won't be this good once I put shocks and the body on. But I know it's not the chassis and suspension design holding it back!

mangler09.jpg
mangler09.jpg
mangler10.jpg
mangler10.jpg


The finished product.
More construction pics coming soon.

Mangler11.jpg
Mangler11.jpg
Mangler12.jpg
Mangler12.jpg
Mangler13.jpg
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Mangler14.jpg
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Mangler15.jpg
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Mangler16.jpg
Mangler16.jpg


Movies of the Clod Mangler in Action:
CLODMANGLER01.MPG - 1.3 Megs
CLODMANGLER02.MPG - 0.8 Megs
CLODMANGLER03.MPG - 1.3 Megs
CLODMANGLER04.MPG - 1.3 Megs
CLODMANGLER05.MPG - 1.3 Megs
CLODMANGLER06.MPG - 1.3 Megs
CLODMANGLER07.MPG - 1.3 Megs
CLODMANGLER08.MPG - 1.3 Megs
CLODMANGLER09.MPG - 1.3 Megs
CLODMANGLER10.MPG - 1.3 Megs