TheLetterJ
RCC Addict
I've been running my Capra on 2.2"s since I built it (Oct 2019) and decided it was still driving too similarly to my dialed-in Wraith. I decided that 7lbs 4oz was too heavy and that I needed to put the Capra on a diet. I just swapped out my aluminum beadlocks for a set of the new orange Crawler Innovations 6 bolt wheels and glued my Ibex's on. I lost 20oz off the car in the process (there was a wrap of weights on each front wheel too) which is a big step in the right direction, BUT all that weight loss came from down low and my car handles like chit again. Currently sitting at 5lbs12oz without battery, 6lbs with. I'd like to see it at least 1/2-1lb lighter, but perhaps more importantly, with a lower COG (it did drive nice and predictably before), but I'm not sure how realistic that goal is while still looking like a Capra?
I've been thinking about switching to 1/8" titanium upper links and 3/16 titanium lower links, but that's pretty much smack dab in the middle of the car. Might be able to shave another 6oz or so that way... if nothing else, I suppose that would at least allow me to add a little more weight down low while maintaining current weight. I'll pull the empty fuel cell too, but it's lighter than it looks and I'll want to add a brace in its place between the rear shock mounts. I already have a flat skid (roughly 9mm higher) and trx4 shocks (roughly 7mm lower, softer springs have it sitting even lower still) to bring the cage down without losing belly clearance. I have 95g knuckles and 36g covers on the front along with a Treal 7075 billet front axle housing (~2oz heavier than stock) No weights of any kind on the rear. My battery is 4oz, and I'm running a Mamba Micro X and HH Puller Pro stubby, so there's not a lot to be lost there. OD front ring & pinion, UD rear ring & pinion keep the suspension sucked down pretty well, and also help keep the front end down when climbing, but it still very noticeably wants to backflip on climbs that it made before, while having nearly the same front-rear weight bias as before.
All that said, what are some clever ways to drop some weight from up high so that I don't have to add (as much) more down low? The goal is to still use the Capra cage... for now at least.
I've been thinking about switching to 1/8" titanium upper links and 3/16 titanium lower links, but that's pretty much smack dab in the middle of the car. Might be able to shave another 6oz or so that way... if nothing else, I suppose that would at least allow me to add a little more weight down low while maintaining current weight. I'll pull the empty fuel cell too, but it's lighter than it looks and I'll want to add a brace in its place between the rear shock mounts. I already have a flat skid (roughly 9mm higher) and trx4 shocks (roughly 7mm lower, softer springs have it sitting even lower still) to bring the cage down without losing belly clearance. I have 95g knuckles and 36g covers on the front along with a Treal 7075 billet front axle housing (~2oz heavier than stock) No weights of any kind on the rear. My battery is 4oz, and I'm running a Mamba Micro X and HH Puller Pro stubby, so there's not a lot to be lost there. OD front ring & pinion, UD rear ring & pinion keep the suspension sucked down pretty well, and also help keep the front end down when climbing, but it still very noticeably wants to backflip on climbs that it made before, while having nearly the same front-rear weight bias as before.
All that said, what are some clever ways to drop some weight from up high so that I don't have to add (as much) more down low? The goal is to still use the Capra cage... for now at least.
