My Wedico Pete (project Money Hungry)

[Rogue]

I know , I know... i'm a lame a$$ for finally realizing that i haven't brought this truck over here yet. I've been a tad bit pre-occupied here the last month:rolleyes:

So on that note, I'm going to be even more lame, and copy/paste from another forum.

This is a project I have been working on. The story starts about 4 years ago when i bought a Wedico Pete cab off Ebay Germany. Found a good price on a 732 Pro chassis from Germany also, and was off to a good start at what i thought was going to be my dream truck.

It only made it this far before other obligations put a halt to the project.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i178/King-Rick/Picture238.jpg


Having 2 others at the same time didn't help matters:eek:

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i178/King-Rick/Picture239.jpg


I ended up selling it to a guy in Hawaii, and he toyed with it for a while. He didn't make it much further with it than I did. He ended up selling it to another guy in Ontario, Canada. He had big plans for it, and actually had made some progress with it. But in the end, he had to part with it as well.

Jumping forward to present time, I recently had the chance to buy it back. It was one of those "I can't really afford to buy it, but I can't afford not too" deals for me. Sentimental value may have played into it too. So the deal was struck, and a couple of months ago, it arrived on my doorstep. This truck's seen more of the world in the last couple years than i will in my life!!

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i178/King-Rick/WDC/Itshome1.jpg

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i178/King-Rick/WDC/Itshome2.jpg

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i178/King-Rick/WDC/Itshome.jpg





And this is how the fun began.......

More in a bit.

[Rogue]

I tore into it full force, and stripped it all down, and gave it a good scrubbing. The seller was decent enough to work with me on a payment plan, and in the time it took me to pay it off, I had been gathering some things to have ready for when it arrived. Namely, some paint, and a wheelbarrow full of stainless allen heads.

I stripped the powdercoating off the fenders, and roof, then shot the frame , fenders, and roof in Parma Fascesent Purple. That was then clearcoated in 2 stage automotive polyurethane.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i178/King-Rick/WDC/P5230036.jpg

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i178/King-Rick/WDC/P5230037.jpg

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i178/King-Rick/WDC/P5230054.jpg


Before it started to go back together, i polished up the grille surround and replaced the hideous looking stock grille with some aluminum mesh.

Before

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i178/King-Rick/WDC/grillebefore.jpg

After

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i178/King-Rick/WDC/grilleafter.jpg

[Rogue]

Starting to look like a truck again
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i178/King-Rick/WDC/P5240046.jpg

A little more progress
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i178/King-Rick/WDC/P5240036.jpg

I've always been a sucker for the single round headlights, so these found their way onto the front.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i178/King-Rick/WDC/P5250052.jpg

This was the part I was dreading dealing with, and most Wedico owners agree. The stock ride height on these trucks is WAY out of proportion. i just removed and tweaked a few leafs from the spring packs.

Before
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i178/King-Rick/WDC/Beforelowering.jpg

After
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i178/King-Rick/WDC/Afterlowering.jpg

[Rogue]

I milled up some frame covers. Not sure if they will stay or not. I have some HIGH$$$ axles for it, and seems a shame to not be able to see them with these panels covering them up.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i178/King-Rick/WDC/Deckplate.jpg

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i178/King-Rick/WDC/Deckplate1.jpg


I hung an extra front axle and springs underneath to give me an idea what a lift axle will look like on it, but still undecided on it. I do have a Wedico lift axle for it now, but it even it leaves me scratching my head. I want a steerable lift, so hopefully after a few sketches, and a few beers, maybe i can come up with something.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i178/King-Rick/WDC/Tagaxle2.jpg

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i178/King-Rick/WDC/Tagaxle.jpg


Got the steering servo mounted up

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i178/King-Rick/WDC/steeringservofrombottom.jpg


And my 25:1 gearmotor. I swear by these little things, and won't use anything but.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i178/King-Rick/WDC/Transfrombottom1.jpg

As it looks from a side angle

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i178/King-Rick/WDC/Transsideprofile.jpg

[Rogue]

I dug through my scraps, and found some angle to make some battery cups. Clamped them in the mini mill, trimmed the sides down, the bent the corners.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i178/King-Rick/WDC/batterycups1.jpg



This should be good for what... 6-7 hours of runtime?:

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i178/King-Rick/WDC/batterycupsontruck.jpg

[Rogue]

Added some center caps to the polished wheels, and some Bare Metal Foil in a couple of much needed areas. This stuff ROCKS.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i178/King-Rick/WDC/P7210012.jpg

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i178/King-Rick/WDC/P7210015.jpg

At which point (Nov2), the cab has been stripped, and is undergoing some drastic changes to the paint scheme. Stay tuned kids, this MAY just turn out cool !!

[Tamiya Cowboy]

Really looking good Rick! I like the new ride height much better.

[Bigrigger]

Very nice! That truck finding it's way back to you is actually kind of touching!:o:rolleyes::p Good progress!:D

[skl1cent]

go uncle rickie!!! truck is beautifulll!

[Espeefan]

I love the paint scheme, Rick. I was kind of hoping you'd keep the black and purple going, but I know you mentioned the orange peal of the black powder coat was bugging you! Guess I'll have to wait and see what the new color is. Maybe just a metallic black, with the same purple? I can't wait to see you get those high dollar axles under that chassis. It's killing me to wait! :D

[Claus]

Nice truck! Any updates?

[Rogue]

Thx guys,

At this point (Xmas night), the cab was repainted in a new scheme (same colors), but i didn't like it :mad:, and it's now being stripped yet again, frame included, and will be done in a whole new color.:D

[Bodyman]

what kind of gear reduction did you use. isnt 25:1 gonna move to slow?
i see on the threads guys use 4:1.
thanks
steve

[Claus]

what kind of gear reduction did you use. isnt 25:1 gonna move to slow?
i see on the threads guys use 4:1.
thanks
steve

They guys using a 4:1 have a transmission in front of the gear reduction. Rick is using the 25:1 as his transmission.

[Rogue]

what kind of gear reduction did you use. isnt 25:1 gonna move to slow?
i see on the threads guys use 4:1.
thanks
steve

Hi Steve, let me refer you to this thread, and you can be the judge.
http://rctruckandconstruction.com/showthread.php?t=318

[Rogue]

Nice truck! Any updates?

You want a update Craig?... well here ya go...LOL This is the aftermath when you decide you want to do a color change !! It's also the one redeeming quality of owning a aluminum bodied truck. If you screw up your paint, you throw it in a bucket of lacquer thinner, come back 20 minutes later to bare parts, and start over again.

The chassis in the lower right will slide under the COE when it gets here.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i178/King-Rick/WDC/PC260003.jpg

[Espeefan]

Wow Rick, you were serious when you said one step forward, three back. Except I think you just took ten steps backwards, which is more then the typical Wedico building procedure requires! :D Inside joke, kind of.

[Rogue]

Wow Rick, you were serious when you said one step forward, three back. Except I think you just took ten steps backwards, which is more then the typical Wedico building procedure requires! :D Inside joke, kind of.

Oh Nathan.. you should know by now nothing I do is typical..:o

I went from having a truck that all i had to do was throw a Rec. and a battery in it, and have a runner...... to ... well...... a pile of crossmembers and a couple rails. Besides, i needed to slow WAY down in order to comply with the 4 year build time that you're at. Inside joke, kind of:p

[wedicotrucker]

Wow Rick, you were serious when you said one step forward, three back. Except I think you just took ten steps backwards, which is more then the typical Wedico building procedure requires! :D Inside joke, kind of.

Thats pritty much an accurate statement.

[Espeefan]

Oh Nathan.. you should know by now nothing I do is typical..:o

I went from having a truck that all i had to do was throw a Rec. and a battery in it, and have a runner...... to ... well...... a pile of crossmembers and a couple rails. Besides, i needed to slow WAY down in order to comply with the 4 year build time that you're at. Inside joke, kind of:p

:D Oh man! Here I was hoping you'd get yours done sooner so you could tell me how these things actually drive. Seeings how mine has never turned a wheel under it's own power!

[Claus]

You want a update Craig?... well here ya go...LOL This is the aftermath when you decide you want to do a color change !! It's also the one redeeming quality of owning a aluminum bodied truck. If you screw up your paint, you throw it in a bucket of lacquer thinner, come back 20 minutes later to bare parts, and start over again.

The chassis in the lower right will slide under the COE when it gets here.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i178/King-Rick/WDC/PC260003.jpg

That's beautiful!!!

[Stepside]

Rick,

Your diligence in getting the truck "just right" is an inspiration all on its own!! Takes a lot to strip down and repaint... twice!

As for your driveline, I really like the compact driveline concept and not having to dedicate a radio channel to a shifting servo. In my rigs, I don't typically shift at all! I use one gear and go. The only difference has been at Indy last year I actually needed to use first to get up the steep incline on the one side of the bridge... it wasn't going up in 3rd at all.

What is the final RPM of your gear motor? I'd be curious to know what "gear" it matches up with a stock trans w/ 4:1.

[Rogue]

Rick,

Your diligence in getting the truck "just right" is an inspiration all on its own!! Takes a lot to strip down and repaint... twice!

As for your driveline, I really like the compact driveline concept and not having to dedicate a radio channel to a shifting servo. In my rigs, I don't typically shift at all! I use one gear and go. The only difference has been at Indy last year I actually needed to use first to get up the steep incline on the one side of the bridge... it wasn't going up in 3rd at all.

What is the final RPM of your gear motor? I'd be curious to know what "gear" it matches up with a stock trans w/ 4:1.


Thx Rod, but impatience was more of a contributing factor than diligence. I rushed it the last time, i knew it, and it bit me in the a$$. And even though i really liked the purple/black color combo, I'm really excited to see the new rendition. I should have the final coats on it later tonight, and after it cures overnight, she should be a roller again tomorrow.

As to the RPM question, Nathan and a few others ran all the numbers, and the results can be seen towards the end of this thread.
http://rctruckandconstruction.com/showthread.php?t=318

[Tamiya Cowboy]

It is going to be good looking rick and the COE I can t wait to see it on a stretched out frame..

[Rogue]

ello ol friend. nice to see this ol Pete again and nice to see a color change going on. Are you planning on doing another yellow hauler with this one?

BTW Things is going a bit better on my end, hope to be getting back into the groove of things once again. I am missing my Wedico's already. heh

Hey Dustin, good to see you over here now.

You can miss this Wedico all you want to , but i'm NOT sending it to Hawaii TWICE :p:p

[hauler_10-4]

Wow Rick your changing it again. I'll have too watch and see whats next.

[spudd]

love the mesh in the grill!!!!!!!!!!where did you get it from thanks