here's a big pile of questions: need setup advice

[Patrick]

Don't know what savage your talking about, but the e-maxx on 6s that jzemaxx linked to is mine. It's only a 1700kv 1515 2.5d (no more than 37 000rpm on 6s) geared 51/20 with e-maxx diffs and old 2 speed trans (12.5:1 fdr). Theoretical top speed of ~50 mph, but the amount of tire ballooning I had can throw the calculator out a bit, and I don't have anything to test the actual speed, but it was fast enough for those old bow ties. Very hard to get to top speed without it trying to wheel stand. I don't know how it would go being geared for 60, but I'd be more worried about my esc and batteries
That setup has worked well for me with that type of driving, but in smaller areas where you can't get to top speed and your doing lots of stop starting (racing) I don't use that gearing, it just puts more load on everything.
Your real car will drive well on a highway in top gear, but you don't drive around the city in top gear.