Composite Craft RPM '91 Worlds build thread

[jcwrks]

The CC RPM Worlds was based on the '91 Worlds Stealth buggy that AE developed for the loamy Freedom Hill Park track in Detroit that was hosting the 1991 IFMAR Off-Road Worlds. RPM developed the '91 Worlds front end kit for AE team drivers that weren't running a Stealth buggy. It took roughly 18 months to gather up all of the necessary parts for a true vintage CC RPM Worlds. I even managed to score something from Goodwill. No new production parts on this gem. All parts are Made in USA and period correct for 1994. All of the hardware is new from vintage kits and packs.

I started taking pics after I had already started assembly since initially I had not planned on doing a build thread. RPM sells the front & rear Worlds kits separately, but my parts were sourced individually. I also added the elusive RPM steering enhancement kit since I am using the Worlds front end. The Composite Craft chassis and top plate are the "long" version which is roughly the same length as the AE graphite chassis. Lunsford 10T titanium hinge pin kit is a perfect fit with one minor exception; the titanium kingpins are short 6223 which do not fit the RPM steering enhancement kit. I opted to just stick with the steel kingpins in the 7017 kit for now since I was confident the completed build would come in a tad under the ROAR legal weight limit. The CC bellcrank is very similar to the Houge design with some subtle differences. The instructions are identical to Houge.

I have all nos vintage electronics and an uncut mid-90's painted body that I will post up at a later date. This will be finished up as a period correct racer. I'll update the thread as I start adding more to it.

RCCA Dec. 1991 Detroit Worlds article: https://tinyurl.com/5bjw7rma

[MarkyDents]

Fantastic, love me some CC Worlds builds.
Keep it coming

[RC10superfan]

That car looks great with many high-end race parts. I can’t wait for this build

[jcwrks]

Well, it's tranny Tuesday. I have the parts sorted and will start opening everything up if my ocd can lay low for a while. I won't be using the Thorp Stealth slipper top shaft, but I will set it to the side in case I ever decide to swap out the Hydra. It appears that particular 3101 Hydra kit is very early production since the outside housing has PAT PEND on it. I was initially going to use RD Racing aluminum outdrives with notched rings since you rarely see them, but I opted for the MIP Lite Drives since I'll have a few other MIP goodies in the build. Maybe it's also due to the fact it took me about a year to finally find a set, but sadly they weren't cheap so it is what it is.

[jcwrks]

Today was shock tower day. Opening the bags was somewhat stressful since I had never seen the rear tower in the wild. I drilled two upper holes for the rear tower to mount properly to the RPM rear bulkhead. The front bolted up as expected. I'll most likely use 3/4 shcs for the upper & lower shock bolts instead of button head.

[jcwrks]

I decided to do a couple of things this morning. RPM 7089 translucent center link, 7338 translucent white rod ends, and vintage (not the newer retro) 1990 Lunsford Ti turnbuckles. I was careful not to mar the rod ends. Lengths were measured using my Ultra mold buggy.

[jcwrks]

I decided to build the tranny today. Lots of bags were opened up. Low and behold I didn't have the Hydra thrust bearing bag in the pile. Fortunately I had a few spares in my hydra stash bag. Everything went together nicely, and I only had to fight with one of the threaded inserts to allow the 2-56 screw to thread properly.

[sandkil]

Nice clean build
I like the transmission build with the Hydra Drive, Thorp gears and now I know who made the neoprene dust gasket.

[jcwrks]

Fantastic, love me some CC Worlds builds.
Keep it coming

It's coming along nicely. I am fixing to start on the shocks. I've been going back and forth on which parts to use. I'll probably post a shock parts pile by this weekend.

That car looks great with many high-end race parts. I can’t wait for this build

Thanks. It might take several weeks to finish it up. It's been a real treat to build thus far.

Nice clean build
I like the transmission build with the Hydra Drive, Thorp gears and now I know who made the neoprene dust gasket.

Thank you. I forgot to include the ETA red gasket package in the parts pile pic, so I figured that I'd post it as I was building the trans. It's a really cool $2 part.

[GoMachV]

I've been going back and forth on which parts to use. I'll probably post a shock parts pile by this weekend.

HG clear bodies
Paragon jump jets
Mip blue orings
Progressive suspension reservoir shock caps
No oil cause it would all leak out anyway

[jcwrks]

I've been going back and forth on which parts to use. I'll probably post a shock parts pile by this weekend.

HG clear bodies
Paragon jump jets
Mip blue orings
Progressive suspension reservoir shock caps
No oil cause it would all leak out anyway

That's a big "no". I did plan on using Mip blue orings though. I may use the jump jets in my Sassy build since it will have more parts from 1989/90.

It's going to be one or the other.

AE hard ano bodies
Lunsford Ti shafts

Mip bodies
Mip gold shafts

Mip blue orings, black AE aluminum caps, translucent RPM shock accessories, vintage AE oil.

[jcwrks]

Initially I had 4 aluminum crews for the Stealth, but it turned out a few had some heads that must have been abused. I used 4 steel ones because I forgot that I had ordered a bag of Tecnacraft aluminum 4-40x1" screws off eBay last week. I then realized that I forgot to cut the motor plate, so I did a typical angle cut mod. I also bent the RPM motor guard a tad so that I didn't need to shim it.

[mikea96]

Looking good

[LurkingCAT]

Have a similar project that needs the final touch, so this was inspiring. Very fine build and exquisite details!

[jcwrks]

Looking good

Thanks Mike. The build is coming along faster than expected.

Have a similar project that needs the final touch, so this was inspiring. Very fine build and exquisite details!

Thank you. Looking back the technology and quality of these parts is just as cool today as it was in the early 90's. What's left on your build?