How To Install the Extreme Heavy-Duty Upgrade Kit on Stampede 4X4
It’s Easy to Take Your Stampede 4X4 to the Extreme with These Simple Mods
When Traxxas says something fits, that means it really fits—as in, you don’t have to make modifications. Just follow the installation instructions and it works. Officially speaking, the Extreme Heavy Duty Upgrade Kit does not fit the Stampede® 4X4—even though all the suspension and driveline parts bolt right on just like in our How-To. The hitch is in the body mounts: the Stampede 4X4’s front body support doesn’t line up with the HD shock tower’s mounting holes, and if you use the HD kit’s body support, the posts aren’t tall enough and don’t line up with the body’s mounting holes. There’s two ways we can fix this, and they’re both easy to do and super inexpensive. If you already have the required tools, we’re only talking eight bucks!
The Extreme Heavy Duty kit actually does fit the Stampede 4X4—you just need to modify the front body mount.
Mounting Methods
Installing the Extreme Heavy Duty kit using the stock front body mount allows the body to fit using the original mounting holes. If you use the HD kit-supplied mount, you’ll need to drill new holes for the front body posts.
Method 1: Modify the stock Stampede 4X4 body mount and Extreme Heavy Duty shock tower
This is the more labor-intensive method of adapting the HD kit, but it’s still easy—and it lets you use the factory holes in the body for the cleanest installation.
This is the more labor-intensive method of adapting the HD kit, but it’s still easy—and it lets you use the factory holes in the body for the cleanest installation.
Step 1: Install the Rear HD Body Support and Stampede 4X4 Rear Body Posts
We’ll take care of the rear body mount first. No mods required here, just remove the body posts from your Stampede 4X4’s stock rear body support and install them on one of the HD kit-supplied supports (it doesn’t matter which, they’re identical) using the inner mounting holes. Note that the posts have slots in them that align with lugs on the body support. Install the assembly on the rear shock tower.
We’ll take care of the rear body mount first. No mods required here, just remove the body posts from your Stampede 4X4’s stock rear body support and install them on one of the HD kit-supplied supports (it doesn’t matter which, they’re identical) using the inner mounting holes. Note that the posts have slots in them that align with lugs on the body support. Install the assembly on the rear shock tower.
Line up the body posts with the body support’s inner holes.
Install the rear body mount using the 3x10 mm screws supplied with the Extreme HD kit.
Step 2: Drill New 1/8″ Mounting Holes in the Stock Body Support
If you look closely, you’ll see there are faint circles between the body mount’s screw holes. We’ll use these as guides for drilling new mounting holes using a 1/8″ drill bit. A drill press is the ideal tool for this job, as it ensures a perfectly vertical hole, but just eyeballing it with a hand-held drill is fine. Let the drill bit do the work, it doesn’t take a lot of speed or pressure to get through the soft material.
If you look closely, you’ll see there are faint circles between the body mount’s screw holes. We’ll use these as guides for drilling new mounting holes using a 1/8″ drill bit. A drill press is the ideal tool for this job, as it ensures a perfectly vertical hole, but just eyeballing it with a hand-held drill is fine. Let the drill bit do the work, it doesn’t take a lot of speed or pressure to get through the soft material.
Use a 1/8″ bit to drill through the stock Stampede 4X4 front body mount.
Place a piece of wood under the body support so you don’t drill into your bench top.
Step 3: Shave the Underside of the Body Support
The mounting bosses that extend below the stock Stampede 4X4 front body support must be removed to allow the support to sit squarely on the Extreme Heavy Duty shock tower. The bosses can be removed with a file, sanding block, or a rotary tool and sanding drum. Remember to wear eye protection if you go rotary.
The mounting bosses that extend below the stock Stampede 4X4 front body support must be removed to allow the support to sit squarely on the Extreme Heavy Duty shock tower. The bosses can be removed with a file, sanding block, or a rotary tool and sanding drum. Remember to wear eye protection if you go rotary.
Remove the mounting bosses (highlighted) so the front body support’s underside is smooth, as shown.
Step 4: Drill 3/32″ Mounting Holes in the HD Shock Tower
Remove the 1/8″ bit from your drill and replace it with a 3/32″ bit. The smaller bit will allow the mounting screws to thread into the towers for a strong hold. Center the body support between the tower’s mounting holes and use the holes you made in Step 2 as a guide to drill two 3/32″ holes in the tower. Drill all the way through the opening in the shock tower as shown.
Remove the 1/8″ bit from your drill and replace it with a 3/32″ bit. The smaller bit will allow the mounting screws to thread into the towers for a strong hold. Center the body support between the tower’s mounting holes and use the holes you made in Step 2 as a guide to drill two 3/32″ holes in the tower. Drill all the way through the opening in the shock tower as shown.
Using the body support as a guide, drill through the tower as shown. Tip: after you drill the first hole in the tower, install a 3x18 mm screw to help you hold the body support as you drill the second hole.
Step 5: Install the Body Support
All we need to do now is install the body support onto the tower using 3x18 mm screws. Avoid overtightening the screws. Once they snug up against the body support, they’re tight enough.
All we need to do now is install the body support onto the tower using 3x18 mm screws. Avoid overtightening the screws. Once they snug up against the body support, they’re tight enough.
Looks factory! Drop the body onto the posts and you’re good to go.
Method 2: Use the Extreme Heavy Duty Kit’s Supplied Body Supports with Posts from the 1914R Body Mount Set
This method doesn’t require any modifications to the mounts, it’s just a matter of configuring a set of accessory body posts. The only modification is to the body, which will need a new pair of front body-post holes.
This method doesn’t require any modifications to the mounts, it’s just a matter of configuring a set of accessory body posts. The only modification is to the body, which will need a new pair of front body-post holes.
Step 1: Install the Rear HD Body Support and Stampede 4X4 Rear Rody Posts
We’ll take care of the rear body mount first. No mods required here, just remove the body posts from your Stampede 4X4’s stock rear body support and install them on one of the HD kit-supplied supports (it doesn’t matter which, they’re identical) using the inner mounting holes. Note that the posts have slots in them that align with lugs on the body support. Install the assembly on the rear shock tower.
We’ll take care of the rear body mount first. No mods required here, just remove the body posts from your Stampede 4X4’s stock rear body support and install them on one of the HD kit-supplied supports (it doesn’t matter which, they’re identical) using the inner mounting holes. Note that the posts have slots in them that align with lugs on the body support. Install the assembly on the rear shock tower.
Line up the body posts with the body support’s inner holes.
Install the rear body mount using the 3x10 mm screws supplied with the Extreme HD kit.
Step 2: Install 37 mm Body Posts and 8 mm Spacers Onto the HD Body Support
The 37 mm posts and 8 mm spacers are included in the 1914R body mount set. Install them in the body support’s inner holes using 3x20 mm screws. Install the support so it sweeps to the rear of the truck.
The 37 mm posts and 8 mm spacers are included in the 1914R body mount set. Install them in the body support’s inner holes using 3x20 mm screws. Install the support so it sweeps to the rear of the truck.
The 1914R body mount set has 37 mm posts and 8 mm spacers that will duplicate the stock body height.Step 3: Install the Body Support Assembly onto the Front Shock Tower
Use the 3x10 mm button-head screws supplied with the HD kit to install the body support. Install the support so it sweeps to the rear of the truck.
Use the 3x10 mm button-head screws supplied with the HD kit to install the body support. Install the support so it sweeps to the rear of the truck.
Use the kit-supplied 3x10 mm screws to install the front body support.Step 4: Mark and Ream New Front Body Post Locations
Marking new post locations in a clear body is easy, but if you’re working with a painted body, it can be tricky—if you don’t know the trick. Dap a spot of paint, white glue, or grease onto the tips of the front posts. Position the body on the rear posts, then carefully lower it onto the front posts (be sure to keep the body centered over the chassis as you lower it). Lift the body off the posts and have a look underneath—you’ll see a dot of paint, glue, or grease where the post touched the body. Use your body ream to make a ¼” hole in each position.
Marking new post locations in a clear body is easy, but if you’re working with a painted body, it can be tricky—if you don’t know the trick. Dap a spot of paint, white glue, or grease onto the tips of the front posts. Position the body on the rear posts, then carefully lower it onto the front posts (be sure to keep the body centered over the chassis as you lower it). Lift the body off the posts and have a look underneath—you’ll see a dot of paint, glue, or grease where the post touched the body. Use your body ream to make a ¼” hole in each position.
We’re using glue to mark the front body post locations. Just put a dot on the tip of each post.
The glue transfers to the body to show where the new holes need to go.
Traxxas body reamers are marked to show the increasing diameter of the tip, so it’s easy to make correctly sized holes.Step 5: Mount the Body and Hit the Dirt!
Mission accomplished, your Stampede 4X4 is now Extreme Heavy Duty. Get out there and tear it up!
Mission accomplished, your Stampede 4X4 is now Extreme Heavy Duty. Get out there and tear it up!
That's how to install the Extreme Heavy-Duty Upgrade Kit on your Stampede 4X4. If you Have a Hoss 4X4, Slash 4X4, or Rustler 4X4, just follow the standard installation guide found here.
