RC10B4 and RC10B4.1 differences. Always something to learn.

[Alan_r]

In my quest to complete my RC10 collection, I'm always looking at cars on Ebay, Craigslist and others looking for those rare, missing models. Most are pretty easy to identify in pictures. For example, it took me some time to fully understand the differences between the RC10 Graphite early and late, TQ10 early and late, and then the Team Car Graphite. But lately something that I thought would be simple has proven to be extremely difficult. In pictures, I'm having difficulty spotting the difference between the RC10B4 Factory Team and the RC10B4.1 Factory Team. The Rc10B4.1 World's is easy because of the big bore shocks. But the standard bore, B4 and B4.1 look almost identical. Even the "Evolution of the RC10" has not helped. For a time, I thought the circular molding mark on the bottom was different but lately I've seen verified RC10B4.1's with and without this mark. It's hard to judge by the slipper as this is often missing or changed. So, for the experts, if you were looking at two cars, both without bodies, both without slippers, how would you know the difference between the B4 and 4.1?

[mk-Zero]

I don't know the answer, but you can probably figure some of it out from AE's website of the b4 and b4.1 FT versions

B4 FT: https://www.teamassociated.com/cars_and_trucks/RC10B4/Factory_Team/

B4.1 FT: https://www.teamassociated.com/cars_and_trucks/RC10B4.1/Factory_Team/

from those links you can download their manuals and look for differences in part numbers.

From the description of the 4.1 it sounds like it got v2 shocks and different rear hubs as changes from the b4, but you would have to verify part numbers in their manuals.

All that having been said, I'm sure some of the guys on here with encyclopedic knowledge of these cars can answer you question easier the you can look it up, lol

[Alan_r]

Hello Mk, yeah I've studied the crcap out of every piece of documentation I can find. I've got a B4 Factory Team I just restored and a B4.2 Factory Team I'm working on. The B4.1 seems easy to find but I've already come across a few that were listed as B4.1's but turned out to be B4's after I questioned the seller. I just can't lock down how to tell the difference. The standard bore shocks look the same to me visually between the two. My B4 FT has threaded shocks on it as well. It's very possible that the B4.1 just had the new slipper and a few bolt on's. This may be one of those "you can make a B4 a 4.1 just as easily as you can make a 4.1 a B4" kind of thing. From what I can tell, there were not any major changes until the +8mm chassis and the big bore shocks. The mold circle in the bottom of the chassis got me though. I always thought it was only on the B4 chassis. But lately I've seen it on B4.1's. This collection has been difficult mainly due to all the "owner" modifications that were done to these cars over the years.

[mk-Zero]

From the AE website it sounds like the 4.1 got bleeder caps on the shocks as well, that would be very easy to see. Although you could also find a b4 that someone had upgraded the shock caps on too. The only way to know to know for sure you were getting one would be to find a sealed 4.1 FT, but you'd have to pay a lot probably, if you could find one.

[yellowdatsun]

The B4.2 has the big bore shocks, the hex front hubs, and the +8mm long chassis as standard.....I believe.

[Alan_r]

Yellow D, as far as I know, that is correct. Makes them easy to spot. Determining the difference between the B4 and non World's B4.1 has proven much more difficult. I picked up a clean as advertised, B4.1 Factory Team tonight so I'll be able to look more closely soon. To be honest, looking at the two pictures offered with it, it looks exactly like my B4 Factory Team. MK brought up the bleeder screws in the shocks. I think I can see the bleeder screws, positioned inwards, on the car I just bought. Hopefully that's the case. Luckily, they are still fairly common, so if it's not, I'll keep searching. This collection has been a very challenging and fun quest. I'm getting closer!

[JonW]

Hi there, hope you don't mind me commenting here. I recently built a new B4.1 and as mentioned before, the bleeder shock caps, the two piece hubs and the new cvd's were the only differences that stood out to me. I have both instruction manuals here so I will post anything else if I spot it.

[Alan_r]

Hey Jon, thanks. I have a B4 Factory Team, a B4 Team Car, and an RC10B4.1 Factory Team in front of me. I think you guys are exactly right. The only real difference between them are the bleeder caps. I don't know where I got the molding mark idea from....must have read it somewhere. That may have something to do with the plastic vs carbon chassis identification. I've got the manual's for the B4 but not the B4.1, physically. This all brings me to another question. Was the B4.1 World's with big bore shocks released after the B4.2? I know that sounds strange but it's listed that way on the AE website, Evolution of the RC10. Those kits can still be found new as well. This has been an awesome quest, I hope to one day get some photos of them all together to show. All clean runners, restored down to the correct screws and washers, but with mild modern power.

[mk-Zero]

Are the rear hubs not also different between the 4 and 4.1?

[Lonestar]

from memory (I had both), main mods to the B4 to make it 4.1 were
- +8mm chassis
- threaded, bottom loader shocks with bleeder screw top cap.
- much much much lesser quality plastics
- and my memory might betray me but I believe different shock tower holes (more inside, iirc)

If a B4 has threaded, bottom loader shocks, I'd say they've been added afterwise.

Paul

[mk-Zero]

+8 chassis didn't come till the 4.2

[Lonestar]

and you are correct. the B4.1 was released in 2010,


http://www.redrc.net/2010/07/associated-b4-1-factory-team-kit/ (has a list of upgrades)

but the +8 option came after the vasaa worlds, which took place in 2011...

https://www.teamassociated.com/parts/details/9636-ASC9636-b4_8_mm_conversion_kit/

(now I remember I bought my +8 chassis as a spare to fit to my existing B4.1)

we're getting there

[Vale]

B4 vs B4.1

- shocks (v2 since 4.1, big bores on 4.2)
- chassis, even on the standard lenght chassis (non +8)...i rember that the b4 body didn't fit perfectly on a 4.1 (non +8) chassis. Same for some brass weights for the rear chassis slots: those i used on the b4 didn't fit on the 4.1
- front bumper bigger on later cars
- gear cover
- wing mounts are beefier on later cars
- slipper
- 4.1 came with aluminum hubs on the rear
- updated cvd's on 4.1
...