One of the most competitive classes in electric off-road racing right now is Stock (17.5) 2wd buggy. This used to be a "bridge" class between novice and modified drivers, but now at many tracks this class yields the most entries on a race day, and is ultra-competitive as drivers push their cars and equipment to the limit. Due to this increased class popularity several manufacturers have released new vehicles and aftermarket accessories for this class. One of the most popular 2wd buggies out on the market in the Team Associated B6D, and in this edition of The Garage we will take a look at several of the items that JConcepts has designed for this vehicle.

Steering rack and bellcranks

In this Garage story, we will go through the kit's build process according to the B6D manual, but we'll save installing most of the electronics till the end.

The first items we'll look at are the steering rack and bellcranks.

You can see on the right that the JConcepts steering rack uses similar geometry to the OEM part, but besides it being aluminum it incorporates a few other features too.

You can choose from a blue or black anodized finish, and each piece also features chamfered silver edges to highlight the accents of this part. Two small recessed areas have been added to decrease the overall weight, and the aluminum material will offer more steering response for racers.

The JConcepts bellcranks are also aluminum and available in both blue and black anodizing.

Both color options also include the machined chamfered silver edging and a laser engraved JC logo. This piece is also lightweight and helps drivers to gain a better steering feel and response.

To assemble this steering system first use the kit's 3x7x3mm bearings, aluminum washers, and 2mm ballstuds in conjunction with the steering rack as instructed in the manual. And since we are now working an aluminum parts make sure to add a dab of blue threadlock to the ballstuds prior to installation.

The same goes for the left steering bellcrank when threading in the kit's 5mm long ballstud into it.

Here you can now see the two pieces assembled and ready for installation.

Axles And Steering Block Arms

Next up are the front axles. The B6D kit includes 5mm blue aluminum axles, and as an alternative JConcepts offers the same style axle but comprised of lightweight titanium. Not only is this axle stronger than the stock component, but it also offers some tuning options too.

Included with the JConcepts axles are black 1mm spacers.

If a driver needs to adjust the track width of their car they can simply move this spacer around on the axle. So for example, if you want to use the kit's stock width setting then place the spacer on the outside of the steering block as seen above. But if you want a narrower track width you would place this spacer on the backside of the axle where it held in place with a 3x6mm BHCS screw.

No matter what track width you go with, make sure to add a little bit of blue threadlock to the kit's M3x6mm BHCS to keep it snug in the axle.

Here you can see the assembled axle with the steering block.

Since we are working on the steering blocks the next logical item to cover is the steering block arms. The stock components are comprised of black plastic, while the JConcepts blocks are made from carbon fiber material.

The carbon fiber reduces this part's weight and is 2.5mm thick to maintain its durability out on the track. They are also symmetrical which means they can be flipped over and used on either side too.

They also match the holes used in the original design so that they synch up perfectly with the kit's hardware.

Here you can see them installed into the steering block.

Transmission

The B6D kit comes with a standup style transmission, but for this build I elected to pick up Team Associated's optional laydown conversion kit.

This kit comes with the components you need to convert over the laydown tranny that comes standard with the B6 kit.

For this style of transmission JConcepts does offer a 3-Gear Laydown Honeycomb motor plate which you can see here on the right. This plate uses the same design as the original part, but has a lower overall weight thanks to the milled out honeycomb pattern. It is also 3mm thick, comprised of aluminum with chamfer highlighted edging, and is available in both blue and black color options. But one common issue that can occur with this original design of both motor plates is that sometimes the body will rub with the spur gear when it was pressed down.

So to combat this JConcepts first offered a 3D printed spur gear shield that worked in conjunction with their laydown Honeycomb motor plate. But now they have fully integrated this shield into a one piece motor plate design which you can see on the right.

Just like the original Honeycomb motor plate, this piece is comprised of aluminum with chamfer highlighted edging and lightened up from the honeycomb milling process. It is available in both blue and black anodized colors and is 3mm thick.

This shield acts like a barrier between the spur gear and B6D's body.

It bolts up cleanly the laydown transmission, and the shield will allow for a variety of large and small 48 pitch spur gears.

Speaking of spur gear, that takes us to the next option part.

As you can see above on the right, the SS (Silent Speed) spur gears look very similar to the stock component. But there are a few minor differences that make them unique. First, they are precision machined to give them a consistent gear mesh which in turn creates more "silence" out on the track. Second, there is a hole pattern stamped into the gear that reduces the spur gear's weight, plus helps to act like a ventilation system to help dissipate any heat buildup.

The SS spur gear is compatible with the stock components, and I installed it with the JConcepts Combo Thumb Wrench without any modifications.

Note: For more info on the Combo Thumb Wrench please use this link to check out a previous edition of the Garage: http://www.jconcepts.net/garage/projects/combo-thumb-wrench

And along the circumference of the SS gear there are recessed dots that are used a quick identifier when it is installed.

​So in this case there are two dots which means a 72 tooth SS spur gear is installed.

Rear ball stud mount

Continuing in the back of the B6D we'll take a look at the rear ball stud mount. You can see that the JConcepts part on the right is very similar to the stock part, but with a few slight differences.

As with many other JConcepts parts, this aluminum piece is available in either blue or black anodizing, and it's design is highlighted with a chamfered silver edging. The mounting holes match the stock part's geometry, but a thick "rib" section has been added between the main body and screw location boss. By increasing the thickness of this brace this will help to increase its overall strength.

Next, the standard kit setup calls for a 1 and 2mm ballstud under each 8mm ballstud that is mounted into the rear ballstud mount. But for this build I'll instead the Dirt Cut Recessed Ball-Stud Washer set. What makes this product unique is that traditionally if you wanted to change your ball stud height you would have to remove or add washers. But with the Dirt Cut Recessed Ball-Stud Washer set you can use the 2-3mm washer and simply flip it over.

Note: For more info on the Dirt Cut Recessed Ball-Stud Washer set please use this link to check out a previous edition of the Garage: http://www.jconcepts.net/garage/projects/dirt-products-2

Before installing the ballstuds make sure to add a small amount of blue threadlock.

Shock towers

The next option part that JConcepts offers for the B6D that is called out in the manual's build process are turnbuckles, but we'll skip that step till later on. So let's move to the front shock tower.

The B6D kit comes standard with a flat arm front shock tower. Depending on track conditions a driver can decide to use the gull wing style front arms instead which also means the front shock tower needs to be replaced with a different front shock tower too. JConcepts offers front shock towers for both setups, but in this build we'll focus on the standard flat arm front shock tower.

The JConcepts flat arm front shock tower uses the same geometry as the OEM part, but it also features reinforcement ribs to increase its strength. Each shock tower has a milled JC logo and unique identifier letter (F in this case for flat arm tower) so a driver can tell in a glance what tower they are working with.

Once the shocks are mounted, there will be two holes on each side that are unused. Since the front shock tower is exposed in 2wd buggies dirt tends to get caught in those open holes.

To combat that I installed Dirt Products Shock Tower Holes Plugs. And then I trimmed them to custom fit the shock tower.

Note: For more info on the Dirt Products Shock Tower Holes Plugs please use this link to check out a previous edition of the Garage: http://www.jconcepts.net/garage/projects/dirt-products-2

Here you can see the front tower prepped with the Dirt Products Shock Tower Holes Plugs and OEM shock mounting hardware, and then finally installed into the vehicle.

Now it was time to install the rear shock tower and JConcepts offers an option part for this too.

Here you can see the JConcepts tower (right) next to the stock component (left), and again the geometry matches up with the original part so no modifications are needed to install it.

But just like the front shock tower, this option part has a few areas milled out to reduce its weight, while also maintaining its strength and rigidity.

Again I used the Dirt Products Shock Tower Holes Plugs to fill in the unused holes and use the Dirt Cut Precision Straight Scissors to trim them to custom fit the tower.

Note: For more info on the Dirt Cut Precision Straight Scissors please use this link to check out a previous edition of the Garage: http://www.jconcepts.net/garage/projects/dirt-racing-products

Then I used the Combo Thumb Wrench to secure all the shock mounting hardware, which leads me to the next section of this build.
​

Shocks

JConcepts offers a wide variety of shock option parts for the Team Associated vehicles like the B6, B6D, B64, B64D, T5M, and SC5M. These were all first developed for the B5M and they can still be used with AE's latest generation of buggies and trucks today.

Here you can see the JConcepts option parts next to the stock components. Outside of the o-ring set, all of these JConcepts parts are available in blue or black anodized finish. Now let's take a brief look at each one.

The JConcepts Fin 12mm V2 Shock Cap is comprised of lightweight aluminum and also includes a clear washer and 2x4mm BHCS screw for the bleeder hole.

The lower portion of the shock cap incorporates a knurling pattern to help you grip it when rebuilding your shocks too. Also included is a blue 12mm shock cap o-ring that seals in the fluid once the cap is installed.

The blue o-ring is also sold in a complete set for complete rebuilds of all four shocks as well.

The Fin VCS Shock Bottom Cap comes standard with a JConcepts blue o-ring, and also features an etched JConcepts logo.

This is also comprised of lightweight aluminum, and knurls have been added to it too to help you grip it when your hands get covered in shock oil during rebuilds.

The Fin 12mm Shock Collar also includes a JConcepts blue o-ring for installation and it also uses a knurling pattern to help secure a firm grip on it. Opposite of the etched JC logo a small notch has been added. This notch can be used to help you precisely adjust your shocks for ride height adjustments.

The Fin Shock 5mm Off-Set Spring Cup uses the same dimensions as the stock part but it does include some key differences. It is inevitable that a driver will have a hard crash out on the track, so to help keep it in place JConcepts added an irregular path for the shock shaft to slip through. So even if the cup were to pop off chances are it won't fall off the shock which means a driver doesn't have to buy a replacement part and hopefully can finish their run too.

The cup is also etched with a JConcepts logo and an off-set indicator too. Some silver etching has been added to the outer surface too along with small holes that both lighten the cup further and dissipate dirt trapped inside.

All the parts match the stock geometry so they install with ease.

Once they were installed I used the JConcepts Exo 10th Scale Shock Stand and Cup for adding fluid. There are four long, vertical holes that are designed to hold your shock bodies while you fill them up with oil. The holes run the entire length of the stand so if so desired you can flip the stand over to the opposite side. And the molded rubber cup that wraps around it can be removed to hold small parts during your shock build too.

Here you can see a completed shock with all the JConcepts trimmings.

I then used the Combo Thumb Wrench to mount them all into place.

Battery

Moving along the next item is the battery strap.

The stock battery strap on the left is comprised from hard plastic, while the JConcepts Carbon Fiber Battery Brace is manufactured with 2.5mm thick carbon fiber material.

Just like the OEM part this carbon fiber battery strap has five adjustment holes on each side. This will allow a racer to position the battery in different forward and rear locations on the chassis for their setup.

And just like the stock part some assembly is required to build the strap before use. The JConcepts Carbon Fiber Battery Brace includes four 3x10mm BHSC and 4 plastic locknuts. These are used to "grip" the pack on both sides to secure it in place.

You can quickly install these using the Combo Thumb Wrench and a 2.0mm hex driver. Once this was built it was time to install our first piece of electronics.

Providing power to the B6D is Reedy's Zappers 4800mAh 7.6V 100C Shorty​LiPo.

This shorty pack isn't "short" on features since it includes heavy-duty 5mm sockets, a 4800mAh capacity rating which works great for both stock and modified racing, and a 100C discharge rating to provide plenty of consistent power.

The JConcepts Carbon Fiber Battery Brace fits snuggly over the pack, and you can see there is plenty of clearance for the positive and negative battery terminals. This is important since this gives you more flexibility with the various packs out on the market, plus since carbon fiber is conductive you want to make the terminals never touch come in touch with it once they are plugged into the LiPo.

The B6D's shoulder screws fit cleanly through those five holes I mentioned earlier, so once you line the pack and brace up you can use the Combo Thumb Wrench to tighten the blue thumb screws down that are included with the kit. Now that the shorty is locked into place let's buckle down on the rest of the build.

Turnbuckles

The kit's included turnbuckles are comprised of steel with a polished finish. The JConcepts Fin Titanium Turnbuckle Set are constructed from high-grade, machined titanium material.

Just like the stock component they include a small notch on the left side for proper installation and orientation. They also use 3mm left and right hand thread for easy installation and compatibility with the kit's ballcups. The JConcepts Fin Titanium Turnbuckles also include a hex shaped piece in the middle with a unique "finned" cut in the center too.

To complete the build process with the kit's ballcups I used the JConcpets Fin turnbuckle wrench.

Here you can see the JConcepts Fin Titanium Turnbuckles installed after they were built to spec.

Servo

We are nearing the end of this build so now we will focus more on the electronics and a few finishing touches. So first up is the servo used for this build.

Reedy's RT1408 LP Digital HV Hi-Torque Competition Servo features a low-profile design. When compared to other servos, this means it will be slightly lighter since it needs fewer materials. And due to this compact layout this allows a driver more setup flexibility too since it is less likely to interfere with the battery pack if it mounted more towards the front.

That leads us right into the next JConcepts option part which is used to mount the servo to the chassis. On the left you can see the stock servo mounts, and on the right you can see the JConcepts Servo Mount Bracket.

This servo mount design was first introduced for the B5M, and it has been updated for the B6 and B6D buggy. It is constructed of machined aluminum, is available in blue or black color options, and features silver edge chamfering with an etched JConcepts logo.

The mount fits over the top of the servo without any modifications, and you use the kit's mounting hardware to attach the servo to it.

But this Servo Mount Bracket also includes two 3x6mm set screws. Those are installed on each end of the bracket and work together to keep the servo locked into the correct position even after a hard crash out on the track. So after you have your servo centered in the mount, place a dab of blue thread lock on set screw and gently install them till they come into contact with the servo. Then once this is complete you secure this unit to the chassis via the kit's M3x10mm BHCS.

Motor and ESC

Controlling all of the electronics for this build is Reedy's Blackbox 800Z Zero-Timing Sensored Brushless Competition ESC.

As the name indicates this ESC contains no electronic timing which makes it ROAR legal for the popular 17.5 spec class. The Blackbox 800Z is also incorporates a low profile heat sink which keeps both the temps and center of gravity down. It uses beefy 13-guage power wires and is fully adjustable thanks to its on-board, single-button programing. For now let's set this aside and we'll come back to it later once it is installed.

The power plant used in this build is Reedy's Sonic 540-M3 17.5 Spec brushless motor.

This motor incorporates many features like an aluminum end cap, dual-precision ball bearings, adjustable timing, and a high strength magnet.

The Sonic 540-M3 includes a sensor wire, but for a cleaner installation without splicing any wires I used Reedy's optional 125mm sensor wire.

Once I had the ESC and motor prepped I installed them into the B6D along with all the other electronics.

Wheels and Tires

Now it was time to mount some fresh kicks for the B6D. I went with JConcepts' Space Bars in their Gold compound along with white Mono 12mm hex wheels.

The Mono wheels come with vent holes but I wanted to increase their size so I used the JConcepts Fin Reamer to make the holes larger.

Then after I prepped the mounting beads on the tires and channels on the wheels, I used JConcepts' Satellite tire gluing rubber bands and Advanced Formulated Tire Glue in their thin formula to mount them together.

Once the glue had dried it was time to mount them onto the buggy. The B6D kit includes black M4 serrated nuts with a flange on the back. JConcepts has a few locknuts that use a similar design, but for this build I opted for their 4mm Large Flange Serrated Locknuts.

Deeznuts are available in both blue and black color options, and on the backside there is integrated serrated ring built into the circumference of the large flange. The large flange will provide more support when compressed against the wheel, and the serration teeth of the nut will dig into the wheel to help keep it secure during a long main.

To install them on the B6D I used the JConcepts 7mm Fin Quick-Spin Wrench in their blue color option.

Note: For more info on the Combo Thumb Wrench please use this link to check out a previous edition of the Garage: http://www.jconcepts.net/garage/projects/fin-quick-spin-wrenches

Pinion

Now that the tires were installed it was time to add a pinion to the Reedy Sonic 540-M3 17.5 Spec brushless motor I installed earlier. I wanted to start with a conservative gearing ratio so I grabbed a 29t pinion from my JConcepts Pinion Puck.

Once that was installed I next worked on the body and wing.

Body and Wings

JConcepts offers a few different bodies for the B6D, but I decided to use their first release called the S2. This body is compatible with both a stand-up or laydown transmission, and features side-pod vents to increase cooling for your electronics. This body is available in both a standard and lightweight version, and the green overspray film is applied to the latter version to help you distinguish it from the standard version.

Also included are two Aero rear wings, but replacement wings are also sold separately too.

I sent these bodies over to Zegers RC Graffixx to have them sprayed in my custom paint scheme, and when they were finished it was hard to tell one from the other.

But an easy way to check was to throw them on a scale. With my paint scheme applied the lightweight version of this body weighed 29g which was 17g lighter than the standard S2 body.

I trimmed it out using the Dirt Cut Precision Straight Scissors following the lines etched into the lexan.

Then I used the Fin Reamer to create a hole for the top shaft to pass through without any clearance issues.

Next I used the Dirt Cut Precision Straight Scissors again to trim out the included Aero rear wing.

Then I used the Fin Reamer to create two small holes to pair up with the rear wing mount, and finally I scuffed it up with a sanding block.

That leads me to the next JConcepts option part which is their Finnisher Aluminum Wing Buttons.

The kit includes two plastic wing buttons which you can see on the left, but the JConcepts buttons on the right are constructed from lightweight, machined aluminum. Small holes are incorporated into a hex design featured on the top of the buttons. They will help to reduce the weight event more, and they are available in both black and blue colors.

To mount them simply use the kit's M3x12mm FHCS and tighten them down till they are flush with the top of the buttons.

Since we are talking about wings let's go over another option part from this family. Front wings are all the rage right now, and JConcepts offers a variety of front wings that are available in different widths and front arm configurations. For this build I elected to use their narrow front wing designed for flat front arms.

Two wings are available in each package so I trimmed one out using the Dirt Cut Precision Straight Scissors again.

You can see that three dimples are molded into the wing. These line up with your mounting holes on the front shock tower.

I used the Fin reamer to ream out the middle shock hole, but if so desired you can ream out all six for quick setup changes at the track.

After scuffing it up with a sanding block it was time for installation. Remove the top of the front shock from the tower plus the mounting hardware. Then slip the front wing over the kit's M3x20mm BHCS, and thenreinstall the shock and hardware to lock it into place.

The finishing touch was to add some fresh S1Pro Factory and Name decals fromStickit1Racing.

Chassis

Now that the body and wings were finished it was time to focus on the chassis itself.

The JConcepts Precut Chassis Protective Sheet includes two applications in each package. As the name indicates, these are both precut for the B6D so no modifications are required. The sheet helps to create a smooth barrier between the buggy's chassis and dirt surface which should help to reduce friction or drag. Each sheet also includes an extra tail piece since this section sees the most abuse on the track, plus is frequently peeled back for maintenance on the transmission.

To install it first remove the front bumper and make sure the chassis is clean.

Then line up the sheet up correctly and then slowly smooth it out to remove any air bubbles.

Reinstall the front bumper and the sheet install is complete.

Race Ready

That completes the build for this B6D, and as you can read there are a TON of option parts for this buggy platform. JConcepts continues to be on the forefront for aftermarket accessories for this vehicle line, and not every option part was even used in this story. Those other items will be listed below along with a complete list of the items featured in this build, and I hope you enjoyed this edition of the Garage.

JConcepts Products: