Project 22 4.0 Spec-Racer

As most people know, stock buggy is a huge class in RC.  The last time I truly ran stock was way back in the brushed motor days, and I wanted to see how the 22 4.0 was affected with various weight saving techniques that are popular on the car.  The biggest thing to do, for me, was to replace many of the stock steel parts with titanium or aluminum counterparts for weight savings and/or additional strength. 

Starting with the easiest items, I swapped out the nuts and shock standoffs for aluminum M3 nuts (TLR336004 & TLR336005)  and titanium shock standoffs (TLR4166) respectively.  This helped me shave nearly 10 grams on simple hardware items.

I also swapped out the stock steel turnbuckles with TLR Titanium versions (TLR334016) and saved another 10 grams, adding strength in the process.

Refocusing my attention to the ever important transmission, I found opting for the TLR Direct Drive System (DDS) saved 13+ grams AND lowered rotating mass as well (TLR332043).

Again, looking to make the drivetrain as efficient as possible, I turned to the SR ball diff and CVDs (TLR232071 & TLR232058).  This saves roughly 13g for the diff, and 7.5g with the CVDs from both static and rotating mass.  Also using the narrow diff gear, I cut down the drivetrain resistance (TLR332064)

Lastly, still looking to add strength and get rid as much weight as possible, I found TLR titanium ball studs are half the weight of steel versions (TLR6030, TLR6031, TLR6032).  While only saving 5g, you also importantly gain strength and a little bit of bling too :).

Adding these changes up saves roughly 60g, making the drivetrain more efficient and increasing the car’s strength.  While all are optional, every advantage in stock is going to help if your driving is already up to task.    Be aware of wiring and electronic setup and you can find the car’s weight is very manageable.

The final “track-ready” weight of my car is 1537g.  This includes using a Team Orion Stock Spec ESC, 5000mAh Ultra LiPo (no skinny pack needed), Team Orion Ultimate Stock 17.5T, and a Spektrum 6240 servo.  I am also using the kit body will full stickers, but I can shave 10g+ by utilizing the Ultra Lightweight body (TLR330008) and another 8-15g with titanium screws if needed.

Thanks for reading!

Kevin King (TLR Team Driver)

Anti-squat and rear shock location 22 4.0

Hello everyone,

This past weekend, I attended race #2 of the TLR Cup at the awesome facility RCE. I did a lot of running/testing both indoor and outdoor and I took notes from running my TLR 22 4.0, and I would like to share the most significant find. I changed anti-squat quite a bit and I ended up running less than normal. I started with 2 deg which is normal for most setups and I went to 1 deg to try to add a little more side grip in corners along with more forward grip. The change did this, but maybe a little too much than what I was looking for. I finished with 1.5 deg and the rear shocks laid in on the stock tower to have the balance I was looking for. So, if you’re in the situation looking for a little more rear grip with added side grip try these two set-up changes.

JR
 #22empire

8IGHT 12 deg front spindle carrier set

Hello everyone,

This week we will do a product spotlight on TLR’s new front spindle carrier set, 12 deg for TLR’s 8/8E/8T 4.0 vehicles (TLR344004). Let’s review the differences between more and less front caster. Less front caster has less initial steering when entering corners, but it should have more mid-corner steering with less corner exit steering. More front caster has more initial steering when entering corners, but should have less mid corner steering with more corner exit steering. I feel the 12 deg spindle carrier helps the car in higher grip situations by not upsetting the car on corner entry and exit. It also gives the ability to steer on power in the middle of the corner. This front spindle carrier also comes with the optional roll center hole, which is an added tuning item that can work with the inter front camber link for optional front roll centers.

 JR #8realm

Stiffezel TLR 22 4.0 arms

 Hello everyone, 

This week we will talk about TLR’s new material called stiffezel. The TLR 22 4.0 comes with stiffezel front and rear arms (TLR334046 front, TLR334047 rear). A nice tuning option is the standard material that is slightly softer then the stiffezel arms (TLR234046 front, TLR234079 rear). I experienced this option at round one of the TLR cup in Omaha switching from stiffezel rear arms only to the standard material rear arms and I found a slight increase of rear grip and stability on the tricky and bumpy surface at the HobbyPlex. I haven’t tested the difference in performance of the front arm material, but I asked TLR’s Frank Root for his opinion and here’s what he had to say: FR “It’s not really a balance change, the car feels like it gains the stability of a heavier car with the stiffezel front arms, without losing the nimbleness of a lighter car.” 

JR 
#22empire

22-4 2.0 flattening

Hello everyone,

This week we’re back from the first TLR cup at HobbyPlex in Omaha, Nebraska, which was a total success and a great event. I can’t wait for the next one coming up quickly May 19-21 at RC Excitement in Fitchburg, Mass. At this past weekend’s race, we (me and teammate Hunter Holmberg) helped teammate and race one winner, Tanner Denney, with figuring out the tweak on his TLR 22-4 2.0. Here recently we’ve found adding a .5mm shim between the rear stock tower and above the right rear anti-squat blocks helps get the car to lay flat (see pic one). After adding this shim flip on your 22-4 2.0 take it over on a flat surface and make sure all four points of both front and rear shock towers lay flat (see pic two). This might require the bottom two front screws for the rear shock tower to not be tightened fully to make this possible.

JR
#22empire