Let’s not forget about that servo. Be careful when you remove the top plate, as you are liable to loose the bump steer spacers on the bellcrank. Luckily for me I had my trusty CowRC Work Mat under it to catch them.

Savox servo installed. Ready for the track!

This is pretty much the only shot of the truck I got trackside.

So, all the changes are made. Unfortunately I do not have lap times to compare vs. when it has stock shocks on it. I did make a CRC club race with it in this form, but failed to make any complete laps all day. I was dealing with electronic gremlins. The truck kept shutting off a lap or so into the run. I thought it was the switch on the ESC, so I eventually cut that off and direct connected the wires so that it was always on when I plugged the battery in. This is not uncommon with this speed controller.

Heat 2 came up, and even with the switch removed it did the same thing. It turned out to be the wires on my AMB personal transponder began to fray at the receiver plug and we touching each other when the wires moved. This caused a short and shut off the receiver. I went inside the hobbyshop and bought a pack of lead ends and wired up a fresh end onto the AMB and then it worked flawlessly.

For the main, it was all working. I started in the way back of the B main because I basically hadn’t run all day. I made it like a 1/2 lap before one of the screws holding the lower rear shock to the suspension arm backed out and fell out. Admittedly, what I used was probably questionably too short, even though I did use locktite. The 1/2 lap I did have on it though, I was able to blow by at least 5 trucks in one of the best starts I’ve had in a long time. I was super bummed to end my day like this.. with no results to show. I ordered a SS screw kit from Trick Parts that night, and should have no problem with having to use a screw that’s narrowly too short again.

I did however get to run the Short Course Nationals with the truck in this configuration. It really is 100x better than when it had stock shocks on it. Since it was a different track, laptimes don’t hold up either.

In conclusion, this was a step in the right direction. The shocks make it handle amazing, the electronics allow it to drive a lot smoother, and are faster with better response time.

Stay tuned for Stage III, coming up soon!