Project Venom: Crawl Space's Wraith Poison Spyder Build

[Crawl Space]

So now that I've figured out how to post pics on RCC, I've decided to start a Wraith PSC build thread!

In this thread I plan to:

• Show upgrade processes
• Assess upgrades
• Report rough pricing
• Report benchmarks
• Encourage other Wraith builders to post
• Post LOTS of pics

Since I've already done a few upgrades, I'll list them now.

• Moved battery up behind firewall (free)
• flipped shockmounts on both axles (free)
• Swapped in 14t pinion & 87t spur ( ~$9 )
• replaced steering linkage (~$18 )
• replaced stock servo (after stripping output gear) (~ $20 )

Running budget: ~ $47

[forty2]

FYI - If you put a lowercase "L" after the imgur link location, right before the ".jpg" it will make your pictures smaller and much more manageable for forum viewing.

So changing "imgur.com/qpQgFi9.jpg" to "imgur.com/qpQgFi9l.jpg" will give you a photo like this:

[Crawl Space]

Thanks bud, they were showing up normal sized on my browser, but I use safari. Fixed them!

[Crawl Space]

Next step: Castle BEC ( ~ $20 for BEC and $5 for connecters/wire $5 shrink wrap pack)

Running budget: ~ $77


I decided to make a modular "BEC cable" with EC3 connectors so I can switch it between different vehicles. Plus, the battery to ESC connection was quite short to begin with.







The finished cable!



Pulled the positive lead out from the ESC plug and convered it with shrink wrap.

[Crawl Space]

Forgot to list the 14t pinion and 87t spur that I installed prior to plugging in a battery for the first time - wanted to get some useable crawling torque out of the stock 20t.


More upgrades coming soon...

[drunkyoda]

nice man. how long have you had it?

[Crawl Space]

Originally Posted by drunkyoda

nice man. how long have you had it?

Thanks man, had the wraith for about 3 weeks. It has been super fun to drive, even in (almost) stock form. I am seriously addicted to crawling now and plan to make Project Venom a competitive class 3 crawler. Stay tuned...

[Crawl Space]

Update - Solar 772 was a dud so nitrorcx is shipping another one and don't want the original back - they have awesome customer service!

In the meantime I got the BEC programmed to 7.4v and stole the hitec 7954 from my LNC for the time being

Coming soon...




As well as a body mod and some assembled shots and hopefully some running footage...

[TheScaleAddict]

Originally Posted by Crawl Space

Update - Solar 772 was a dud so nitrorcx is shipping another one and don't want the original back - they have awesome customer service!

In the meantime I got the BEC programmed to 7.4v and stole the hitec 7954 from my LNC for the time being

Coming soon...




As well as a body mod and some assembled shots and hopefully some running footage...

Can't go wrong with Beef Tubes.

[Crawl Space]

Originally Posted by cephas

Can't go wrong with Beef Tubes.

Yeah, I'm exited to plug em' in. BTW, how did you get ahold of my picture for your avatar?



Pics as promised!! Will try to get running footage this weekend.

[TheScaleAddict]

Originally Posted by Crawl Space

Yeah, I'm exited to plug em' in. BTW, how did you get ahold of my picture for your avatar?

Didn't you know.... I'm batman...

[Crawl Space]

[TheScaleAddict]

As long as we're being funny and off topic....



Or perhaps we are on topic... Black and Yellow Paint Scheme???

[Crawl Space]

Wow, that was hilarious. Thank you for that.

Originally Posted by cephas

Or perhaps we are on topic... Black and Yellow Paint Scheme???

Not black and yellow, but the clues are already here. And not a superHERO.

[Crawl Space]

Ok, enough funny stuff - back to the technical side of things.

Here is a sort of benchmark video of Project Venom with all the upgrades mentioned above (no beeftubes or ar60 axles yet).

It's not an exciting fast paced video with loud music. It's a benchmark.

Part I



Part II

[Crawl Space]

Got a little help from "the man" himself on the install last night

Oh, and the Busch was a random gift from the downstairs neighbor





Beef Tubes $28

AR60 cvd's $36

Running Budget ~ $141

WOW, what a difference in steering! AR60 = possible single best improvement.



Ok, I want to hear from all you class 3 wraith enthusiasts! What should my next upgrade be?:

A) OD/UD gears

B) High clearance lower links

C) Scale accessories (this is my driver's vote)

D) ???!?!!!??

[TheScaleAddict]

MMP & Pro4, then let the carnage begin. "Build" it as it breaks. ;) I suppose it really depends on what the end-game is for this build.

[Crawl Space]

Originally Posted by cephas

MMP & Pro4, then let the carnage begin. "Build" it as it breaks. ;) I suppose it really depends on what the end-game is for this build.

I think you are confusing Marvel supervillians



MMP & Tekin are on the list, but not the priority. I will have to go MIP + 32p robinson racing and cannot afford $X00+ for a single upgrade right now. I'm thinking ~ $50 or less (links, tires, knuckles etc...) though I might be talked into a vanquish stage 1 kit.
My end-game is a very competitive technical class 3 crawler (not a G6 or king of the hill vehicle YET) I'll probably be all brushless eventually, but not for a while...

So with that in mind... WHAT NEXT?? I'm open to all suggestions!

[TheScaleAddict]

VP Stage 1 would be a VERY good idea. However, if you're pinching pennies, I would skip the Stage 1 Kit and buy the cHubs and Knuckles separately and skip the lockouts. The lockouts really don't make that much of a difference. Especially if you end up with a set of creeper bob's ti shafts in the rear and you have beef tubes. That extra inch isn't going to make a difference at all at that point, given the strength of the tubes and the axle shafts.

I would begin on the transmission and drive shafts next, piece by piece, working up to a solid power splitter. (6mm outputs, MMP drive shafts, Super Shafty Top Shaft, HR hardened steel gears, Robinson 32p slipper, VP case, Fast Eddy bearings, etc).

OD/UD is great for slow crawling on the rocks, but if you plan to take any long trail runs, G6, or like/otherwise, expect high motor temps and other issues which stem from the strain that it will put on the drive train. Should you go that route, I would suggest going with the 38 in the front rather than the 36. It would be less caustic in the long run. As for lockers, my next build is getting Locked Up RC's FI Spools. No screws seems like a better design to me. I've had grub screws back out and strip tangs, even while using RED thread lock. I would have never believed it, had I not experienced it myself. I've heard really good things about the FI Spools. What's more, they're REALLY reasonably priced at $18 each!

[Crawl Space]

Great advice - I'm leaning toward VP Chubs & knuckles. It's about time I did something functional AND cosmetic