AE Arrma hybrid RC8B3.2e Bash Buggy

[JLspeeddragon]

TLDR, w/ Build details and descriptions
Almost all parts are in for the start of this project.
In the meantime I will be breaking down the F/R assembly and rebuilding with new setup: See Bottom of List.
(Waiting on F/C/R Diff fluids, green slime, Blue Loctite gel, BSI extended glue tips,)

• Pic01: Project start picture.
  • Shown: 44/13 F/R Diff gear set, F/R HD Diff Gear Box, Avid 3.2e Bearing set & Ball Stud shims,all replacement shims, spacers, gaskets, etc..
  • Not Shown: Associated +2mm Offset 17mm Hex nuts, 6x30 Wheel Adapters ( 2.8 for Mohave & 1/2" offset). Covering all bases for the additional width from the tires)
• 3D printed Arrma 6S Assembly boards(3.2e - 4e design in process)
  • Link to the Assembly Board STL file for DL / Print
• Pic02: All parts cleaned and ready for Disassembly
  • Used the Best stuff.. Simple Green
• Pic03: Chassis Bottom before
• Pic04: Chassis Bottom after
  • Tools Used: 5" Oscillating palm sander, and hard foam Block sander.
  • Started with grit 280> 400> 800> Finished block sanding with 1000.
• Pic05 & 6: New tires / wheels compared to Arrma Buggy wheels (approx same dia. & W as 1/8 Buggy race tires/wheels)
  • Wheels: Pro-line 6x30 2.8" x 47mm
  • Tires: 2.8 Talon EXT, 117mm x 51mm
  • BSI IC-2000 RC CA Tire glue (extended tips still in route)
• Replacing all shims, spacer, gaskets,
• Rebuilding shocks, and Diffs.
• Motor/ESC for install.
  • HW EZRUN Max8 G2 + 4278 3-6S Motor.
• Setup Sheet I will be following for the build.
  • Tyler Fenster, Track: dirt, dusty, damp, low grip, rough
  • About the closest I could find that approx. relates to the basic outdoor bashing scenarios.
  • I will start with F/C/R to 12.5/15/15 due to slightly larger/wider tires with more bite.
  • Will adjust up/down as necessary / needed..

 

[Steve B in Vegas]

So you're building a Nomad DB-8.?

 

[JLspeeddragon]

I plan on upgrading the composite 46 Center Diff to their Steel version when money / time becomes available to me.. Already dropped a couple hundred into the start of this build so need to spread out the money in / out flow..

So you're building a Nomad DB-8.?

Nope.. I'm going to still run an E buggy body on it, just doing an overhaul on it from my previous racing days setup to Basher style ..
There were many restrictions for off road race legal from where I was racing out in the pacific northwest coast area..
Since I've moved back home area, no race tracks in the area worth driving 2 1/2 hours+ away.. So gonna make it a basher with NO restrictions .
Basically it will be an Associated 1/8 Buggy version of the Arrma Typhon 6S.

 

[Steve B in Vegas]

Ok, carry on. We are running the Max 8 4272 on 6s with our Nomads and it has been excellent.

 

[JLspeeddragon]

F/C/R diffs rebuilt and installed into the new HD gear boxes.
Gears are
F 44/13
C 46T going to start with a 16 pinion
R 44/13
It's going to have some serious spunk, even at 4S!
I went with 20/20/12.5 for the fluids for now.
Next will be breaking down / rebuilding the F/R assemblies to the setup I have linked in the OP. I may swap it to Spencer Rivkins instead.
Pic is a bit of a mess lol... Never been to OCD....

 

[Losimotoguy973]

nice job i have a losi eight 3.0e that im eventually going to turn into a basher

 

[JLspeeddragon]

nice job i have a losi eight 3.0e that im eventually going to turn into a basher

That's awesome! The only difficult part for me was tracking down the wheels and tires for mine. I wanted to keep the same diameter as race tires, just slightly wider. The selection for 2.8" wheels with 17mm hex and low profile wider off road tires is scarce.

I did my damnedest trying to track down some proline F-11 2.8"s, but only choices are outside U.S. with stupid high shipping. So I had to go with the 2.8 6x30 raid wheels instead.

I already knew I'm going to have to run extended hexs and or offset wheels for the tight turn radius this bug has...
Let me know when you decide to tackle it

 

[JLspeeddragon]

Update:
Spent the day yesterday building the front and rear assemblies.
Today working on the tires and wheels getting them prepped and ready for gluing. Tires are taped on the inside using gorilla tape.
Vent holes are leather punched out.
Wheels and tires glue bead area have been sanded.
Getting ready to rub them down with alcohol and start the gluing process. Wish me luck!

 

[JLspeeddragon]

Update:
Tires are glued up and setting for the day to fully cure.
Front assembly installed onto the chassis.
Was in process of getting ready to install Rear assembly and this happens!!!

Damn threads broke off!
Now I have to wait till next Tuesday sometime for the new ones to come in! GRRRR!!!

 

[JLspeeddragon]

The Pro-line 6x30 hex adapters came in...
This buggy is gonna be bonkers!
I may put the original stock 17mm hex nuts back on (0 offset). Currently with the+2's...

 

[JLspeeddragon]

Updated details and pictures from yesterdays work on the Buggy.
I had pre-ordered complete set of Avid bearings for the Kraton EXB and the RC8B3.2e buggy for this project build.
Installed the Arrma Kraton EXB rear hubs.
Had to swap pivot balls from a spare set of Arrma turnbuckles into the RC8B3.2e turnbuckles to fit into the rear hub. Almost perfect fit! slight tension but it will work its way out.
Rear Hub minor mods:
RC8B3.2e hinge pins are 3.5mm, Arrma 4mm. I used a piece of .5 nylon tubing to shim to fill the void and remove any play. Held in place by the 3.5 adjustment spacers.
Will have to slightly sand off top inner of the hub to allow the 2.8 wheels to fit without rubbing.
Installed the 2nd Arrma Kraton EXB front steering hub.
Used all the Kraton EXB parts on this process.
Replaced many of the Flat & Button head screws with Socket heads where I could apply them.

 

[JLspeeddragon]

Today's Progress:
Rear Assembly grease sealed and installed on the Chassis.
My Spektrum 6S V5 ESC came in while working on the buggy.
Adjusted front steering some (still needs some tuning)
Got the Electronics installed and bound to my Flysky G7P.
Grease sealed around the receiver box.
Everything I can I grease seal to help with water resistance / proofing.
One of the motor fans does not work so will have to deal with that Saturday.
Went OCD mode on the wiring.
If you have followed my Talion build, then you will notice the wire clips.. These things are amazing help!
I have illustrated where I have placed them all to help keep the wires organized and out of harms way.

Saturday's plan..
Hopefully the Typhon driveshafts will be in for the install.
Shocks rebuild and install.
Some minor grinding on the rear hubs to allow the 2.8's to fit without rubbing.
Balancing the tires.

 

[JLspeeddragon]

ARRMA / AE RC8B3.2E BASH BUGGY UPDATE..​

The buggy is done!
AE RC8B3.2e Buggy Kit build with the following changes / mods.
RC8B4e Rear shock tower, rear wing mount, & wing
Kraton EXB F / R hubs, and Stub axles.
Typhon Front CVD driveshafts
Mojave Rear Dogbone Shafts
Spektrum 2050Kv Motor / 6S V5 ESC.
Proline 2.8 Raid wheels w/ 6x30 Mojave adapters:
Rustler Talon EXT 2.8 Tires.
DE Racing Front bumper, & F/R skid plates.
I will be prepping the body for painting in the near future.
Bench / road test & tuning coming soon!
The toe in / out looks extreme... It's the camera angle perspective shot.. dumb phone lol!

 

[KnowAir]

Wow! Looks great, nice job! Very creative indeed.
Not a fan of the tires, but that's just me. Do you plan on running 6s? I have doubts the tires will hold up to 6s?

 

[JLspeeddragon]

Wow! Looks great, nice job! Very creative indeed.
Not a fan of the tires, but that's just me. Do you plan on running 6s? I have doubts the tires will hold up to 6s?

I plan on bench testing with the 4S and see how well it works. I did gorilla tape the inside of the tires and also hole punched to prevent ballooning.. I don't have a 6S or pair of 3s to test that yet....

And as far as the tires are, selections were limited for the dimensions I was trying to find that were as close to the same diameter and slightly wider as race buggy tires go without having to purchase complete sets, then having to do an acetone dip.

 

[KnowAir]

I plan on bench testing with the 4S and see how well it works. I did gorilla tape the inside of the tires and also hole punched to prevent ballooning.. I don't have a 6S or pair of 3s to test that yet....

And as far as the tires are, selections were limited for the dimensions I was trying to find that were as close to the same diameter and slightly wider as race buggy tires go without having to purchase complete sets, then having to do an acetone dip.

I understand, I didn't mean to detract from the awesome build you did in anyway. I've just never had a good experience with the Talon tires, cool name, terrible tire, LOL. Hopefully your experience will be better.

 

[JLspeeddragon]

I understand, I didn't mean to detract from the awesome build you did in anyway. I've just never had a good experience with the Talon tires, cool name, terrible tire, LOL. Hopefully your experience will be better.

what was your experience with them? wore down quickly? easily blown out? to much stretch? Any insight would be helpful moving forward to be aware of and if I should look for other tires of similar dimensions, just better qualities.. If necessary I will do the acetone bleeding to utilize better results from other brands with glued tires to wheels.. Just hate the process and clean up..

 

[KnowAir]

I had Talons from a Stampede, they were just too hard a compound to get any grip. The wheels were terrible, broke very easy, though that's irrelevant here. My brother has 2 E Revo's, both of which came w/6s Talons, also very hard compound and very slippy. They seemed to come unglued constantly. I suspect poor prep and gluing from the factory was to blame. For general bashing on any terrain, I suppose they may fill the bill. They wear well since they're a fairly hard compound.
I've had mixed results with TRX tires over the years, they usually keep coming unglued on me until I get fed up and just throw them in a bucket full of acetone. Then they generally hold up pretty good after regluing them up. I put them in the acetone for however long it takes till they fall right off the wheels, then let them dry for a day or two.

 

[JLspeeddragon]

Thank you for the information. These are the Ext version and they don't feel hard, more medium soft, color is very matte. Feel better then the Trax-trash tires I used to have on my old slasher before I kicked it out LOL .
Since I did my own glue up, not worried about that. Grip wise, I think they should be ok as well, won't know till I send it

 

[KnowAir]

Thank you for the information. These are the Ext version and they don't feel hard, more medium soft, color is very matte. Feel better then the Trax-trash tires I used to have on my old slasher before I kicked it out LOL .
Since I did my own glue up, not worried about that. Grip wise, I think they should be ok as well, won't know till I send it

TRX tires are like a box of chocolates.. you never know what ur gonna get, LOL.
Example, I have a TRX Hoss with the Sledgehammer tires, yes they're meaty, chunky knobbies, but the compound is like a stale candy peanut.. yeah, they're flexible, but too hard to get any grip aside from very loose terrain. On blacktop they drive like they're on ice.. However, my brother bought a Sludge, which also came with Sledgehammer tires, much bigger of course, but the compound is way different. I wouldn't say they're soft by any means, but much more pliable for sure, of course they also come unglued every other battery pack, just like the 2.8 Sledgehammers do, LOL.
I have heard good things about the 8s Sledgehammers, so maybe they too are a softer compound than the 2.8? BTW, I guess if you wanted something slightly taller than the 2.8 Talons, there's the 2.8 Sledgehammer available, LOL
Good luck with everything bro!! Let us know how it rips!