buying upgrade, opinions wanted

[slowngreen]

so I've bought alot of aluminum stuff recently, sus arms, bulk heads, bumpers, skid plates, servo and tranny cover and now it sits on the ground lol so i read a few posts here about the big bores and the powerstrokes, but are these anything worth buying.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Traxxas-T-Maxx-Tmaxx-2-5-3-3-Aluminum-Threaded-Shocks_W0QQitemZ300228391942QQihZ020QQcategoryZ44028QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

also I've searched about cooling heads and i think i need one cuz i need all the help i can get, are the 30-40 dollar ones on ebay worth it or do i need to spend more? like this one for example...
http://cgi.ebay.com/TRX-2-5-Cooling-Head-TMaxx-T-Maxx-Traxxas-Nitro-Rustler_W0QQitemZ230258000887QQihZ013QQcategoryZ44028QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[revomaxx24]

if i were you id just get big bores put a heaver oil in them with a stiffer spring.
and i dont think a differnt cooling head will do anything for you but looks.

 

[slowngreen]

^^^really on the cooling head? I've read that they keep it 20-30 deg. cooler, is that not so? so if i get big bores what springs do i get, what do i like for?

 

[olds97_lss]

Traxxas has their own big bores. Some of the best shocks for a t-maxx. Normally found for around $60 or so for a set of 8. The springs that come on them are pretty soft, so you will probably want to get something else.

These springs are made for the maxx as well: trinity Maxx blue heavy duty springs
I believe they will work on the big bores.

Those shocks/springs with 40-45 weight oil should help the sag.

I'd strongly advise against running aluminum arms and towers though... RPM is the best for both of those. They flex when they hit things vs bend/tweak other parts.

As for the engine head... if you have all that aluminum, I'd save your $ and upgrade to a larger engine, like the 3.3. Better money spent than $40-50 on a new head that might "help" a little bit. The larger heads do help, but an over burdened engine is over burdened regardless how cool you can get it to run.

In my opinion, the 2.5 should have never found it's way to a t-maxx or a revo or any other MT. Just not enough power. Plenty of RPM's, but the power is weak for that kind of weight.

 

[slowngreen]

I've thought about upgrading to a 3.3 but am not sure how much is involved and what all i would need to replace for the swap. any suggestions?

 

[olds97_lss]

Well, if your starting out with a 2.5 maxx, then it's pretty much a drop in I believe. You swap the easy start, clutch/flywheel assembly, header and your good to go. Although, the 3.3 would run better with a pipe that was more open than stock.

 

[slowngreen]

would just doing four new shocks/springs make a difference? one on each corner along with one still stock?

Let me explain why i ask, i went into my local hobby shop to get some gas and there was a tmaxx on the counter getting fixed and it had some aluminum shocks on the out side corners, then the insides looked like the stock ones or maybe big bores, but they werent they same shocks, the outsides were the ones with the small oil chamber on the side of em (i think thats what that chamber is)

 

[olds97_lss]

It would help, but the traxxas big bores are built far better than the stockers. Not just the aluminum housing and cap, but the internals. The piston inside is held on by a locknut whereas stock plastic are held on by e-clips.

For max strength and durability, going with traxxas big bores is about as good as your going to get. Unless you want to venture into getting 1/8 buggy shocks... but I've been out of the maxx game so long, I couldn't help you there.

I ran Unlimited Engineerings modified 1/8 buggy shocks on my maxx's (5 years ago) when I had them. They were the epitome of tough. I later ran 4 of them on a savage (with special upper arms to bolt them to). Still tough.

Eventually I ditched the maxx, upgraded the savage to all 8 OFNA 9.5 buggy shocks and custom shock towers. Now... talk about tough.