Lavigna's Wraith Build
 

Hey all. I have been lurking around a little over the last couple years, but just recently became a member. I don't know why I took so long.

I have a Poison Spyder Wraith that I am currently building. I have had it for a couple years, but have hardly used it. Recently I have started to build it up the way I had meant to from the beginning. I recently moved the battery forward, and that has made a huge difference.

I have a lot planned for this truck. I am waiting on some ordered Vanquish axles. Still trying to choose a set of wheels and tires. There are so many I like, I am having a hard time choosing. Still lots planned for this truck, but here are some pictures of how she sits now.








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Re: New Member - Wraith Build
 

Very nice

Re: New Member - Wraith Build
 

How are you having trouble picking tires and wheels? There only 2000 different one to choose from. :lmao:

Re: New Member - Wraith Build
 

I finally got the VP Currie axles. However I was sent the wrong axle tubes for the front. VP was very good, and are sending me a new set quickly. Looking forward to getting it put together with the new gear.

I also added some scale center drives, and limiting straps.

Still deciding on wheels and tires. Any suggestions as to what would look good on this rig?

Re: New Member - Wraith Build
 

looks amazing. Love the paint scheme.

Re: New Member - Wraith Build
 

What is the reason for the raised, flat section on the cover of the Front VP Currie axles? The rear does not have it? I can't figure it out.

Re: New Member - Wraith Build
 

Nice looking rig man.

love my IROK super swampers from RC4WD, look awesome and perform really well too. have them wrapped around RC4WD Raceline Raptors. Spendy wheel but nice though

Re: New Member - Wraith Build
 

1:1 stud girdle


Hang up and Drive

Re: New Member - Wraith Build
 

VP rims, 2.2 methods are still $60 bucks.

Re: New Member - Wraith Build
 

Here are a few progress pictures.

The front end is apart because I am still working on it. I did some minor chassis modifications. I lowered the rear, to give it a bit of a fastback look, without going all the way. I also added a couple cross members across the windshield area.

The VP axles are simply beautiful. I am planning on doing the trailing arm mod as well. Still have a lot of small modifications planned. Crawler builds never seem to be done.

Re: New Member - Wraith Build
 

that is one nice rig thanks for sharing

Re: New Member - Wraith Build
 

That thing is sweet I'm currently rebuilding my wraith. Some some inner fenders would really complete the look. I've always wanted Curries but don't like how they snag rocks and stuff let us know how they work.

Re: New Member - Wraith Build
 

Thanks! Inner fenders is on the plan list. Just deciding which ones.

I was hoping the skid plate would help eliminate the snagging. Oh well, they sure look nice.

Re: New Member - Wraith Build
 

I hope the skids do help, cuz I still want a pair.

Re: New Member - Wraith Build
 

I spent a lot of time modifying the skid plate to accept the TH VP trailing arms. I wanted the center mount to be the same height and length as stock. This meant cutting out some sections on the skid plate, and creating 2 new mounting positions. The end result looks simple, but it sure took a lot of time and tweaking to get just right, without binding.

I still need to create a new rear, upper shock mount location, so I can mount the shocks to the new trailing arms. I also added some headlights, which will have LEDs mounted soon. The tires are just loose on the rims for now, and still lots of small things to finish and tighten down.

Re: New Member - Wraith Build
 

I removed a section or the rear frame so the shocks could be mounted to the new trailing arms. They are currently sitting straight up and down. Is this correct, or should I make a top mount that slants the shocks forwards, similar to stock?

Any suggestions are welcome.

Re: New Member - Wraith Build
 

You could make them slant or just change the spring rate. Also the more angle the lower the truck will sit. Looking good btw

Re: New Member - Wraith Build
 

Ok. I like the way they look with some slant, so I am working on a bracket to add some new mounting points. I want this thing to sit low, so the drop will be good for me.

Thanks. It is easy to make them look good with some Vanqui$h. Their products are amazing. There are so many great aftermarket companies for crawling, it is difficult to decide sometimes.

I'm still trying to decide on wheels and tires . . . ?

Re: New Member - Wraith Build
 

I made some simple upper CF mounts for the rear shocks. The frame prohibits them from being angled forward more, as I would really like it.

I decided on some wheels finally. Will post once I get them.

Re: New Member - Wraith Build
 

VP Rockstar wheels mounted up. I resisted getting these wheels for so long, as they are a little fancy, but I really like how they look on this rig.

Still have lots of small detail stuff planned, but the truck is pretty complete now. If anyone has any suggestions for setup changes they may recommend, please let me know. Thanks.

Re: New Member - Wraith Build
 

The stock ESC crapped out finally. While everything was apart, I decided to beef up the transmission. I added Robinson metal gears and a VP mount. I am keeping the stock spur gear, so it can act as my weak link point.

I got a good deal on a Tekin G2 RX8 ESC. I was thinking of combining it with a Holmes or Tekin ROC motor. Will this be a good ESC for this rig? Is the internal BEC of this ESC enough for a high powered servo?

Re: New Member - Wraith Build
 

Not sure offhand of BEC limitations, but I've got a G2 RX8 paired w ROC 2300KV motor on 2s, nothing too aggressive on gears, pretty close to stock ( if memory serves me.correctly) and LOOOVE me some Tekin brushless goodness in my wraith (11 lbs- tanky lil fella!) Hope that gives you a little insight "thumbsup"

Re: New Member - Wraith Build
 

Good to hear. I have Tekin in many of my other non crawling vehicles, and I love them. Their stuff is ultra smooth and easy to work with.

Re: New Member - Wraith Build
 

Hey Lavigna. Real clean functional looking Wraith you've put together there! The low stance looks good and I'm sure makes it a lot more sure footed. For a first time wraith build you seem to have done your research well. All the right parts in all the right places!

Re: New Member - Wraith Build
 

Thanks for the kind words. I spent a lot of time reading and researching before I bought the parts and made the mods. Thanks again!

Re: New Member - Wraith Build
 

Tekin RX8 and a ROC motor installed. I had a hell of a time making room for the RX8 in a clean layout. I went back and forth between mounting in the front or rear. I ended up choosing front. I created a simple CF plate to mount the ESC and receiver on.

This is bad battery, just for mock up. Once I have a good battery, I will shorten the leads to clean things up. The way the ROC mounts to the VP motor plate barely gives enough room for the wire leads to clear the transmission. Has anyone else had this issue?

I like how the ESC almost looks like a motor under the hood. However it is not linking with the Hotwire no matter what I do, so it is possible it may be bad, which means more soldering.

Re: New Member - Wraith Build
 

Looks very nice, as for the ESC powering a High Voltage Servo, it does appear that it "Should" be able to power 7.4v through the BEC though you'd need the hotwire to set it up. At any rate looking really good, eventually should get my Wraith Spawn RTR setup correctly, I just hate working on it because of all the darn screws I have to go through just to do simple things. Unlike my SCX10.2 which is really quite easy to wrench on.

Re: New Member - Wraith Build
 

Looks like a nice build. Will be watching for ideas!

Re: New Member - Wraith Build
 

Very nice rig! Love the color scheme!

Re: New Member - Wraith Build
 

Thanks for all the nice comments.

I recently added a second link to the servo arm, to delete the long cross link. I am going for a cleaner look, that shows off the beautiful VP axles better.

I am not sure if I like the look better. Any input or suggestions? Dont mind the missing headlight.

Re: New Member - Wraith Build
 

I'm no geometricist, but I think you'll get a little bit of toe in when turning.

Re: New Member - Wraith Build
 

I think you may be right, but what is the reason? I still need to install the panhard kit, so I have not run it yet, but it does want to toe in.

New Member - Wraith Build
 

As the arm pivots it rotates away. This causes the separate links to also raise up and pulls the tires together. May be not enough to matter though.

Re: New Member - Wraith Build
 

This is a awesome looking rig! I use to race a lot of nitro street rc back in the day so i am new to the crawler scene. I will be keeping a close eye on this build because i too am leaning toward building a Wraith. Again man great looking rig keep it up!

Re: New Member - Wraith Build
 

I think I will be putting the front steering back to the traditional setup.

Thanks for the nice comments.

I finally got around to installing the RC4WD F & R inner fenders. Because of the trailing arms and relocated shock position in the rear, it took a lot of fitting and cutting to get them to fit. In the front, it makes the under the hood look nice, as it fills it in nicely. I hope to get some good pictures tomorrow, but here are a couple quickies.

Re: New Member - Wraith Build
 

I have tried this also and what I found with the wraith knuckles and their positive camber (might have wrong term there) anyways, the inside tire when turning doesn't turn as far as the outside and you end up loosing steering radius in the process. You could have made your links longer to counter the toe in you're describing but you're giving up turning radius for "looks"
I would look at getting a panhard kit and a Vanquish tie rod because their tie rod you can adjust the rod ends so it runs high on the axle and out of the way.
Cheers

Re: New Member - Wraith Build
 

I swapped the front links back to the conventional setup. As you say, the steering was less, and it just wanted to toe in. I have a VP panhard kit I need to install. I have been delaying this, as I prefer the look without it.

I was expecting the inner fenders to look more prominent than they do, but I am pretty happy with the outcome. I still want to get a set of 3D printed fenders that a member on here makes. They look so nice. I just don't think I could use his rears, as I needed to cut a lot of material to make these work, and his are much thicker.

Still have lots of ideas and details I want to add, but here is how she sits now.

Re: New Member - Wraith Build
 

I finally added the panhard kit. I didn't really want to put this on, as I didn't like the look of the black clamp on the silver axles. VP doesn't offer this in silver. I decided to strip the anodizing on the clamp piece. The silver is not a perfect match to the axles, but it is pretty close. I think this looks much better than leaving the clamp black.

The panhard link and steering link are not totally parallel, but close enough I hope. Any suggestions on tires for this rig?

Re: New Member - Wraith Build
 

Very good looking rig! Really like it. I have always been partial to the Ottsix Voodoo tires. I have them on my Wraith and they work well for a trail truck that I also do light crawling with. I have also been digging the Proline Hyrax tires. I think both have a great look to them and the Hyrax have been getting good reviews. Whatever you choose, let us know and also the tires foams. I have CI single stage foams and want to make them softer with some Dual stage and am having trouble deciding what ones.

Re: New Member - Wraith Build
 

I am a huge fan of the HPI rock grabbers because of how soft they are to grip any rocks and the V-shaped design makes them alot better in mud than you would expect. They have a bit more roll in fast corners than i would like but thats also just foams. MY only real complaint is how they preform in the snow. They just dig and dig and dig. But i love them anywhere else and would deffinitly recomment them for those wheels. It would look amazing