The Monster Beetle chassis

I exhaustively rebuilt the whole chassis, either using parts from the BeetleFrog, or from a wrecked chassis (mix of Blackfoot and Monster Beetle), or by picking in my spare part stock.

I also installed the Team CRP chassis stiffener, as well as the damper mounts. Then I used the yellow hydraulic dampers (after "reviving" them), assembled the real bodyshell mounts (since I have the body) and replaced all plastic bearings with ball bearings. In fact, my Monster Beetle will be absolutely original (apart from the parts origin) with some exceptions: an electronic speed controller to replace the original mechanical speedo, the switch place (on the front tower and not on the chassis) and the rear dogbones (replaced par the re-re Frog's, but you won't notice them because of the joint boots).

Chassis overview:

You can see a light modification for the battery pack support. At that time, they used humped back battery packs: one of the cells was fitted on top of the other instead of being all in line like nowadays.

So I simply made the battery pack support longer using the two red spacers on which you normally screw the mechanical speed controller. Because they are the same color as the chassis, you can hardly notice that change.

I made another change for the rear arms pivot: I replaced the plastic ones by metal ones that better hold them and that do not break.

Top and bottom views of the chassis:

The rear drive train is already fitted with the definitive tires (to be glued with caution not to damage the golden rims). They are still available since they are used in particular by the Blackfoot Xtreme. The front drive train still has original Blackfoot tires for the moment.

Update:

I have worked again on the chassis, in particular on the switch. It is now placed on the right side of the chassis where the mechanical speed controller resistors took place. I preferred this side of the chassis (it should go on the left side) because there's more room for the battery pack plug.

I changed the switch place for a very simple reason: on the BeetleFrog project, the HPI bodyshell left an easy access to the front shock tower. With the Monster Beetle shell on, you can't reach it anymore. The front wheels now have their definitive tires. On the below photo, can can notice some (voluntary) mistakes on the chassis: I left the rear Blackfoot body mounts Blackfoot (the vertical ones). This way, I can fit the BeetleFrog body for running. Same thing for the front body mounts (folded).

I may make another change later: the servo skid plate (see the bottom view of the chassis) can be replaced by the Frog' (or the Subaru Brat's). The good effects: first, the steering servo is better protected, second is to reinforce the front bumper.