The '91 IFMAR champ had a very (perhaps most) unique suspension geometry during that era. For a variety of reason AE never released that exact design but the influence ever since is undeniable. Based on comparing photos of the B4 and '91 Stealth the similarities are very evident. I understand that the B4 has the widest track (ROAR specs) and I wonder if the same can be said of the WC Stealth car? Furthermore, the rear end looks almost identical as well.
Makes you wonder why it took so long for those particular design elements to make it into full scale production
Looks like the B4 might have slightly longer arms but tough to say for sure. The shocks are also at a steeper angle on the Stealth but that can of course be adjusted.
There was a Radio impound podcast last year with Cliff Lett where he talked about this. He said that many things from that car finally made it into production. That car was where they got their current arm length from and having equal length arms all around. They also learned shock mounting locations on that car so the front mount hole on the arm probably lines up with one of the current locations. The shocks behind the tower were also an obvious trait. The front end high geometry never made it since it didn't work well on every track. Probably due to the high center of gravity. If you compare the arms of a B3, B4, B44, and B5 you'll see that the arms are all the same length with the same shock mounting locations. It has now become the most copied geometry with other manufacturers.
Just had a chance to listen to that Podcast. The '89 Stealth car became the B2 and the '91 became the B4. Interestingly enough the original Prototype used at the Detroit warm up was really fast but then in Cliff's words "they lost the mojo" when they started building the 15 cars for the actual World's. The caster block geometry was the issue and maintaining a low COG. After many years of additional R&D that became the B4. Cool stuff
fredswain wrote:The 91 Stealth car is my ultimate want list buggy. I'm sure that goes for many people.
I think a replica can be built with the chassis being the easier part while the suspension is a real challenge. I need to find a good CAD modeler who's preferably experienced with R/C. I figure that a combination of my CC car/RPM front end in conjunction with B4 specs should hopefully result in a fairly close front end design. I think the hardest part will be the front end caster blocks. Very few photos and none with the wheels removed that I know of.
That car is the R/C equivalent of a Ferrari 250GTO
Rootdown4594 wrote:so since the B5 is based on the B4 and the B4 is based on the 91 worlds car, the B5 design is 23 years old!
Pretty much. Back in the late 80's-early 90's they had the R&D budget. Nearly all focus was on building the next World Champ 2WD. The RC10T was the only other off-road product; no Nitro, 1/8th scale, 1/10th 4WD, etc. Seems like relative stagnation in design, mainly just subtle refinements.
I still wonder where the T2 came out of and why that platform was only used for the T2. The T2 platform is like a highly refined RC10. I wonder if there were plans for a buggy to be released based on the T2 platform and something just didn't happen. What if the worlds car was actually suppose to be based on the same platform as the T2 and they just didn't get it polished enough to send it into production or to be used as another stealth car at the worlds?
It seems odd that after the two stealth cars they "regressed" so to speak back to the worlds car.
The T2 is like this neat little stepping stone between the RC10 and the B2. It's the only truck platform that's not based on a buggy platform. They created all that tooling for production for one generation. That doesn't usually happen.
Rootdown4594 wrote:I still wonder where the T2 came out of and why that platform was only used for the T2. The T2 platform is like a highly refined RC10. I wonder if there were plans for a buggy to be released based on the T2 platform and something just didn't happen. What if the worlds car was actually suppose to be based on the same platform as the T2 and they just didn't get it polished enough to send it into production or to be used as another stealth car at the worlds?
The trans and chassis are the main differences, nose and suspension were all the same. The chassis was too long and the trans ratio was too low for a buggy so those items would be new pieces anyway. I feel like a B2 would and should have been a T2 style buggy but for some reason it never happened. We do build a lot of them around here tho and they are a sweet "what if"
Rootdown4594 wrote:It seems odd that after the two stealth cars they "regressed" so to speak back to the worlds car.
"We race what we sell" might have had something to do with it. Those cars were developed for a specific track and while the rest of us drooled over it we could not buy one. It's good marketing to show that your current car is capable of winning
It's time to stand up to the bully. Support the companies that support the industry, not the ones that tear it down. Say no to Traxxas Factory Works website
Interesting thread and cool history. One thing I'm confused about though: why does that car say Yokomo all over it? Was it not an AE car? What am I missing?
I hadn't planned on showing this until I had a complete roller....but since it's slow....
I decided to build this one as a what-if car. If they chose the stealth car platform and made it available, there would have likely been a champ and a team...
Well, I threw a bid in on this car--and just forgot about it, figured I could salvage a few parts off it for one thing or another. And of course, I didn;t expect to win it with the bid I had in-
Turns out that this little bugger needed.
New rear...
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Really, and this is odd for me--I kinda like the scratches on this one. All the parts are pristine it's like someone built it, took it for 1 run then forgot about it.
I was a little worried one I realized I won it ( :oops: 3 days later :oops: ) but...
Hey guys, I recently installed a B4 top shaft in my black pan RC10T SCT conversion and my old B2 so I could run the updated slippers. All was well until last week when I was at the track and the truck's 2.25 Stealth started binding up. I pulled the...
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A good wire brush works good for cleaning out the gears too. i do that every time i clean the transmission and i also use it for cleaning the spur and pinion gears when they get dirt in the gears.
I need some advice, I just picked up this A stamped goldpan, originally I was going to powdercoat and drill for a stealth but upon seeing the A stamp now i'm not so sure. One other thing that troubles me is that there are many scratches in the...
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I've got the CRP collars shown in the first pics that I won't use and they do fit the associated shocks, I may consider selling them if there is any interest in them, they are in great shape, also may consider trades for a chassis or parts.
Hey all...new to the forum here.Been wathcing for a while but finally reg'ed.Question is about the Stealth.Does anyone know if the new (newer) versions that they put in the AE's now are the same as the ones from BITD?? :idea: :?: I know the basic...
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Except for the topshaft and some diff internal parts, they don't share any parts, but the designs are so similar you could probably build one using a manual from another version.
I have been looking on ebay but they have been going high. I currently have 6 gear trany. I want to go stealth to prep the car for brushless. What are all the parts I need? Since so many items have been discontinued it has been hard...
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it will cost double (or more) to piece one together than it would just buying a complete one on ebay.