Already ordering stuff and haven't even got the truck yet.. Trying to cover the "must-haves" and hopefully will get it all about the same time.. I just ordered http://www.rcraveninc.com/product/LS...k-Springs.html ...Hopefully that is indeed the correct thing.. I also emailed New era about a rollbar.. Now all I need to find is the engine brace.. That is proving to be a bit of a challenege.. anyone have any ideas/leads on where/how to find one? .. Haha wow.. Was considering ordering a BAC link just because.. I think my mind has officially been made for me.. The price of shipping is the same as the price of the thing.. there is no way it costs.. $13 to ship a 3 inch piece of metal.. No thanks! Sorry, had to vent a little! ALSO, can anyone post pictures of their XXL/LST? I know there are at least a billion threads of pictures but I'm looking for like upgrade specific pictures, more specifically the bottom of the truck with skid plates installed.. Also any other pictures you just feel like posting? Anyway! Thanks again to everyone helping me in my new endeavor! Appreciate it a lot! I look forward to more advice!

Those springs are awesome! That, the engine brace and the roll bar and you're sorted..

One thing people have mentioned over the years is new trucks having oil in the clutch bell.. What I would do is just take the bell off and spray the whole clutch assembly and inside of the bell with brake cleaner( then wipe off.. I even use q-tips inside the bell to make sure it's really clean..). Need to be comfortale with shimming and meshing though.

Yeah.. that engine brace is officially extinct sir... I cannot find one anywhere? any other ideas? I hope New Era emails me back soon I'd like to install that roll bar before the truck even rolls.. I've read nothing but good things about it and how it is basically a necessity for the truck..

Also, do you think I should drive the truck around a few days with the stock springs so I appreciate the rcraven ones? I suppose I probably should.. I'd like to notice the difference.. What exactly do they do? Just better ride performance? Looks?

And with the skid plates.... what exactly makes a skid plate "High performance" .. Really? Its a piece of metal.. what determines whether its "high performance" or not

IMO the only thing that matters re skid plates is that the hard ano front protects your servos. I have a video somewhere in which I smashed a servo coming down from a high jump..

That brace has got to be somewhere.. Mail overdriverc..

www.losipartshouse.com is another site..

Nitrohouse, stormerhobbies, etc...

Re the RC Raven springs, they are just better all around - especially for jumping.. But that also means for crashing.. I've never bent or busted a shock with them in five+ years..

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=us5hIGH0Dac

He should get back to you within 1-2 days on the brace. I just bought mine back in March, so he's still doing them.

Yea I'd drive the truck around a bit and then swap in the springs. Once you get a feel for the truck and start to drive it harder into corners and such is when you'll be able to notice the difference between the springs. The Trenchers are a great all purpose tire, I have a set on axial wheels also. I used Losi losa3533 17mm hex adapters, they're 1/2 wider, but the truck ends up at the same width as the stock wheels and tires. This is because the stock tires are wider than most and the offset of the wheel is slightly different. I did have to put 2 or 3 shims between the hex and the knuckle so there wouldn't be any play, I believe they were 10x8x.3mm or 12x8x.3mm shims that I used.

I wouldn't call the rollbar a necessity exactly. It does protect the truck, but the biggest thing it does is support the body so it doesn't crack as easy when you roll the truck. That's my opinion on it anyway. Same goes for the skids, they may be a little harder metal and resist bending a little more. Might be handy in he front as HerrSavage said, but not really worth it elsewhere. I wouldn't worry too much about upgrading the truck straight out of the box, have some fun with it and add stuff as you go.

The end of this shows how I learned my lesson about the front skid-plate ha ha...

http://s166.photobucket.com/albums/u...nterJumpin.mp4

Since then I have the hard ano front plates on both my LST2's. I have the mid-plate on my second LST2, but IMO it is simply not necessary.. The rear is still in a drawer with the BAC link ha ha..

BTW, back when I was doing this same research(six+ years ago!!), I didn't know either, so ordered two BAC links.. Sold one years ago...

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u...2/IMG_0039.jpg

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u...2/IMG_0055.jpg

Back when it was new.. Sigghhh.....

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u...2/DSC01620.jpg

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u...dElCamino3.jpg

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u...2/DSC01623.jpg

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u...dElCamino5.jpg

Couple years ago..

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/v...2/DSCF4049.jpg

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/v...2/DSCF4054.jpg

Wow! That thing is sweet! Nice truck man!

Does this qualify as an engine brace? http://www.asiatees.com/display.php?...id=28536&pid=1 I know it looks nothing like the Dynamite on but it was the only thing I could find by that GPM brand even remotely related to "engine brace" ..

So you never even tried the bac link? What made you decide against it?

Nothing was broke, so I didn't fix it... By now there's a good bit of slop in the steering, so if/when I get around to doing something about it, I guess I'll put the BAC link in..

Here's what you need...

http://www.gpmparts.com/shop/team-lo...-90013845.html

Perfect.. Thanks alot FLDan! I got that ordered, I assume its coming from china?

Now all I need is some skid plates and the roll bar and we'll be rollin! Thanks so much everyone for all your help!! I appreciate it alot!!

Also, a question.

Does the XXL wheelie easily? Or not so much due to the size? I couldn't really find a lot of information about it? I'd like it to be able to if I want it to, but I don't want it to be all that it does like every time I try to do anything it stands straight up... Just like an on command type of thing I guess. How do I accomplish this?

Not really.. The XXL's extended length is good for stability, but not for wheelies.. It's also got taller gearing for more top speed..

Stiffer shocks and a tighter slipper are where to start.. Not good for jumping though..