> Serpent 960 08 1/8 scale 4WD (#903008) - DISCONTINUED
- Brand:
- Serpent
Product Type:- Gas Cars > 1/8
The follow up to the successful 960-07, the 08 features a number of performance enhancing geometry changes and durability upgrades as well as including some optional parts as standard.
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> Description
Introduction
Serpent is pleased to announce the release of the car that was top qualifier at the 2007 1/8th scale World Championships and EFRA European Championships, the 960-08. Having finished a close 2nd at the Worlds, as well as having won the ultra competitive Japanese National Championships, the 2008 version has already proven its race pace and is now ready to be released.
The Serpent 960 '08 in Brief
The new 960-08 features a new rear end geometry, as well as all new components that includes updated rear uprights, upper wishbone and stronger lower wishbone. The car also sports a new rear body mount mounting system and a new braking system. The front end has also received some upgrades with relocated front anti-roll bar levers, which are now combined with the down stops allowing for easier tweak, as well as new lower wishbones. Other changes include a new stronger fuel tank with rubber shaped lid seal, new chassis plate and the inclusion of a number or option parts as standard such as an engine mono block and aluminium middle shaft bracket.
Rear Suspension
The newly designed rear end geometry provides more rear end grip and which makes the car better under both braking and exiting of a corner. Completely new uprights sport smaller bearings to reduce un sprung weight, 3 upper arm mounting positions and the possibility to use shims for changing the roll centres. There are also new lower wishbones that are now stronger around the pivot pin and pivot balls, while the upper arms have been redesigned to allow the easy adjustment of the camber and camber rise. The final change on the rear end are the new longer body mount arms, that provide more down force to the wheels yet have no binding due to their mounting position.
Front Suspension
The front end has also received some changes with relocated front anti-roll bar levers, that are now combined with the down stops allowing for easier tweak. They have also been moved further inwards, inside the bearing-blocks, which makes them more effective due to less flex. The front lower arms are also new, to accommodate the new front anti-roll bar position, and have been made stronger with more material added to critical areas.
Steering Blocks
Included in the Serpent 960-08 kit are these Wide offset (WOS) steering blocks that feature a different offset to the previous kit versions, the blocks can be used in 2 different configurations by swapping the side of the car they are mounted on. These changes, depending on the side the steering blocks are used on, will either give you more turn in on corner entry, or more on power steering at corner exit. The included eccenters ensure that the axle is raised higher than centre line, which enhances the effect caused by this new configuration and due to the use of eccenters the bearings are now also smaller and lighter, reducing un sprung weight.
Adjustable Wheelbase
Due to the new front wishbone configuration, it is now possible to very easily adjust the car's wheelbase through the placement of 1 upper and lower caster clip on each side of the car. The previous version of the 960 required placing a 3rd spacer between the wishbone and anti-roll bar lever when adjusting the wheelbase but this extra step has now been removed.
Rear Body Mount
The rear body mount on the Serpent 960 '08 can be connected in several different ways to increase or decrease the downforce transmitted from the body to the rear wheels. There are now new longer body mount arms, that are mounted to the rear uprights at axle level which provides more down force to the wheels. The whole assembly is also free from binding, meaning there is no restriction of the movement on the suspension.
Rear Anti-roll Bar
The rear anti-roll bar on the Serpent 960 '08 is ball-raced for extra precision and more accuracy when you change the setting of the, newly upgraded softer, aluminium adjustable anti-roll bar which comes as standard in the kit.
The anti-roll bar push rods have two possible mounting positions on the lower rear wishbones, these providing further tuning possibilities.
Adjustable Rear Roll Center & Camber Rise
On the Serpent 960 '08 the rear roll centre is adjustable through the use of offset composite inserts, which position the wishbone pivot pins of the lower wishbones.
The rear camber rise can also be adjusted through the same method but on the upper rear wishbone pivot pins. The use of composite inserts means both adjustments can be easily made track side.
Adjustable Front Roll Center
As with the rear roll centre, the front roll centre can also be easily adjusted. The adjustment is done by removing the front upper suspension brackets and inserting spacers below the brackets and then re-attaching them to the car.
The 960 '08 comes with aluminium front upper suspension brackets that are machined from a single piece of aluminium these attractive pieces are extremely strong and offer great protection in the event of a heavy impact. The other great advantage of this part is that due to the use of inserts, with an offset hole, you can now adjust the pivot position of the upper front wishbones.
Another nice design feature is that the same front suspension bracket can be used on both the left and right sides of the car.
Braking System
The newly updated braking system which is now made up from a number of parts to aid maintenance, is activated through the ball-raced brake cam, two push-pins are moved horizontally to actuate the brakes. Due to the horizontal action of the push-pins, and not the twisting of the brake cam, all distortion in this area is removed and the brake pads are evenly pressed together. The brake cam is supported by ball-bearings for smooth, precise action.
Additionally, this system has been affixed to the bulkhead and therefore does away with the need for chassis pins to block the movement of the innermost brake pad. This further adds to the precision and exceptional stopping power of the braking system.
RCC Shock Absorbers
The RCC shock absorbers are the smoothest and easiest to build shocks ever designed. Machined from metal and unique in that the shock bodies only open on the bottom half, they are really simple to assemble. They come with a fixed piston and no longer use a diaphragm as with the previous shocks. The result is an ultra-smooth and air-free shock absorber thanks to the self-bleeding system incorporated into the design.
Another great benefit is that these shock absorbers come pre-assembled in the kit, so you need only add shock oil.
The Serpent 960 '08 comes as standard with the new high quality Serpent Purple front springs (v. hard) and Red rear springs (hard).
Throttle Servo Mounting
The 960 offers two possibilities for the mounting of the throttle servo, first of which is the the traditional stand-up throttle servo layout. To lower the cars centre of gravity there is also an option to mount the throttle servo in a lay down configuration. This moves the heavy motor and other parts of the servo lower and to the inside allowing for better weight distribution and C of G.
The lay down throttle servo assembly has been designed to fit in the standard servo mounting space, thus enabling the easy change over between configurations. If you decide to use the traditional upright mounting, you can mount the receiver next to the throttle servo as per the 720. Otherwise the receiver is in its standard place on the left side of the radio plate.
Steering Servo Mounting
The steering servo is mounted on the right side directly to the bottom of the radio plate and hangs free from any other item. The steering system uses a centrally mounted servo-saver, which features adjustable spring tension and comes with four Ackerman options, through the use of inserts, to help fine-tune the 960 steering characteristics. Adjustable steel track rods with left and right threads are standard.
Front Shock Tower
The front shock tower of the Serpent 960 '08 is made from super-thick 3mm carbon fibre, which makes this part ultra crash resistant. The front shock tower also features two shock mounting positions to enable you to fine tune your car for any track conditions.
Rear Shock Tower
The rear shock tower of the Serpent 960 '08 is also made from super-thick 3mm carbon fibre, which again makes this part ultra crash resistant. Updated for better clearance of the shock absorbers, the rear shock tower sports three shock mounting to help you fine-tune your cars handling track side.
Chassis Plate
The backbone of the car is the chassis plate, which has been CNC-machined from 5mm aerospace-quality aluminium and now sports a wider front opening to adjust the front anti-roll bar. A new cooling slot under the engine helps aid temperature control while chamfered edges prevent the chassis from catching on kerbs giving it better overall ground clearance on the track. It houses the battery pack, which is mounted into the newly-designed carbon fibre battery mounting plate and is held in place by four screws, screwed directly into the chassis plate itself. This new plate has also been machined to accept the optional front stiffener plate.
Adjustable Front & Rear Belt Tension
A great feature is the ability to adjust the tension of the front and rear belt. The simple-to-use bearing eccentric holders allow for quick and easy setting.
Receiver Mounting
The receiver on the Serpent 960 '08 can be mounted in two different positions, depending on whether you choose the laydown throttle servo mounting or the traditional upright throttle servo mounting.
If you mount the throttle servo using the laydown configuration, the receiver is mounted on the left side of the radio plate, between the fuel tank and the exhaust system.
If you mount the throttle servo using the traditional upright configuration, the receiver (and protective cover) can be mounted next to the throttle servo.
The benefit of these alternative mounting positions is that it offers choices for electronics placement, as well as options for eliminating any recurring interference issues that may occur.
Fuel Tank
Serpent have supplied the 125cc fuel tank with a new seal for the AFL fuel tank lid that prevents leakage and thus provides more consistent engine performance. Made from rubber, the new seal has been shaped to create a perfect seal around the opening of the tank and allowing the tank lid to close fully.
The actual tank has also been updated, and has been made from a newer stronger material. The milky white coloured tanks will now have more resistance to shattering in the event of a heavy impact and changes to the lid pivot pin position further ensure a perfectly sealed tank.
Driveshafts
Serpent use only the highest-quality drive train in their cars, and the Serpent 960 is no exception. The car comes supplied with the finest Spring Steel drive shafts capable of withstanding constant punishment; these shafts are ultra durable and very stiff allowing you to put all your power to the tarmac.
Centax-II Clutch
The Centax-II clutch system features large ball bearings (a 5x13mm and a 5x10mm) as well as a large thrust bearing (5x10mm). This increases durability and provides ultra-free movement of parts. Featuring an externally-adjustable clutch gap spacing method, and an innovative pivoting flyweight system, the Centax system invented by Serpent in 1992 is now a standard.
Gearbox
The 2-speed gearbox is race proven and is easy to adjust and assemble thanks to its simple design. The gearbox features large ball bearings (a 6x10mm and a 6x13mm) for extra durability and smoother rotation. The gears are mounted to the carriers with three small screws and come in a full range of gears available in combination with pinions for the Centax-II clutch.
Chassis Stiffeners
Another feature is the two carbon-fibre side mounted chassis stiffeners. These plates form a strong bridge between the front and rear section of the 960, and are mounted directly to the radio plate bracket and to the rear bulkheads. They increase the chassis stiffness, an essential condition to make effective use of the sophisticated suspension adjustment options.
The left chassis stiffener works in conjunction with the supplied aluminium insert to eliminate flex in the gearbox shaft. The aluminium insert fits in the space where the original larger 2-speed shaft bearing sits and becomes the mount for the now smaller supplied bearing. This insert is in turn kept in place by the carbon side plate which, as well as performing its primary function, now works to prevent any flex from occurring in the 2-speed shaft too.
Radio Plate Support Bracket
The radio plate support bracket, placed directly in front of the engine, also acts as the mounting point for the roll over bar. The roll over bar is shaped in such a way that it optimizes the car's weight distribution when in your hand.
An optional aluminium radio plate support bracket (#902156) is available and allows for increased chassis stiffness and a more durable roll over bar mounting.
Front Anti-roll Bar
The Serpent 960 comes standard with an adjustable front anti-roll bar. By rotating the 2 blades, you can easily adjust the stiffness.
Brake Discs
The brake system ensures strong and efficient stopping power. The brake pads consist of two steel plates merged with a new blue coloured braking material, and the brake disk is made from twin ventilated discs with an air-cooling centre.
Front Axle
The front axle is made from high-grade aluminium and contains the best quality one-way bearings lubricated with Serpent one-way lube. This ensures a consistent drive to the front Spring Steel drive cups.
Wheel Axles
Made from Spring Steel, the front and rear wheel axles are very durable and ultra strong. They are a precision fit for the main bearings when mounted with the supplied shims to ensure a tight precise wheel fit. The front axle also makes up part of the CVD shafts that are included in this kit and can therefore be used with both the supplied quick release system or the optional wheel nuts.
Rear Axle
Made from Spring Steel, the solid rear axle is very durable and ultra strong providing a perfect base to mount the rear drive pulley.
Aluminium middle bracket
The Serpent 960-08 comes supplied with an aluminium middle bracket as standard. Replacing the standard composite version, the new part is much stiffer and so reduces flex in this axle which prolongs the life of the belts and pulleys.
Engine Mono block
The new engine mono block that takes advantage of the extra space where the engine is mounted on the optional LCG chassis plate. As well as the benefits of the mono block system, to stop the engine flexing, the block allows the motor to be mounted lower in the chassis by 2mm. Due to the engine being lowered the car is now supplied with a smaller diameter flywheel than on previous cars.
Bearings
Supplied with orange-sealed high-quality lightweight bearings throughout, the drive train is very efficient and runs very smoothly.
Drive Belt System
The Serpent 960 uses three Kevlar-reinforced main drive belts, driven by a series of composite pulleys mounted on aluminium pulley adapters. This allows for a very smooth and efficient drive system that can withstand severe punishment.
Adjusting nut for pivot balls
These new adjusting nuts are made from Nylon and replace the previous aluminium nut with plastic insert which will not only makes assembly easier, it also reduces un-sprung weight. Reducing the parts used at this point also reduces side play so it makes for a more precise handling car and because the material used is self-lubricating the movement of the pivot ball will remain smooth throughout use.
Pivot Balls
Made from Spring Steel, these polished 8.5mm pivot balls are virtually unbreakable and ensure the smoothest suspension movement possible. On the rear of the car, there are now longer versions installed that improve crash resistance when using a wider rear track width along with the new rear uprights.
Quick Release Wheel System
The Serpent 960 comes standard with spring-loaded aluminium quick release levers. This reliable and time-saving system enables very quick tire changes during long distance races, allowing you to get back on the track in as little time as possible.
Front Bumper and Body Mount
The front body mount of the Serpent 960 is screwed down along with the bumper, which allows for some flex in the body post mounts whilst maintaining the stiffness of the overall assembly. The body mount is held further through two screws mounted from the side.
Exhaust Mounting Spring
Using a spring-type mounting wire to isolate vibrations, the spring is attached to the car by means of an aluminium mounting post attached to the radio plate.
Battery Mounting Plate
The battery mounting plate has been designed to be able to accommodate many different battery pack configurations, including the traditional 5 cell pack. The battery mounting plate is made of a 2mm black carbon fibre and is mounted to the chassis plate by four countersunk screws.
Adjustment
The Serpent 960 is a top-level competition racer and is therefore fully adjustable. The racer can change numerous settings easily and effectively, including the suspension geometry. The down stops can be easily accessed and easily adjusted with optimum effect. Caster, track-width, toe-in, camber, camber rise, and wheelbase can also be adjusted with ease, as well as the front and rear roll-centre and rear body mount mounting angle.
Manuals
To allow you to build your car with the greatest of ease, Serpent supplies a full colour instruction manual. Also supplied with the car is a separate brochure containing all the exploded views and latest options.
The Serpent 960 also contains a Setup Book which contains set-up solutions, diagrams and detailed theory. Also included is a Serpent 960 decal sheet and blank set-up sheet.
All Manuals are available to download as a PDF in the 'Downloads' section of this product page.
Cars Achievements
2007 - Japanese National TQ & Champion
2007 - IFMAR World Championship TQ & Vice Champion
2007 - European A Championship TQ
2006 - European A Champion
2006 - European B Champion
2006 - Japanese Nationals TQ
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