Revealed: The Ultimate E-Maxx (aluminum) chassis

[The JANG]

Two months ago I began designing an aluminum E-Maxx chassis for eventual limited production and sale. My first design attempt led to a flat plate setup which New Era came to market with before my first prototype was milled. That particular opportunity missed, I canned all of my work and started from scratch with a completely new design, the second draft of which I just completed in CAD form:

http://www.ultimatetraxxas.com/i/ultimate/emaxx_chassis/preproto-view01.jpg

http://www.ultimatetraxxas.com/i/ultimate/emaxx_chassis/preproto-view02.jpg

http://www.ultimatetraxxas.com/i/ultimate/emaxx_chassis/preproto-view03.jpg

http://www.ultimatetraxxas.com/i/ultimate/emaxx_chassis/preproto-view04.jpg

Here's a comparison with the stock chassis setup:

http://www.ultimatetraxxas.com/i/ultimate/emaxx_chassis/preproto-vs_stock-side.jpg

Updated 7/10/2001 -- Views with a dual Modeltech brushless motor setup:

http://www.ultimatetraxxas.com/i/ultimate/emaxx_chassis/preproto-view05-BLs.jpg

http://www.ultimatetraxxas.com/i/ultimate/emaxx_chassis/preproto-view06-BLs.jpg

http://www.ultimatetraxxas.com/i/ultimate/emaxx_chassis/preproto-view07-BLs.jpg


At the beginning of the project, I solicited feedback from folks like YOU on this and other message boards and at local races. YOU asked for room to hold more than six cells per side. YOU asked for the ability to remount the transmission fore & aft to tweak weight distribution. YOU asked for a significantly lowered center of gravity. YOU even asked for some unpredictable surprises. Well, YOU get what you ask for!

The Ultimate E-Maxx design completely tosses away the chassis tub in favor of a strong, central channel formed by what could technically be called the chassis braces, which have side by side battery mounting positions molded into their sides. Stick pack mounting would be facilitated by a different set of battery retainers (the Batman & Robin eye mask-looking thing). I'm also working on a double-decker battery retainer system that would allow you to stack on another six cells per side for a total of 28. My battery holding system creates contact between the battery sides and the bare aluminum for the sake of cooling, but keeps the packs secure in all directions by grasping them from their corners.

The transmission gets lowered roughly 1/4" versus the stock position and you are given two more transmission mounting holes for that aforementioned fine-tuning. The optional low-CG motor mount will be modelled after the design I run on my Spyder project 'E, a bracket that bolts directly to the chassis and moves your motors behind your transmission and 5/8" lower than the stock position.

What about ground clearance? Racers know that the center chassis clearance on the E/T-Maxx afforded by the arch of the chassis braces is essentially unnecessary -- the actual ground clearance of the truck is measured from the bottom of the front & rear skid plates. The Ultimate E-Maxx chassis lowers your center of gravity to such a great degree that you will be able to pop in more preload spacers and run significantly more real-world ground clearance on your own Ultimate 'E than you would with a stock chassis without sacrificing stability.

As for overall form, the Ultimate E-Maxx chassis is quite narrow, concentrating all weight near the centerline. This will reduce yaw (turning) momentum to give you an edge on recovery from whipping around fast corners. The chassis makes an 'E roughly as long as an extended 'T for more pitch (up/down tilt) stability over the jumps.

Weight with this setup will definitely be greater than stock, but lighter than an aluminum tub chassis with aluminum chassis braces and a center skid. I'm actually debating whether or not I need the center skid pictured above or if I can just build the piece I need into the battery retainers to protect the cell ends from the elements.

Comments & suggestions are welcome as always.

MANY sincere thanks to GraphicArtist for providing his mostly-complete E-Maxx model for reference and to be cannibalized for this project! Saved me a lllloooottttt of time of recreating shocks, a-arms, towers, etc.!

-The JANG

[speedydave]

Wow...I can't stop staring in awe. That is really, really cool, and looks like it will be a very good racing design. I can't wait until it's all finished. I'll talk to you more about it at Delta. Nice.

[speedydave]

I can't stop laughing from the posts you've gotten from everyone at MaxxTraxx's bulliten board. :lol: a waiting list :lol: I can't wait to see and maybe even test a prototype. And with that story about the Titan motors...I can't wait to discuss the chassis with you at the Duel Under Diablo this weekend. See ya :) :rollin: Oh the possibilities...especially you with your BL motors...lol :evil:

[EmaxxRacer]

OMG I so want one and want to try it out AMAZING J.A.N.G

[The JANG]

Thanks :) Final dimensioned pics go out to the machinist this week!

-The JANG

[The JANG]

Update: I've finally added a few renders with dual Modeltech B5x motors and controllers. The motor-controller wires would loop over the controllers and straight down into 90-degree connectors.

-The JANG

[Maxxcrazy]

how much money will it be?

[The JANG]

That's answered in the newer post:

pub50.ezboard.com/fultima...D=83.topic (http://pub50.ezboard.com/fultimatetraxxasfrm4.showMessage?topicID=83.topic)

[loony Tmax]

Hi JANG
thanks for your post about the wheels.
Will your chassis have any or extra front kickup???

[The JANG]

No, it uses stock bulkheads, so the suspension geometry will not be altered.

[MECHPWRPACK4]

HEY DUDE CAN YOU SEND ME THE DRAWING OF THE ENTIRE MAXX BOTH THE STOCK MAXX AND NEW CHASSI I GOT MECHANICAL DESKTOP 4 POWER PACK EDITION IG YOU WANT IT AS A TRADE FOR THE MAXX CHASSIS I WANNA USE THOSE PARTS TO MAKE MY EXACT MAXX I GOT WHICH IS BRUSHLESS. WITH STOCK CHASSIS. BUT NOT 4 LONG

[loony Tmax]

Jang i don,t get it so is your chassis back on line for production? if so great i have one as soon as they are ready, but all the post here seem to be old ones exept for the last two so please explain cos i must just be a bit slow on the up take here!!!
Why is the bad news post still pined to the top if its all good to go again AH what am i missing here??

[The JANG]

I have no idea what MechP was saying there, and this post was dug up from the dead. I'm going to move it away permanently, soon.