IMHO, the 3-speed is a bit of a hassle. I switched back to a 2 speed for winter running. However, I just bought the 3-speed case since I took mine out. I bought it used and it had the 3-speed in a 2 speed case, so to adjust it, you had to take half the truck apart to get the trans out and apart. The 3-speed case allows you to take the top off the trans. Still a bit of a hassle, but way better than tearing a truck clear apart to turn a screw 1/3 of a turn!
If you get a new pipe, I'd go for the HPI polished pipe over the ribbed one. About the same low end power, but better on the top end and not quite as loud. Or, I'd really go with losi's HT pipe for the LST2. You can find the pipe pretty cheap on ebay. You will have to finagle it a bit to work with the stock HPI header, but it's a really great pipe IMHO. I've ran the stock composite, HPI ribbed, HPI polished and I like the losi HT best. Quietest and generally best running pipe I've had to date.
I'm not sure if that savage had a servo mounted servo saver for the steering or the cam/spring type. If it has servo mount, then I'd get the cam type:
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXJSS6&P=Z
A much better setup and less "soft" so it will hold turns better. Especially if you upgrade the steering servo.
The savage is a pretty great truck as is. Granted, I've never had one with a stock engine/pipe (bought both I've owned used), but if your engine is getting tired, you will find a nice
LRP28S3 in it will kick that silly supercharger in the pants! Throws my aftershock around like a rag doll... I'll probably get another one in spring for my aftershock so I can use my now almost 2 year old one out of the aftershock in my savage. Great engine.
