Viper 988 1/8 GP (SER903017)

Serpent Viper 988
1/8 scale gas onroad car

Serpent has been developing 1/8 scale onroad rc cars since 1977, officially as company since 1980. That is over almost 40 years of race and development experience combined !

The Serpent Viper 988 is the next step in the continiuous development of this very demanding 1/8 scale racing class, the pinnacle of rc car racing. The Viper 988 is a new platform for the coming years, which still shares some proven parts of the Japan-Worlds winning Viper 977.

Key NEW features
- New front and rear lower suspension arms in a completely new hollow type design, with seperate screw on top-covers. The rear arms longer than before to suit the new rear geometry. Optional are carbon arm inserts and hard arms.
- New rear end geometry creating more steering and overall grip, lower rear pivot pins are closer together, creating a longer link between pivot and up-right
- Longer rear CVD style driveshafts in proven Serpent springsteel
- New smart design anodized aluminium brackets and bearing blocks front and rear which allow for super easy change of parts, anti-roll bars and for general maintenance.
- Same anti-roll bars in use front and rear
- New type front downstops for quick re-setting from top or bottom even inside the pits
- The compact diskbrake unit moved back to the 2-speed shaft on smart new alu bracket
- New flow type aero style bumper with separate inserts to race open or closed to influence steering / grip.
- New optimized flex control 7075 T6 chassis with weights system and carbon flex brace

Other main specs:
- 4wd belt-driven race car
- 2-speed Xli gearbox and Centax race clutch with 0.8 finepitch gears
- Independent suspension with hydraulic short bigbore shocks
- Black anodized front shaft with oneways and narrow rear solid axle
- 2.5mm carbon radioplate with integrated optional flex system
- Front and rear springsteel cvd shafts both with quick change wheel system/axles
- Ball raced front and rear anti-roll bars
- aluminium mid-flex system with bearings
- Serpent spring steel axles and driveshafts
- NSK bearings in the more critical spots
- Low friction belts and ballraced belt-tensioner

General Features:

Aluminium chassisplate 5mm in 7075 T6
5mm aluminium chassis in perfect symmetrical shape for even flex and weight distribution. The narrow symmetrical chassis features countersunk holes and chamfered edges. It features a slide system for one or more optional weights. The carbon brace can be used or not, depending on flex needed. Additional chamfers are added to some pockets to guide air and for looks and weight. The front downstop screws can be eaily reached from the bottom too. Viper 988 loog laser engraved . All screws from the bottom are with 2.5mm allen size.

Flow front bumper with inserts
The newly developed front Flow aero type bumper is a very durable unit, which as extra feature offers removable inserts. Its very easy and quick to change aerodynamic characteristic in a matter of seconds. By just removing or adding the inserts to increase or decrease steering / turn-in. The ribs in the bottom guide the air below the chassis / body.

The durable aluminium front bodyposts are excentric , to allow moving the body to front or back a few mm to optimize steering / downforce.

The steeringblock , which can be mounted left or right, offers a system to change the axle position more to front or back giving a “trailing” or “leading” steering, and the ability to change the kingpin-inclination and offset. The steeringblock features an carbon plate to connect the steering-rods, 2 options for Ackermann.

The spring-steel steering-rods are fastened to the carbon steeringplates, which mount to the new steeringblocks. Optional carbon fibre disks can be mounted on the side of the steeringblocks and uprights for aerodynamic reasons.

The new long durable front lower wishbones are in a new hollow type design with closed bottom for aerodynamics and have separate topmounted molded inserts. It also has an extension for the down-stop screw . The lower arms hold the lower alu shockmount plate, which allows a further out and higher mounting point for the front shocks. The strong upper arms in can be used left and right. The front lower arms connect to the alu front bracket on very low nylon holders. The kit includes 2 versions, in and out. This system also enables you to replace a front driveshafts very quick and easy.

The long upper arms are mounted between the anodized aluminum top brackets, which also hold the suspensionpin inserts to allow camber-change adjustments with 3 possible inserts . Below the alu top-brackets spacers can be used to change angle or height. Caster spacers are used as simple clips on the upper pivot pins. Same clips are also used on the lower pins to change wheelbase.

The ballraced front anti-roll bar is a wire type, with very easy and fast open access on the front, captured in the alu front braces. The standard wire is 2.5mm and 2 other as options. The pivotballs link system directs the power to the bar in a smooth way and easy to adjust the tweak with the captured pivotball.

In the front the black anodized alu front axle with Japan-made one-way bearings. Springsteel drivecups, strong, long and thin spring-steel driveshafts with CVD system, and ballraced springsteel wheelaxles with alu quick-change levers. The open front end design allows for very fast and easy removal of the front axle or parts.

The springloaded servo-saver allows easy and fast Ackermann settings. The servo-saver features a top mounted insert which can be used in 3 positions. Another 2 Ackermann positions on the steeringblocks.

The steeringblocks and rear uprights connect to the arms with springsteel 8.5mm pivotballs , which run very smooth and well protected in nylon cups, and are easy to adjust with an allen tool.

2.5mm carbon fibre radioplate with the the center flex-control system. The radioplate holds the fueltank, the receiver battery and the integrated electronics bracket/box, as well as the center flex system

The new center flex system consist of a lower and upper CNC machined aluminium bracket and a smal carbon brace. The upper one is fixed to the radioplate and the lower one to the center radioplate mount.
In rigid standard positon the upper and lower brackets are mounted fixed with 2 screws.
In the flex position the 2 bearings are in place and with the 2 screws dis-assembled, offer the central chassis flex.

Compact composite brace and box in one, which holds and protects the receiver and mounts both servo’s, which both lay on their sides, as low as possible, just a small clearance to allow for chassis flex. The cap of the receiverbox offers a unique yet simple and safe holder for the cable connectors of the receiver, which works as a simple switch and is very accessible.
The optional carbon transponder brace mounts to the integrated electronics brace. When using a small receiver, the box has space to hold the transponder too, but must be tested for function before the race.

Low mounted 125ccm fueltank in a long and narrow design, with a premounted bronze filter. The narrow tank will ensure a better fuel-supply to the engine, as the fuel can move less from side to side. The labyrinth inside the fueltank will also keep the fuel more stabile and avoids foaming. The tank also has elevated sections in the front, which make sure the fuel stays close to the filter when the tank is amlost empty. This creates like a warning signal a few seconds before the tank goes fully empty, so you can try to find a safer place to park. The fueltank has a strong springloaded cap and silicone rubber shaped seal, and has a connection for the pressure line. The inner bottom of the tank allows for mounting inserts to reduce volume if needed.

The composite nylon radioplate bracket, holds the rear part of the radioplate and the strong chromed angled roll-bar, and also mounts the adjustable ballraced belt-tensioner.

The majority of the topmounted screws are in allen 2.0mm size.

The batteryholder between the tank and side belt , is made to fit the more common Lipo or Life packs. There is also enough space to fit a regular batterypack. The holder incorporates an easy spacing system to allow this.

The light, hollow 8mm hardcoated aluminium middle shaft is kept rigidly in place a small, low placed and light alu holder, which also holds the spring-type exhaust-wire.

The final drive ratio of the car is 2.286
28T front pulley
18T mid-inner pulley
25T mid-outer pulley
19T outer lay-shaft pulley
21T inner layshaft pulley
48T rear axle pulley.

All the superround and true pullies have holes in the side flanges to allow dirt and dust to move out easier. The 988 has the latest pullies, with more teeth, so larger diameter which makes the belts run smoother, with less friction.

The belts are low friction type as standard, rear one as 8mm, side in 6mm and front 6mm too. The adjustable ballraced belt-tensioner ( carbon, alu) keeps the sidebelt running smooth.

The low seated anodized aluminum engine mounts keep the engine well positioned and aligned and transfer heat to the chassis in the best way.

The rear end construction with the alu brackets holds the brake and rear axle. Its open design allows for eas of maintenance and cleaning, and needs very few screws to dis-assemble. Replacing a belt in case needed, is simple and very fast too. The excenter on the rear shaft allows for belt tensioning. The whole rear end can be removed as one unit from the chassis, with very few screws.

The brake is on the 2-speed axle mounted on a new alumnium machined bracket. It’s a very compact system and well protected against dirt, but still open enough to allow for sufficient coolng. The swimming ventilated brake-disk rotates on the 2speed axle and the springloaded cam-operated brake pads will provide all the stopping power you may need. The race brake pad material is baked on strong steel plates and allows very precise braking with lots of brake-feel / feedback.

The ballraced rear anti-roll bar mount in steel adaptors, which run in nylon spacers in the alu holders as integral part of the rear brackets, with 2.5mm as standard wire and 2 other as options. The anti-roll bar links to the rear lower arms with adjustable trackrod guidance.

The narrow solid rear axle with lightweight 48T pulley in Serpent springsteel, 9mm wide with 4 slots for the pin.

In the rear longer strong CVD springsteel driveshafts , springsteel wheel-axles with alu quick-change levers and a springsteel rear axle. Very durable and lasting drivetrain.

The new longer durable rear lower wishbones are in the new hollow style design with closed bottoms for aerodynamics and separate top mounted molded plates. The lower rear arm holds the low mounted link for the rear anti-roll bar and holds the alu mounting plate of the rear shocks, which allows a position which is very far to the rear and to the outside for best .performance / geometry. Nylon clips are used on the lower rear pins to change wheelbase.

The durable composite uprights hold the ballraced spring steel wheelaxles, with aluminium quick-change levers. The 8.5mm pivotballs are used to adjust camber fast and easy with the smooth hex-shaped plugs . The arms of the floating bodymount mount to the top of the uprights. On top of the up-right spacers can be added under the pivotball to change rollcenter and camberchange.
Optional carbon fibre disks can be mounted on the side of the uprights for aerodynamic reasons.

The adjustable rear upper camber links mount to the rear carbon camberplate with 2 positions .

The rear floating bodymount is mounted on the up-rights with 2 arms and held in place by a carbon-fibre-steel guider. The mount has 4 positions each side to choose from, depending on body In use and traction available. The end of the mount allow for mounting body-supports , with full threading

Optionals
A large selection of optionals to further improve performance, speed, weight and looks.
www.serpent/com/903017

Communications
- Website
- Promopage
- Facebook page
- Viper 988 Facebook user group
- Serpent Advanced user Manuals pages
- Youtube video’s
- Online set-up sheets
- Support from distributors, dealers and teamdrivers worldwide

Merchandising
A nice selection of shirts, sweaters, jackets, caps, bags, tools and decals .

Design
Serpent Viper 988 Designed by Michael Salven
With great help from all team-drivers and 988/977 drivers !

Promo site:
http://promo.serpent.com/988viper/