Here's the GCM CrossCanyon AEV Brute build page.
We wanted to make up a different, but useable Jeep rig using our CrossCanyon chassis, and we decided on a custom built AEV Brute for a mentor. This link will show you the original Brute made by AEV Motorsports.
Running on 1.9's, Olive drab painted wheels and black reversed rock rings and Flat-Iron tires, we put together this Brute. Here's how it went together.
Beginning with the CrossCanyon frame, we built up the required Axial Racing parts from their ARTR crawler. This includes the bent links on the front as shown, the y upper link, the straight links in the rear, and the y upper link there also. We used the frame on the outside of the links, and simply installed all this with some round spacers on the shock towers to accomplish a solid chassis setup ready for a gearbox. After the basic electronics were installed, the body was ready for fitment, and we began by locating the position of the scale interior on the frame.
At this time, we removed the top of the body behind the front seats, and began mapping out the side tubing rails. The tubing was made to fit the 12.45 wheelbase we set up on the frame, and the body was trimmed to fit the tubing at a later time. This body had front and rear bumpers molded into the shell, and we removed these along with the fender lips before fitting the tube work.
The side tube work was attached to the rear tube bumper and the front bumper/skid plate with copper-phosphorus welding, and fitted with brackets for the frame rails. All of these setup welds were re-done with steel mig before finishing and painting.
The rear of the truck was prepped for the finished deck and rail, and the interior panels were set up for the lower mounting of the rear window frame.
The full tube work on the exterior was finish welded and ground to clean corners, and then finally installed.
With the paint on the body, we did a final assembly check to get the mount points for the shell and check the electronics fitment. It was all a go, so now to the final details.
The wheels we picked for the initial build were the Axial 1.9 beadlock rims, and they got a paint and star-cut foams in the Flat-Iron tires. We installed the windows into the painted shell and finished the paint and assembly of the 2 seat interior.
This Brute Build was recently re-built with the GCM Transfer Case and front AXIAL motor mount plate, as shown below. The vehicle handling and component placement is as easy as ever, and has proved even more capable on the rocks! This is our favorite setup yet. What was once a JK wrangler 4 door is now a replica AEV brute based on a CrossCanyon frame. The rails are perfect for bumper placements and make an easy setup with the Axial driveline parts. Here's the final product.
