Description

PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES
1:8 scale off road racing is one of the hobby’s most challenging disciplines; it requires a high standard and demands attention to detail. The latest development to come from Associated Electrics’ Area 51 is designed to push boundaries of performance and build upon the number of accolades accumulated by the RC8 series. (See the listing of notable wins in Manuals & Setups.)

This vehicle needs extra parts to make it operational. Click on the Specifications link to see what extra equipment you’ll need to make the vehicle operational, such as motor and battery pack.

Due to ongoing R&D, photos may not match final kit. Vehicle shown equipped with items NOT included in kit: All electronics, pinion gear, body, wheels, and tires. Assembly and painting required.

RC8T4e Team Kit Features

Four battery configurations to choose from:

• Two 2s shorty “saddle pack” LiPo batteries for lowest CG and exceptional weight bias
• Two 2s full size “saddle pack” LiPo batteries for using capacity batteries
• One 4s shorty LiPo battery for simplified setup and more centralized weight bias
• One 4s full size LiPo battery for simplified setup and ability to use your existing batteries

Innovative front-end geometry with reduced kingpin inclination steering blocks places the wheel pivot in the center of the front tire for increased stability and consistent steering through the entire steering throw

• Paired with a new wider upper suspension arm pivot

New gearboxes are specific to front and rear:

• Front gearbox features a 3.5deg. inclined pinion gear angle to straighten the center driveshaft for increased drivetrain efficiency and reduced phasing and vibration
• Rear gearbox features a 0deg. pinion gear angle and center mounted rear chassis brace mount
• Both gearboxes feature larger bearing sizes over RC8B3. Switching to a 6x13x5mm flanged bearing (from a 6x12x4mm non-flanged) results in longer life of bearings and ring and pinion gears
• Reduced hardware on anti-roll bar cap for easy assembly and maintenance
• Increased strength in common areas of part fatigue; particularly around the pinion gear and outer cap bearing fitment

Updated front upper suspension arm design

• An added molded hinge pin bushing to reduce slop and increase suspension dynamics

New rear wing mount has adjustable wing angle shims, significant strength improvements, an aerodynamic shape, and extra clearance for shock position adjustment

• Two wing height options are available to tune the rear downforce
• Three wing angle positions: 0, -2, and -4 deg.
• The improved design also secures the wing mounting nuts so that they will not spin in the mount
• The four wing mount screws into the rear tower access from the rear end of the buggy for simplified maintenance

New rear wing has more vertical fins for increased straight-line stability, a taller rear wickerbill height for increased downforce, increased strength in various areas to reduce bending fatigue, and dimples on the backside as a template for cutout holes

• Two wing buttons are included for additional tuning options: the first is a traditional one-piece flat button and the second is a vertical stabilizing fin for even more straight-line stability

New rear chassis brace has several design features and flex options:

• Rear brace is mounted centrally to the gearbox, which reduces material fatigue, centralizes shear forces, and improves the life of rear end drivetrain parts
• Has three different chassis flex options using two chassis hole mounting locations
  Use both screws (most rigid)
  Use one screw, long location
  Use one screw, short location (most flexible)
• The upper brace joint has two flex tuning options at the gearbox
  With included molded inserts that prevent twisting and only allow flex along the centerline pivot of the brace
  With optional turnbuckle ball for flex in more degrees of freedom
• Removable insert to customize the amount of flex in the brace

New +1mm offset rear hub features a symmetrical left and right common design with axle height inserts for adjustable roll center tuning

• The standard bearing size used is an 8x16x5mm flanged but the hub will still accept 15x21x4mm bearing for CVA axle tuning options

New two-piece clamping motor mounts make for secure mounting and allows for mounting of a 30 mm motor fan

• The gear mesh is adjusted from the bottom of the chassis, just like RC8T4

New +2 mm taller front shock tower design with updated suspension geometry and body mount positions for all styles of truck bodies

• Run a single centered body post mount for “bruggy” type bodies
• Run two offset body post mounts for traditional “truggy” type bodies
• Run an included top plate mounted body post for bodies utilizing “buggy” front end mounting points

New longer shock shafts and shock rod ends

• 35.5mm front and 44.5 mm rear shock shafts
• 0 mm, +2 mm, and +4 mm shock rod ends are included for tuning droop and up-travel for various shock positions

Other New Features

• New steering bellcranks with top-mounted steering rack for extra clearance around gearbox assembly
• New aluminum steering rack designed around the updated front end geometry is lightweight and durable
• New steering bellcrank nuts are longer to reduce drag from the steering rack under flex
• Updated steering servo linkage features a new heavy duty threaded ball and steel screw joint
• New A and B blue aluminum suspension arm mounts are shaped to interlock with the RC8B4 chassis
• New RC8T4e specific 7075 aluminum hard anodized chassis features updates to strengthen the front and rear droop tab areas and an increased width along kick up area
• New upper suspension arm link mount is significantly wider than RC8B3 series, providing the required geometry for the new reduced KPI steering blocks
• New front chassis brace is the same length as the “short” version from RC8B3 for ideal front end flex
• New spring cups and shock rod end design has a locking screw to keep the cups in place during a crash and has improved material; the same tough material as our 1:10 rod ends
• New front shock bushings are 1.5mm longer than RC8B3 shock mounts
• New rear shock bushings are 4mm longer than RC8B3 shock mounts
• Large diameter, Low-Profile SHCS are used throughout the truck to replace a traditional screw/washer system
• New exhaust hanger mount and spring
• New carbon fiber radio tray brace for repositioned steering servo
• New 152mm rear center and RC8B4e 104 mm dog bones (used on the front) with 14mm pins on are now standard equipment for increased drivetrain efficiency
• New rod ends have improved thread engagement, slotted area for easy turnbuckle wrench access, and are made from a same durable material as our 1:10 rod ends
• New CVA axle has a “stub” design with retainer sleeve to capture pin and uses two 8x16x5mm flanged bearings (the same as the RC8B3 universal axle setup)
• New 131 mm CVA bones used on all four corners
• New rear shock tower features two built in wing height positions; the RC8T4e “low” is the same height as the RC8T3 “high” and RC8T4 features an additional +5mm height option by adjusting the wing mount adapters, all easily accessed from the rear end of the truck
• Standard anti-roll bar sizes include a 2.2mm front and 2.4mm rear bar
• Standard shock spring setup includes a yellow 5.7 lb/in rate front and red 4.7 lb/in rate rear spring

RC8T4e TEAM Legacy Features:

• +2deg. steering block arms
• V3 differentials with 46T ring and 10T pinion gears for improved gear ratios
• Includes new updates to HTC sun and planet gears with removed pocketing to extend diff life and improve gear mesh and remain more consistent over long runs
• RC8B3.2 side guards that thread into the chassis from the top side of the car
• RC8B3.2 split center diff mounts with aluminum center top plate
• RC8B3.2 shock caps with stiff molded bladders
• RC8B3.2 narrow C and D arm mounts

No body is included with RC8T4e kit. Racers can use AE #81324 RC8T3 body or choose from a variety of current bodies from aftermarket companies.

Vehicle Specifications

* This vehicle comes as a kit and must be fully assembled by the user. Electronics and/or an engine/motor may be required.

Required to Complete

• 1:8 scale Radio-controlled car electric motor
• Speed control
• LiPo battery
• Radio control battery charger (suited for the battery mentioned above)
• 2-channel RC car surface transmitter and its batteries
• 2-channel receiver
• Steering servo
• Pinion gear
• 1:8 Body
• Wheels and tires
• Lexan(R) specific spray paint for body
• 1:8 scale off-road wheels and tires
• Other helpful items: Silicone Shock Fluid, Silicone Diff Fluid, Body Scissors (#1737), Reamer / Hole Punch, FT Wrench Set (#1519), Hobby Knife, Needle Nose Pliers, Wire Cutters, Soldering Iron, Calipers or a Precision Ruler