HPI Baja 5B SS - Custom Parts

Mar 27 2011 :

While rebuilding the 5B I encounter a few parts that was missing or broken. In most case it was a simple fix by machining a few parts from aluminum stock. The first thing I made was the front body mount (7075 Aluminum). Next I replaced the plastic pins with aluminum ones (Some aluminum alloy stock I bought at Ace Hardware).

Apr 04 2011:

The right side window had a crack where the screw is mounted, and finally broke. I had some extra sheet of plastic, so I just traced the old window and cut it out.

Apr 04 2011:

Since my DDM Dom pipe did not come with mounting hardware I had to make my own custom exhaust spacer (6061 Aluminum).

Apr 06 2011:

The DDM Dom pipe is press against the roll cage so I made my own risers (7075 Aluminum), similar to FFR.

Apr 09 2011:

Earlier this week I noticed I was missing a transmission cap slug. And it was an pretty easy fix. I took a 7075 aluminum round bar and made a cap. I got this idea from turtle racing, when I say it on DDM's website. The TR tranny cap is not expensive, its just quicker for me to make one myself. The hardest thing to do in this whole process is taking the transmission out of the 5B.

Apr 09 2011:

After reading a few forum chats about installing limiting straps on the suspension, I wanted to try and make my own. Killer RC makes a great set of straps for $30, and that is a reasonable price. But I was able to make my own for less than a dollar (for all of them). All I need to buy is the 1/16 steel cable with a plastic covering, and that only cost me 29 cents a foot. I had everything else at home, but the real question is if the soft terminal will hold up to the abuse. I guess only time will tell.

Update: The answer to my last question is.....NO, it did not hold up, the cable pulled right out. That happen after I listen to what other people did on the forum... to crimp the terminal to the bare wires and not the plastic housing. To tell you the truth, is seem to work better for me when it was crimped on the plastic housing.

Apr 23, 2011

I finally made my own quick release rollcage. I took some aluminum tube and drilled out the inside to the same diameter as the rollcage. I was going use some cotter pins to hold the tube in place, but they fit very snug. So I left it as is for now.

Apr 24, 2011

After reading online about reducing the amount of play in the steering I followed them. I cut a slit in the turnbuckle and add a screw and replaced the stock linkage that connects to the servo and servo saver with a kyosho part.

May 2011

Custom rear turnbuckles support sleeve, machined out of 7075 aluminum rod. I got this idea from Killer RC and the concept of the aluminum spacers is to "spreading out the forces to a larger area on the end of the arm and ball end, 'to' takes much of the stress off of the steel turnbuckle." I made the space 12mm long, which is the stock camber setting.