I know those shocks are beefy, but they are really bad. They wont hold up and the seals will take a dump on you. I say this because if your going to do that thing up right you dont want the bottom scraping its way and then you end up stripping a gear, folding an A Arm, or something else. remember my friend the MRC is not in supply of consistant parts availablity. And for the price of the shocks I mentioned to you. A set of 4 cost less then a set of 8 maxx shocks. Been using them for years and I will vouch for their stability. realize that I have been building and designing RC's for years so I do have alot of experiance in this. I cant say that money is a big problem for you since you are spending money on the other parts. On that dog bone, Well im going to have to check that out, I never really tied it. Mine is already titanium bones, they just braised them together at a machine shop using a plasma torch. Its pretty strong. I can bend them at all. But it's nmice to know there is another oppertunity out there. As far as the upper deck. Well the reason for that is because of the center of gravity. You know there was alreasy a mount for a single battey of that truck to begin with. if you removed that and the other end that held the mechanicle speedo, then you have now room to place 2 batteries side by side. They will weigh more than the ESC and the reciever combined even if they are lipo's and placed like that will leave no room for the speed control or reciever to sit. You dont even have to make a full deck like I did, there is another reason for the deck then just to place the controls. it acts like a control rod, keeps the truck from twisting too much upon impact with the ground. The stronger you make your chassis, the better the control. If you ever look at most 1/8th RC's you will notice they all have that feature. 4WD's have the bar for protection as well as stability. So though I like what your doing, I assure you I have been there done that for 5 years now.
Not trying to change your mind, just trying to insure that not only can you run that with todays equiptment, but that you can continue to run it and not have to find away to manufacture a part or have one made for you.
here are some of my other MRC's in the past.
