Vorteks Vorteks arriving today. What prep do you recommend?

[AngelRC]

Here's the to-do list so far:
1. Refill shocks 40wt.
2. Check driveshaft screws and wheel nuts.
3. Confirm gear mesh.
4. Set ESC and steering end points.
5. Tighten all screws. Loctite on metal-to-metal.
My mentor, an old timer, suggests lip balm on metal screws into plastic. Can anyone confirm? He's very experienced.
6. Set punch (I'll start at 3).

I have the metal spur coming, but will let the stock spur burn out before replacing. I'll let the diff gears burn before getting metal as well. In general my approach is to let stock parts break before I get better stuff.

Should I check diff levels too?

Non-prep questions:
Good tire and wheel substitutes?
Does the Outcast center brace really fit in the Vorteks?
Best shocks for big sends?
Best diff weights for high speeds (bashing not speedruns)?
Will an 80C battery work well? I've heard only 100C+ keeps the ESC happy.

Note: before I get too crazy, I have a long list of aluminum parts and other upgrades to add. These are just preliminary questions for my notebook.

TIA!

 

[razorrc]

Here's the to-do list so far:
2. Check wheel nuts.
3. Confirm gear mesh.
4. Set ESC and steering end points.

Yes

My mentor, an old timer, suggests lip balm on metal screws into plastic. Can anyone confirm?

NO!!! That will just make them loosen more easily, don’t do that!

 

[Johnny b]

Congrats! Appear to have it mostly covered. I caution you on using to many alloy parts that may add to carnage in hard hits. Enjoy!

 

[parcou]

Congrats and Welcome!!

 

[Punky]

50C lipo is also enough.

 

[blaster27]

Welcome here. No metal A arms, and no lock tight metal screws to plastic.

 

[morrjr71]

Check the fluid level in the diffs: Arrma is notorious for skimping on diff fluid.

 

[FlipSide]

- When you upgrade to the metal spur, make sure you add a slipper pad in the slipper assembly.

- The Vorteks is overheating easily. You could consider adding a more powerful cooling fan.

- The motor plate is/was a weak spot for the 3S line. They were bending easily. I think they have a thicker option now, but I am not sure if it comes stock or not (TBC). Anyways, I bent all my stock motor plates on my Arrma 3S and changed them for beefier aftermarket equivalents made of stronger aluminum.

 

[Punky]

The 4s motorplate is thicker. M2C makes the best upgraded one.
I changed the motorfan for a rocketfan. AliExpress sells them. Plug and play.