Project Hyper Hornet

[Frankentruck]

Team CRP makes an excellent molded nylon front suspension kit, so it's time to address centering the servo and getting some decent steering capability.
.

[Frankentruck]

The Hyper Hornet front suspension took a step forward. The front end has been modified to fit the front shock tower mount block.
.

.
I'm not sure if I want to use the CRP shock tower and upper control links. The chassis would need more trimming for clearance that would weaken the front end, and the links seem kind of short.
.

[jwscab]

With that narrow front end you are basically trying to drive an old three wheeler, notorious for rollover accidents under reckless driving.
I'd work on maybe widening up that front end. That will probably help reduce the amount of material needed to be removed with that tower. Since you are 3 d printing stuff, maybe you can make a lower front bulkhead that fits wider traditional arms that fits in the t-shaped original arm retainer area. .

[Frankentruck]

Dadio made a nice conversation kit using RC10 front arms. I might eventually go that direction, but I'm not quite there yet. I need to fumble around a bit with this inferior setup first. Once I get the steering servo centered and the steering geometry sort of consistent with suspension movement, then I should be satisfied. Since this started out as a regular Hornet it doesn't have to be a perfect buggy. Just being a polished turd is ok right now.

[Dadio]

If you make it perfect it wont be a Hornet anymore

[Frankentruck]

I settled on a front shock tower design that worked with the CRP mount plate, didn't require any more chassis trimming, and didn't require any body trimming. I also made some upper control links with some adjustment capability. Then added some Traxxas link ends to the threaded tops of the shocks. The front suspension seems to work as intended, which is an upgrade from standard Hornet front suspension. It could use some slightly stiffer front springs though. Or I might swap in some better front shocks.
.

.

.

.

.

.
Last item is to center the steering servo and add same length tie rods.

[Dadio]

Looks very tidy

[Frankentruck]

In addition to having springs that are too soft, the tiny front shocks are horrible leakers. A front shock upgrade is needed. I have a spare set that are the right length and seem like a natural fit.
.

.
However stiffer shocks = more shock tower deflection. The tweaked shock tower I printed is not up to the task of this stouter suspension. My printer is down awaiting a new hot end thermal isolator coupling so I'll think a little about my options for the next tower revision.
.

[Frankentruck]

A little more progress. I got a pair of excellent Factory Works shock front shock tower options. The single mount position tower would work, but I decided to use the 2 hole tower. Also opened up the steering horn area, drilled and reinforced (doubler glued in) a new servo bracket mount hole, and figured out how I want to tweak v2 of the servo mount bracket.
.

.

.

.

[Frankentruck]

Finished the front end (...finished?) with some Dubro 2-56 sized ball links that accept 4-40 thread turnbuckles and a pair of Yokomo 42mm steel turnbuckles. The front end is an improvement if you're used to a stock Hornet front end, and it is good enough for some bashing fun now.
.

.

.

.
A little tire roasting driveway bashing. I need to play with the ESC throttle settings and motor gearing a little.

https://youtu.be/eUNV1g4oDTk?feature=shared