spawn RTR where would you spend $500

[monchan]

So I have a spawn, a tight fisted wife (unbelievably) and my old bank account back home in OZ. (now in japan) So I`m looking to upgrade but to tell the truth I am a bit overwhelmed at the choices.

I only want to shop at rc mart (for this order) as I can pay through my bank account.
my purchase can`t appear on our credit card statement.

After using my wraith for about a month and a half. I use it the most at my local sand dunes, minutes away. And on trails. Not a lot of crawling.
So I will probably go brushless. ( have a 4000kv system in a touring car) might try that later. (bit over kill for what I need but I have it).

I am thinking to get whatever expensive things I need with this $5-600.
and little smaller things I will be ok to upgrade bit by bit over time.

VP linkage set
ssd transmission
Axles, want to improve the scale look of the car as well.
VP V2`s or just get the curries.
GMP axles
Do I need anything else to fit axles? or are they all a straight replacement?
Also not sure about the internals. What HD gear would I need?

Trying to upgrade this is making my head spin. And I dont want to waste money, or get something stupid.

BTW over here on yahoo auction they have a bit of topcad gear going, links etc, should this be avoided? somethings I read say it`s good others not so.

Whats your shopping list?

Thanks in advance.

[tacocat]

Get rid of the dog bones
get spools (hot racing makes great spools and are the cheapest option) and HD gears (same as stock ratio)
If you are running stock wheels get VP hubs and some hexes

Everything else you said sounds good except new axle housings. Your budget isn't big enough for that.

[kingfuzz]

Originally Posted by tacocat

Get rid of the dog bones
get spools (hot racing makes great spools and are the cheapest option) and HD gears (same as stock ratio)
If you are running stock wheels get VP hubs and some hexes

Everything else you said sounds good except new axle housings. Your budget isn't big enough for that.

I have to ask, what is the real benefit from spools? I dont know enough yet about the real reason why people use them or even what they do.

[tacocat]

The stock axial lockers are pretty crappy and break under brushless power in short order. Spools replace the two part stock locker with one solid piece of steel which holds up much better. I've been using the same hot racing spools in my wraith on 3s brushless and they are in the same shape as when I bought them over a year ago.

[68_f100]

Spools take the slop out.

Have you considered the 2 speed trans from rc4wd. I have one and it makes the wraith quite a bit of fun.

[ussprinceton2004]

get MIP driveshafts too

[tacocat]

Originally Posted by ussprinceton2004

get MIP driveshafts too

I disagree the stock drive shafts on the spawn are good to go as is.

[altd896]

If I'm completely honest in your position my RCmart cart would look like this

Springs cos stock is too stiff
Font uni shafts
Clamping C-hubs cos they're stronger & don't come loose on the housing.
Knuckles cos they stronger & the tie rod is raised for clearance
Traxxas revo ends to make new links. find some M4 threaded rod & copy the stock lengths.

Theres a bunch of other stuff I'd want but Rcmart don't have it or not in stock.

[Wehan]

Originally Posted by 68_f100

Spools take the slop out.

Have you considered the 2 speed trans from rc4wd. I have one and it makes the wraith quite a bit of fun.

I second this and LOVE mine, only problem is that a 3ch radio and an extra servo now enters the list.

[monchan]

Thanks for all the replies.
@ altd896 that cart pic is great, part numbers are a big help.
@68 f100 just been watching youtube on the 2 speed looks great, rc mart is out of stock though. might save that for later
instead of the sdd transmission.
@wehan the rtr tx is 3ch, I think will have alook when I get home.

Thanks for all the replys,
It would be interesting to get complete shopping lists like Altd896 no screen shot is ok.
and see everyones basic rig and optimal first upgrades. cheers all.

[Wehan]

Unfortunately the stock radio system is 2 channel tx and 3 channel rx.

As for my rig I just did a bunch of stuff to it and have yet to get it out to test out the modifications but here is the list and a few pics.

1: Wheels/tires. rc4wd stamped steel and Mickey thompson baja claws (tires are new wheels have been used and add some nice weight down low)

2: I HAD Integy (avoid that name when shopping for parts) shocks that worked great but liked to randomly leave a puddle of 35 wt on my bench/along the trail. I now put the stock shocks back on for now but I will be getting the Gmade 103mm piggyback xd shocks and getting the optional soft spring for them (they come with med springs)
3: rc4wd warn winch and wertymade shorty stinger.

4: rc4wd ax2 2 speed transmission; it is absolutely awesome, I run a traxxas 2075 servo on it (overkill)

5: Just installed a Novak Timbuk2 wraith edition with 13.5 ballistic crawler; un tested on the trails but combined with the 2 speed it shows great promise in the living room
6: CCBEC this little blue guy is an absolute no ifs and or buts about it MUST for powering a good servo.

7: Vanquish Ti Link kit (installed last night)

8:Wertymade battery forward plate

9: Mstech short hood pin kit to delete the body screws and add clips (works great but you will loose a clip or 2 every 3rd run so get extra of the locking design)

10: I run a Spektrum dx3s radio simply because I happened into it doing some trading, works great for me.


Please, if you do the math I DO NOT WANT TO KNOW, I'm sure it's over $500 but you said you wanted to see our rigs so here it is.

[monchan]

Thanks for taking the time to post those pics. I think I`m sold on the 2 speed.
Love the body clips too. One thing I`ve realized this wraith is gonna cost more than I
ever imagined and time. Fun though.

With the 2 speed and extra servo, does the interior still not problems?

[Wehan]

Originally Posted by monchan

Thanks for taking the time to post those pics. I think I`m sold on the 2 speed.
Love the body clips too. One thing I`ve realized this wraith is gonna cost more than I
ever imagined and time. Fun though.

With the 2 speed and extra servo, does the interior still not problems?

Not sure on the Spawn interior but it doesn't look promising but the standard wraith interior is supposed to work with a little modification. I pulled my interior when I did the 2 speed simply because all it did was hold dirt and junk and look bad.

For the 2 speed I had to really dial in the servo endpoints and travel as it only needs about 1/4" travel to shift gears, luckily my radio was pretty adjustable in that respect so I would make sure when you look into a 3ch or more radio that it can do this otherwise you will be going through shift servos regularly as they burn out.