We recently posted our LCG Slash 4×4 shootout. This shootout consisted of us taking three stock Traxxas Slash 4×4’s, and slapping on three different LCG chassis to see which one would come out on top. These were all built using the stock electronics, stock suspension, and stock bodies. It showed what you could do by taking an otherwise stock Traxxas Slash 4×4 and slapping on one of the top 3 LCG chassis on the market today. But that was just the first step. Many people who pick up these chassis simply slap on the stock gear and run them like that at first. Then over time they swap the various stock parts out in favor of better performing components. And that’s what we’re doing too.

Here is my result running the stock gear on the SSC Chassis

We already went thru the Stage II upgrades. You can read all about them HERE. Just like with the initial shootout, we took all of the laps and averaged the top 5.This was our result for Stage II.

Those were some impressive gains. Could we improve on those lap times even further? Let’s find out.

With Stage II, we were running the stock shocks, stock VXL motor, a Castle Creations Mamba Max Pro ESC, and the SSC Long Wheelbase Arms. The ESC upgrade gained me a lot more control over the motor, but I was still lacking on power when compared to the other trucks on the track. It is time for that to change.

The Viper RC Copperhead ESC is a 1/10th scale ESC. It will accept a 2S or 3s battery. We’ll be sticking with the 2S battery allowed in the 4wd SCT class at CRC Raceway in Rome NY. While it is programmable through the LED lights on the on/off switch, it is much easier to make changes using the Viper Pro Gauge. This nifty little box does a lot more than program ESCs. It will also give you battery voltages, check prop RPMs on a plane or heli, is a servo tester, and will test your input PPM signal, frequency, and receiver voltage.

Part of the Copperhead ESC Combo is this 550 size, 4 pole, 4500kv motor. The VX4R.45. It is also available as a 5100 kv, or a 540 size 3900 kv motor.

I threw the truck on my Revolve RC Workstation, and set out to remove the ESC and motor.

We removed the Mamba Max Pro ESC first, followed by the motor. Where the motor screws line up when the mount is installed, you can’t really get to it. It’s easier to remove the whole mount.

Here’s the motor mount removed

Now we play switcheroo, and drop in the Viper RC VX4R.45 motor.

To be conservative on gearing out of the gate, I threw on a 12T 32P pinion. This beast features a 5mm shaft, so I had to get some new pinions.

I put the ESC in about the same place as the MMP, trying to keep weight distribution about the same.

This ESC is bigger than the MMP, but still fits nice and cozy.

The switch on the Copperhead ESC is located on a short umbilical. I found a nice spot for it on the top plate of the SSC LCG Chassis.