RC10T4 Factory Team build

[R6cowboy]

Been collecting parts for the past couple months to build a Factory Team T4 from scratch. Finally got all the parts, hardware and whatnot, so the logical thing to do before I start slapping it together is to down a few captains and create a build thread... right...?
Back in July the original plan was to turn my T4.3 RTR into a Factory Team truck, but that idea was quickly booted out the window because its my favorite basher. And if I were to build a FT truck it would just sit on the damn shelf and would only be ran when/if going to a track. So shortly after starting to collect parts I thought it would be a good idea to find a T4 "parts truck" for the pieces that the FT and RTR share. Nope, as soon I got the "parts truck" I immediately wanted to make that one an "on-road" T4 truck. Therefore plans changed again and I ended up collecting all the parts to complete the FT truck (seen below) and a box full more parts for the on-road unit and the T4.3 RTR.

[Frankentruck]

Wow. Seeing an entire build as the retail bagged parts is awesome. I should tell my wife that I want to do that for our next family car.

[MarkyDents]

Very kool, looking forward to seeing this one come together.

[R6cowboy]

The use to be T4 "parts truck" did come in handy for the FT truck though, because it came with a brand new set of JConcepts Bar Code tires and white AE wheels. Also sourced T4.1 and later front axles from the parts truck, which was the only parts I couldn't find brand new. The LHS had the earlier style T4 front axles and hubs so I got those as replacements for the on-road T4.

As far as the body goes, I know the pre-painted factory body is kinda lame, but the two bodies in the first post are T4 RS bodies and the blue one is very similar to one of the first Factory Team T4 box art bodies. So going to remove the decals and replace with what would've been on the FT truck. Not to mention new clear Associated T4 bodies have vanished from the face of the earth.

Couple pics of the on-road T4 & T4.3 new parts/upgrades and the on-road T4 in it's current state.

[R6cowboy]

Wow... forgot all about this. While reaching for printer paper underneath my work desk, just noticed the T4 FT box I picked up a while back to go with the truck. Dementia here I come.

[RC10th]

Looking forward to seeing the progress of this, the last of the AE rear motor trucks.

Try buying half those parts today with what people are asking plus B4/T4 stuff is starting to dry up so certain things are getting hard to find.

[andrewm707]

love my t4 ft
takes a beating for sure
looking forward to seeing this build

[R6cowboy]

Looking forward to seeing the progress of this, the last of the AE rear motor trucks.

Try buying half those parts today with what people are asking plus B4/T4 stuff is starting to dry up so certain things are getting hard to find.

Tell me about it. Luckily for me, my small hole-in-the-wall LHS had at least half of all those AE parts in the pics I posted in stock (10 yr old stock). The total cost spent for this endeavour, well I honestly quit counting at a certain point where it started getting silly... and I actually found really good to pretty good deals on about 80-90% of everything. But yeah, I did have to pay ridiculous prices on a few parts. The cost did mold into having two complete trucks, a handful of upgrades for the T4.3 and a good amount of spare parts.

Thanks everyone for having some interest in this deal. Got a little bit of progress done tonight. Hoping to finally having something to contribute to BOTM, even though this will be quite dull compared to what regularly gets entered.

[R6cowboy]

Wow. Seeing an entire build as the retail bagged parts is awesome. I should tell my wife that I want to do that for our next family car.

Well Ed, that's a... mmm... how do I put this... yeah just a horrible idea, please don't do that

[MarkyDents]

Wow. Seeing an entire build as the retail bagged parts is awesome. I should tell my wife that I want to do that for our next family car.

Well Ed, that's a... mmm... how do I put this... yeah just a horrible idea, please don't do that

[juicedcoupe]

Wow. Seeing an entire build as the retail bagged parts is awesome. I should tell my wife that I want to do that for our next family car.

https://youtu.be/uErKI0zWgjg

[R6cowboy]

Front end together and part of the rear done tonight. Front A-arms were a bit tight so shaved a hair off of the area at the front of the hinge pin and that freed it up. Ball diff and trans went together and moves smooth as butter. Realized the only new spur I have is a 77T which is for the T4.3, so it's in there temporarily.

[R6cowboy]

Roller is together.

Some details of the truck:
FT carbon pieces are; carbon chassis, front top plate, rear chassis brace, steering rack, front and rear A-arms, front and rear shock towers.
Carbon fiber battery strap and rear hub towers.
FT blue titanium front and rear turnbuckles.
FT blue aluminum pieces are; servo mounts, bell crank, front bulkhead, front hinge pin brace, ball stud washers, wheel hexes and locknuts, top plate washers, front and rear shock bushings, motor plate, rear 0.5* hubs, battery strap thumb screws.
AE & AVID ball bearings throughout (bell crank bearings included).
FT CVA axles
FT V2 slipper
FT V2 threaded shocks w/ AE silver springs.
JConcepts Bar Codes tires on AE 2.2 wheels.

[Frankentruck]

Was axle hex drive optional on the T4, or did only the later versions have it?

[R6cowboy]

Was axle hex drive optional on the T4, or did only the later versions have it?

I'm using the T4.2 axle setup. The T4.1 and earlier axle setup didn't use the wheel hexes. I do have T4/T4.1 axle setups but that's going to be used for the on-road T4 I plan to build next.

Just FYI, T4/T4.1 also use different front steering blocks than the T4.2/T4.3. Also, the T4.1 and B4.1 use different front axles (because of truck vs buggy wheels), but they do have the same steering blocks.