I have the same setup as you dooley (flm arms, 1/8 hybrid bulks) i have the integy knuckles (dont know which ones u have?). I use mip cvds and they fit alright, i use supermaxx 8 spider diffs. I think its the flm arms that are wider than stock, i immediately noticed the difference in the width of the truck when i put it together. i used locktight on the pillowballs so they wont come lose, and used locktight on the caps that go in the knuckle after the pillow balls.

those are msr5 shocks? I use 8 msr5 shocks with 80wt oil and springs wound all the way down but i still feel its to soft, might go to 100wt with harder springs.

What brushless are you getting? im probably gonna get a 9xl for the longer run time and run 16 cells.

Oh and i know your problem with the stand offs. Its because you know how your using those little things that you put in the hole at the top of the shock, and the screw/bolt goes through it your not ment to use those with those stand offs. In the pic you've got the stand off backwards. The circle end of the stand off supposed to go into the hole at the top of the shock. Hope this helps