What are the Must Mods for Xmods?

[Tbird Man]

I would say one biggie for me is the 180 motor, you have to slightly modify the stock mount (just sand out the ridges inside) but the electronics on mine can handle it and their stock. also the GPM aluminium centershaft bering holders are a must on anything extreme. I broke both of the stock ones.

[Horshu]

Must-have's:
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bearings
Ni-MH batteries (or, if you are gonna mod your power system, Lith-Ios, although I have a blast and get tons of speed out of my NiMH, but I'm upgrading soon)
AWD - traction is a beast even with AWD, but believe me, it's worth it. Drifting is easier with AWD, IMO, as well
Stage 2 motor kit
locking lug nuts...e-bay has mini-z ones galore that are 4.0 mm instead of 4.5, so you'd need a new driver, but I cannot even rate the suckitude of the stock lug nuts

Good-to-have's:
----------------------
Suspension kit (turning radius isn't great with 1.5 default tie rod)
GPM knuckle/tie rod combo. The tie rods have to be shaved in an AWD car, but the wheel play is GREATLY reduced.
Wide track bearings for the wheels to take out the last of the play
External turbo board (easier to solder than FETs + they allow for more voltage and lower temps) with a regulated power supply for the ESC
Custom motor...Stage 2 motors don't allow for changing timing or have particularly thick magnet wires or particularly strong magnet.

Although if you want to avoid lith-ios, custom motors, I'd suggest dropping neo magnets into your stage 2. You just have to pry the bell end (ha!) tabs, pry it open without breaking the caps, pull the U pin that holds in the magnets, replace with neos, and put everything back. You'll get a noticeable torque boost. In fact, without neo magnets, all the extra weight of my aluminum would put me at a distinct disadvantage vs. a stock car

[Murcielago659]

Good list, Horshu, but you should put the steering resistor mod under the "Good-to-haves" list.