Well got hit with the racing bug

[Zac_F71]

Was out at Full Throttle (510) Raceway in Foley MN yesterday with a couple friends and was watching the stock 2wd buggy class with interest.. so much so that I want to build a buggy, get some practice and start racing around mid January..

I wasted no time this morning, after not getting home til 1am from the track (1.5 hour trip 1 way from me) and searched for a 2wd buggy.. after having a TRF201 and relizing the lack of USA support for parts ect.. I knew not to get that..

My friend I go to the track with has a Team Edi. B4.1 that is well very fast and well sorted.. and after having a SC10 and loving it - I knew it had to be AE

Searched for about 30-45 minutes on eBay and found the best deal to be a B4.1 worlds roller scored it for $170 shipped with a AE 2.4 radio/ AE servo, big bore shocks, and a bunch of parts..

My plan is to race in the stock buggy class (17.5t). once my offer was accepted I searched for a brushless combo that was of quality, had to be name brand, and most of all cheap. An hour or so search came up with the best deal = Novak Club ESC/17.5t combo brand new for $104 shipped, and then on to bearings. It was a no brainer for me having used Fast Eddie Bearings on my Losi XX/XXX to go with him.. $22.50 for a full rubber sealed kit

The B4 I got has hex mount in front and pin drive rear, so I will probably swap back to the stock bearing in wheel style axle as I feel it is a nicer setup than the 12mm hex..

I have a Turnigy 5000mah/60c 2S battery, Savox 0252 servo, Racers Edge power cap, and RC10 decals waiting for it

The body (hopefully it fits with the +8mm chassis) will be an AE Interceptor, and will be done Florecent Orange, with re-re 1984 RC10 decals.. yes a retro RC10 I feel it's going to be AWESOME

I will post pics when I get the buggy this week, and may sell my 2wd Slash to fund this build so it can be done by mid December to get at least 3-4 Sunday's in a the track to get used to the track itself..

[yellowdatsun]

The B5 guys bash it, but the B4 really is a great car. I have one, along with various other track worthy vehicles, and the B4 will keep up with most other cars out there. You'll like it. Grab spares now before the B5 totally eclipses everything.

There's no real weak points on the car, but a set of front arms is a good idea to have. If you run clay, put a sticker sheet on the bottom so the car doesn't "stick" when it bottoms out after a jump. Be careful with aluminum screws, don't put them in high stress places, as they tend to break off and render the piece garbage.

Pre-painted bodies are usually on ebay for real cheap, probably because some people are clearancing out parts to make way for all the B5 stuff.

The B5 front shock tower wing, mounts to the B4 shock tower, and actually does make a slight difference. Not huge, but noticeable.

I just upgraded mine to the big bore 12mm shocks.

Don't bother with a big bumper, as it always strips out the mounting holes, just keep the mini bumper on there.

[Zac_F71]

Thanks! I will probably get a spare set of front and rear arms!

[Zac_F71]

Great news! My local track follows ROAR rules and ESC's must be spec (or blinky mode) = no timing advance so I can run the Novak setup!

[Zac_F71]

Well I splurged over the xmas holiday! I bought my friends B4.1 Team Edition as I got took on the "worlds kit" I bought from a 13 year old on eBay.. (an expensive parts buggy)

SO I bought my friends roller for $250 - came with a few spare parts, 2 sets of brand new tires, and 2 high discharge 2S lipo's.. On top of being in VERY good shape LOL

I will be tearing it down tonight, will post pics when I start reassembly!

I have bought -

Turnigy 4200mah 65c-130c 2S shorty pack Lipo
Spectrum DX2E 2.4 radio
Associated FT Aluminum Shock Ball End Blue
Associated Body Clips Metallic Blue Short (6)
Robinson Racing Pinion Gear Aluminum Pro 48P 24T
Associated Blue Anodized Self Threading 4-40 Locknuts
Associated Shock Caps 12mm
Associated Battery Pads
Associated Rear Axle Wheel Spacer
Associated Factory Team Chassis Weights 1/4
Associated Silicone Shock Fluid 27.5 Weight
Associated Rear Dish Wheel White
AKA Racing Tire Gluing Kit w/Glue & Bands
Associated Shock Rebuild Kit 12mm
Associated Shock Piston Assortment 12mm
Associated Front Dish Wheel White
RPM Heavy Duty Rod Ends White
Associated Battery Spacers RC10B2
Novak Black Cooling Fan 25x25x10mm 2mm Mini Plug
Associated Molded Gear Cover Clear B4/T4
Associated Factory Team 2WD Offroad Rear Ballast Weight
Associated Mounting Hardware 12mm
Associated Chassis Protective Sheet
DE Racing Chassis Brace Associated B4/T4
Associated Rear Soft Spring Kit 12mm
Associated Milled Motor Plate Black
Associated Factory Team Center Drilled Axles
Lunsford Racing SD Titanium Turnbuckle Kit
Associated Driver Clear RC10
Associated Front Soft Spring Kit 12mm
JConcepts Dirt Webs 2.2" 2WD Front Tire Gold
JConcepts Dirt Webs 2.2" Buggy Rear Tire Gold
Associated Factory Team 4-40 Aluminum Locknut
Associated Posi-Lock Quick-Change Pin Retainer
Associated CVD Rebuild Kit
Associated Bearing .187x.500x.196"
Associated Factory Team Axle Shim Kit
MIP Ball Diff Rebuild Kit
Associated Titanium Nitride Shock Shaft 21x3 x2
Associated Titanium Nitride Shock Shaft 27.5x3 x2
Associated Shock Bush (Comp) B5

[klavy69]

Ebay will do that to you. Sounds like I'd be getting my $170 back even if its minus shipping but thats just me...tight . Especially since I bought a b4 kit for about 100 bux awhile back and still haven't put it together. But then again its not the b4.1 and I have no real clue about them so good luck. Got a helluva lotta stuff goin on in this one

Todd

[Zac_F71]

Well I'm back with another update..

Got a fair bit if work done on the B4.. still waiting for parts though sadly.

rebuilt a solid 90% of it, got it wired and working after finding out the reciever I bought won't work with the Spectrum DX2E transmitter, so I stole the SR300 out of my Losi XXX..

I replaced the arms with the new one's as they had play, and plan on tearing it back apart here to replace all the hinge pins with Lunsford pieces, as some are hard to install/remove..

I got the shorty lipo, and must say it is TINY lol. I got the battery leads hardwired in, bound the radio, fired it up, programmed the ESC, has no reverse, but it all works! I need to figure out how to get the buggy lighter yet I think as it's gained some weight from the front hinge pin mount, added the rear ballast weight, and added a fan to the ESC, which itself is mounted above everything.. which I may raise a bit more so I can tune the weight distribution of the battery a bit more - it can only move about 3/8" right now

My other B4 from ebay came with Big bores, so I ended last night by rebuilding and installing them - had to reuse the black plastice pieces as the rebuild kit's white pieces did not fit the front shocks, but got new O rings and a good cleaning - went with 1.5 pistons all around, 30wt front, 27.5wt rear, green springs rear (2.0lb/in), and we'll see front as I don't have them yet (looking at Brown or Black)- and I may change the pistons here not sure- I am running the rear sway bar as well so that will play a huge roll as well, and I'm not sure if it's legal even so we'll see hopefully it is..

PICS!

The race body as the decals were crappy quality!


PARTS!


Electronics mounted


Big bore rebuild!

[Zac_F71]

If I'm going to attempt to be competitive I have to get serious.. a diet is in order - SO

Ordering -

Ballistic red wire low resistance stator ($25 shipped NIP on eBay! ($50 retail)
Savox 1252MG low profile servo (61g Airtronics I have now vs 44.5g Savox)
Orange RX receiver
MIP puck drive CVD's (was going to buy new lightweight stuff anyway and this was $10 more + reduces parasitic loss by 50% alone)
MIP aluminum main gear shaft
V2 clutch vented discs
Lunsford titanium hinge pins
JConepts CF front shock tower
JConcepts silent speed 69t/75t spurs (which I have some dirty tricks in mind for)
AE TiNi coated ball studs (less friction)
AE Interceptor body - more aerodynamic than stock body
AE B2/B3 screw sets (3 aluminum screws sets to replace steel screws)
AE 12mm big bore spring cups (3 sets of 4 different depths, and lighter than the one's I have)
Few factory team carbon fiber spare parts
Travel bag/pit mat/ DT pit stand (wanted one for awhile LOL)

And I will have another team edition B4.1 buggy to build and sell to recoupe money!

[yellowdatsun]

The blue aluminum front arm hinge plate is a VERY good upgrade. I bought one myself after breaking the stock one. The only weak spot on the B4 is in the front H-arm and hinge pin area. The other soft spot are the C shaped caster blocks, buy at least one spare set, or maybe 3, they tend to break.

I've been running 4wd front tires (Prime slicks) to use on our clay indoor track, and the width of the 4wd tires makes a huge difference. Not sure if it's legal, but Kinwald was running them at SRS a few weeks ago.

I also run shorty packs, and have the esc mounted in the battery tray behind the battery. I believe Mayfield was the first to do this on his B4 a few years back. Keeps everything low and centered. It kinda tucks back in there quite nicely. I made a small plastic plate to mount the esc power switch over the tranny. It's an excellent spot that doesn't get hit, and can be accessed with the body on.

Added a little weight, also ala the top dogs in 2013. Some in the back, a little up front.

If your car doesn't already have the hex wheel front upgrade, using SC10 stuff, that's another upgrade I'd recommend. Along with the +8 chassis. The B4.2 came with the +8. Mine was a B4.1 that had already been upgraded to some 4.2 specs, like the chassis.

The car handles *very* well now. I'm extremely pleased.