I decided that seeing as I'd have to cut the sidewall to fit the ESC I may as well cut the sidewall for the motor to allow larger pinions too.
Also DO NOT attempt to use the screw mounts on the ESC plate for the XC-ESC E6 / Mad Max Max7 it might seem like it will just fit while pushing out the sidewall a little but the center brace will crush the wires. I nicked the insulation on the power button lead just past where it exits the case this way. Thankfully I had some electronics grade silicone on hand and I entombed the wire bundle where it exits in a blob of it so I can pretend I was just adding a strain relief. It's actually much tougher than the PVC wire insulation (also, NEVER use common construction silicone for electronics it MUST be rated for use on PCBs because most RTV silicone formulations contain acetic acid and will corrode reactive metals)
I'm going to use this ESC for the time being but I have decided to go to an all Castle system and have ordered a Mamba Monster X 8S. If you order certain Castle products from Perfect Pass RC they give you a free pack of 5 sets of QS8 V2 connectors that are worth $35 so the ESC "technically" cost $180.
The XC ESC E6 seems like a great ESC so far though and I will use it in another project at some point. That's *if* you buy it direct from XC-ESC if you buy from Intigy or the Mad Max Max7 (which is the same thing rebranded) I think the price gets too close to a Mamba Monster X 8S to make sense anymore.
The wiring is a bit messy but it's temporary I just wanted to get this car going again after 2 weeks on the bench. I'm planing on putting the Castle in so no use cleaning everything up when it's getting pulled out later.
The overheating I was having with the Hobbywing
Max 8 / 4278 is gone, temps were maxing out at the end of a pack at 125F for the ESC and 161F for the motor where the
Max 6 combo was going into thermal shutdown from either the motor or ESC depending on which reached the limit first (I'm putting that into a Hobao Hyper GT which is a lighter car and hopefully it won't have problems there.) The Castle ESC will probably run the motor a little cooler because it intelligently switches to sensorless mode at higher RPM which is more efficient.
The acceleration is nuts with this setup way WAY more power than the
Max 8 combo had AND it runs cooler, win-win.
EDIT: Also I am using a Surpass Hobby fan with the Castle fan shroud, the stock fan was ok but the Surpass Hobby fan moves more air.
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