1/8 scale buggy conversion - help please!

padailey, don't run that motor without a load like that. You don't want to over rev it. And yes, that would be an undergeared situation. The esc was probably so cool because it didn't have any demand on it.

15/46 sounds good for a 9XL or so. If you are running a 7XL, you might want to back off a couple of teeth. I usually run 12/46 with a 7XL, 14/46 with an 8XL and 16/46 with the 9XL. Lately I've been running 14/46 on the 9XL for the track and like it a lot.

I'd quit messing with it until you can get it installed.