Associated 80950 RC8B4.1e 1/8 Scale 4WD Electric Off-Road Competition Buggy Kit

The next evolution of the RC8B4 eBuggy is upon us. Team Associated engineers sought to lower the CG and weight and improve handling on un-groomed outdoor tracks. The heart of the buggy is the new RWB/FWB adjustable weight bias chassis design. The innovative system allows the driver to run either configuration with the motor rearward for more traction, or shift the center diff and flip the center dogbones to run motor forward for more steering.

The suspension is overhauled with new front and rear low-CG shock towers and shorter shocks, along with new 3-hole rear suspension arms that allow for softer shock and spring while still maintaining support in the fast turns. The new wide base rear hubs come in three fixed axle heights and use 3mm carbon fiber hub towers to allow several different geometry options.

Lastly, the buggy comes with 92mm universal joints, 44/13 bevel gears, and a 46T molded spur gear for the most grip and smoothest power delivery on un-groomed outdoor tracks.

Features
New RC8B4.1e RWB/FWB adjustable weight bias chassis design to tune rear grip vs. steering
New low CG and lightweight aluminum front and rear shock towers
New shorter 16mm front and rear shock bodies for lower CG and lighter weight
New 6-hole 1.4mm front and 1.5mm taper rear machined shock pistons included with emulsion shock cap seals
New 3-hole rear suspension arms with updated rear anti-roll bar geometry for both smooth and bumpy tracks
New blue aluminum front upper arm mount for added durability
New molded RC8B4.1 front bumper with optimized profile for bumpy transitions
13-44 Ring and Pinion Bevel Gear Set
92mm universal driveshafts with 17mm outdrives
Updated Soft Blend suspension arms for maximum durability in cold weather
New +1 aluminum steering block arms for sharper steering on low grip

Legacy Features
RC8B4e centralized drivetrain and chassis configuration optimized for shorty-style batteries only
Two battery trays included with adjustable stops for battery position adjustment
RC8B4e 25mm wide hook and loop strap per battery tray for easy battery hold-down
RC8B4e ESC tray with protective shield has unique position for 2x2s and 1x4s battery setups for ideal weight bias positioning
RC8B4e receiver box with built-in servo mounts has integrated cable routing and increased volume for fitting taller antenna-less receivers
Wire routing clips included for clean wiring of batteries and motor with sensor wire
Two-piece clamping motor mount which can shift to the forward or rearward location to support FWB or RWB.
Innovative new pivot ball front suspension geometry improves steering balance and provides predictable handling in all conditions
RC8B4 8deg. steering blocks are paired with a wider upper suspension arm pivot for increased stability and consistent steering through the entire steering throw
RC8B4 gearboxes are included in the latest hard material used on RC8T4: Front gearbox features a 3.5 deg. inclined pinion gear angle to straighten the center driveshaft for increased drivetrain efficiency and reduced phasing and vibration. Both gearboxes feature large bearing sizes, 6x13x5mm flanged bearing results in longer life of bearings and ring and pinion gears.
RC8B4 rear chassis brace has several design features and flex options: Rear brace is mounted centrally to the gearbox, and has two screw locations through the chassis to tune flex.
RC8B4 front upper suspension arms, now in soft blend material. Includes an optional molded "wing" insert for increased front-end downforce.
RC8B4 front lower suspension arms, now in soft blend material . Updated design for added durability. New angled, one-piece, anti-roll bar link is mounted in-line with the anti-roll bar with a BHCS instead of a shock pin for simplified assembly. Optional inserts mount to the top only.
RC8B4 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 on the rear shock tower.
RC8B4 rear wing has more vertical fins for increased straight-line stability, a taller rear lip height for increased downforce, increased strength in various areas to reduce bending fatigue, and dimples on the backside as a template for cutout holes
RC8B4 steering bellcranks with top-mounted steering rack for extra clearance around gearbox assembly
RC8B4 aluminum steering rack designed around the updated front end geometry is lightweight and durable
RC8B4 steering bellcrank nuts are longer to reduce drag from the steering rack under flex
RC8B4 steering servo linkage features a new heavy duty threaded ball-and-steel screw joint
RC8B4 A and B blue aluminum suspension arm mounts are shaped to interlock with the chassis
RC8B4e carbon fiber front top plate centralizes the front chassis brace for balanced flex in all directions
RC8B4 front chassis brace is the same length as the older chassis "short" version for ideal front-end flex
RC8B4 front body post is recessed into the front top plate and the reversible design is easy to mount
RC8B4 spring cups and shock rod end design has a locking screw to keep the cups in place during a crash
RC8B4 steel shock standoffs
Large diameter, Low-Profile SHCS are used throughout the buggy to replace a traditional screw/washer system. Used on the servo mount, and rear body post
96.5mm rear and 104mm front center dog bones with 3x14mm pins for increased drivetrain efficiency
RC8B4 two-piece rear body post features a rubber grommet to allow some flex to extend the life of the body
RC8B4 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
Standard wheel hex sizes include a "+0" mm front and rear
Standard anti-roll bar sizes include a 2.2mm front and 2.5mm rear bar
RC8B4 Gamma body and window mask. Includes three different style of gearbox noses: a traditional nose cone, a mid-height wing, and tall-height wing.
44T ring and 13T pinion gears on front and rear differentials
RC8B3.2 split center diff mounts with aluminum center top plate
16mm shocks equipped with white front (9.25 coil) and pink rear (12.0 coil) springs, emulsion style shock bladder, combination bleeder/emulsion caps, and blue aluminum threaded collars.
RC8B3.2 narrow C and D arm mounts

Due to ongoing R&D, photos may not match final kit. Vehicle shown on these pages equipped with items NOT included in kit: Reedy motor, battery, ESC, servo, receiver, wheels, tires, body, and pinion gear. Assembly and painting required.

Vehicle Specifications
Power Source: Electric
Terrain: Off-Road
Body Style: Buggy
Scale Size: 1:8 Scale
Assembly Level: Kit*
Length: 486mm (19.13in)
Width: 304.5mm (11.99in)
Wheelbase: varies
Weight: varies
Internal
Gear Ratio: 3.38:1
Drive: 4WD

* 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 sized electric RC car motor”(#27405-27406 Reedy Power Sonic 866 Buggy Motors)
1:8 scale sized radio control electronic speed control (#27007 Reedy Power Blackbox 850R Sensored ESC or #27008 with Programmer 2)
2- or 3-channel radio/transmitter
Batteries for radio-controlled car radio
2S shorty LiPo Battery Pack (2 needed, recommended for lowest CG) (#27382 Zappers SG5 7.6V 6400mAh Shorty LiPo or #27374 Zappers DR 7.6V 6100mAh Shorty LiPo)
4S LiPo Shorty Battery Pack (1 needed) (#27390 Zapper SG5 15.2V 6300mAh Shorty LiPo or #27371 Zapper SG4 15.2V 6100mAh Shorty LiPo)
1:8 scale buggy tires
1:8 scale buggy wheels
CA (cyanoacrylic) glue (#1597 recommended)
Polycarbonate-specific spray paint or polycarbonate-specific bottled paint and airbrush
Thread-locking compound (#1596 FT Locking Adhesive recommended)
Needle-nose pliers
Hobby knife
Reamer (#1499) or hole punch for making holes in body
Ride height gauge
Steering servo (#27153 RT5012A HV Digital Competition 1:8 Servo)
Other helpful items: Silicone Shock Fluid. Silicone Diff Fluid. Body Scissors (#1737 FT body scissors recommended). Reamer (#1499) / Hole Punch. Shock Pliers (#1675 recommended). FT Hex Wrenches: (#1518, #1506). FT Nut Drivers (#1519 recommended). Hobby Knife. Needle Nose Pliers. Wire Cutters. Calipers or a Precision Ruler. Turnbuckle Wrench (#1114 recommended).