Here's few steps to convert your Monster GT into a full racer. All those steps are based on my own experience with the truck at my local track. Racing on different track requires different setup but those steps are a good base line for your own perfect racing setup.

 

Tires selection

If you want to race, the first upgrade to do is to change the stock tires. There are so many tires on the market that choosing the good tires may be difficult. The first thing to do is check what the fastest guys use. To know more about tires, please check this section Monster truck tires comparison.

Pro-Line offers many great tires for racing. I'm using Pro-Line tires for many years now. They offer great traction and last long time.

Pro-Line Bowties MaxxSize Part number: 1079-00	Pro-Line Bowties MT Part number: 1127-00
Pro-Line Bowties 40 Serie Part number: 1113-00	Pro-Line Crime Fighter MT Part number: 1121-00
Pro-Line Crime Fighter 40 Serie Part number: 1122-00

 

 

Wheels selection

Now that you have new tires, you need new wheels too !!! The most common wheel used for racing is the Pro-Line Velocity dish wheel. This wheel is light, tough and look nice. You have the choice between the Maxxsize Velocity or the 40 Serie Velocity. Both are offered for the 14mm or 23mm hex's. Other companies like RPM,  Maximizer and also offers great wheels. All those wheels are offered in different offset. The more offset you have, the wider your truck will be and a wider Monster GT will more stable in tight cornering. Once again, don't go crazy with offset wheels, look what the fastest guys use. If you need more information about offset wheels, you can have a look to the Pro-Line Offset guide on the Pro-Line's web site. To know more about wheels, please check this section Monster truck wheels comparison.

 

Pro-Line Velocity  MaxxSize 14mm Hex Part number: 2660-04 (standard offset) Part number: 2663-04 (1/2" offset)	Pro-Line Velocity MaxxSize 23mm Hex Part number: 2682-04 (white - 1/2" offset) Part number: 2684-04 (white - standard offset)
Pro-Line Velocity MaxxSize 40 Serie 14mm Hex Part number: 2669-04 (white)	Pro-Line Velocity MaxxSize 40 Serie 23mm Hex Part number: 2678-04 (White)
RPM Clawz Stable Maxx 15mm offset Part number: 81923

 

 

 

Clutch bell and spurs selection

Racing tires are much smaller than the stock Monster GT tires, 148mm vs 178mm. This is a 20% difference, smaller tires will let the truck accelerate faster but it will also lower top end. The best way to modify your Monster GT acceleration and top speed is by changing your gear ratio.

Look at those three charts, they will help you to choose the right clutch bell/spur ratio. I limit the chart to the 18T clutch bell. Some racers install Savage clutch so they can use 20T or 21T clutch bells.

 

Monster GT clutch bell / spur ratio chart

Clutch bell / Spur	46	47	48	49	50	51	52	53
14	3,2857	3,3571	3,4286	3,5000	3,5714	3,6429	3,7143	3,7857
15	3,0667	3,1333	3,2000	3,2667	3,3333	3,4000	3,4667	3,5333
16	2,8750	2,9375	3,0000	3,0625	3,1250	3,1875	3,2500	3,3125
17	2,7059	2,7647	2,8235	2,8824	2,9412	3,0000	3,0588	3,1176
18	2,5556	2,6111	2,6667	2,7222	2,7778	2,8333	2,8889	2,9444

 

 

Monster GT with .21 engine gearing chart

Gears	Tooth	% difference from stock*	Increase/Decrease
Team Associated 14T clutch bell	14	6,67	- top speed, + acceleration
Team Associated 15T clutch bell	15	0,00	Stock clutch bell MGT .21
Team Associated 16T clutch bell	16	6,67	Stock clutch bell MGT .28
Team Associated 17T clutch bell	17	13,33	+ top speed, - acceleration
Team Associated 18T clutch bell	18	20,00	+ top speed, - acceleration
Team Associated 52T spur	52	0,00	Stock spur MGT .21 & .28
Team Associated 49T spur	49	5,77	+ top speed, - acceleration
Team Associated 46T spur	46	11,54	+ top speed, - acceleration
Kimbrough Spur Gear 48T	48	7,69	+ top speed, - acceleration
Kimbrough Spur Gear 50T	50	3,85	+ top speed, - acceleration
Powerline MGT Delrin Main Gear 47T	47	9,62	+ top speed, - acceleration
Powerline MGT Delrin Main Gear 51T	51	1,92	+ top speed, - acceleration
Powerline MGT Delrin Main Gear 53T	53	1,92	- top speed, + acceleration

 

Monster GT with .28 engine gearing chart

Gears	Tooth	% difference from stock*	Increase/Decrease
Team Associated 14T clutch bell	14	-12,50	- top speed, + acceleration
Team Associated 15T clutch bell	15	-6,25	- top speed, + acceleration
Team Associated 16T clutch bell	16	0,00	Stock clutch bell MGT .28
Team Associated 17T clutch bell	17	6,25	+ top speed, - acceleration
Team Associated 18T clutch bell	18	12,50	+ top speed, - acceleration
Team Associated 52T spur	52	0,00	Stock spur MGT .21 & .28
Team Associated 49T spur	49	5,77	+ top speed, - acceleration
Team Associated 46T spur	46	11,54	+ top speed, - acceleration
Kimbrough Spur Gear 48T	48	7,69	+ top speed, - acceleration
Kimbrough Spur Gear 50T	50	3,85	+ top speed, - acceleration
Powerline MGT Delrin Main Gear 47T	47	9,62	+ top speed, - acceleration
Powerline MGT Delrin Main Gear 51T	51	1,92	+ top speed, - acceleration
Powerline MGT Delrin Main Gear 53T	53	1,92	- top speed, + acceleration

 

Engine selection

No matter you want to race the .21 or the .28 Thunder Tiger engines, they are both reliable and offer good performance. The .21 may be a little underpowered for a large track but you'll gain on run time. The .28 has more power and also very reliable.

I can write 4-5 pages about engines. You can go with high priced Italian engines or a cheaper engine this depends of your budget. Only one thing is sure with engines, no matter which engine you choose, it will perform as well as you adjust it.

For two reasons I never tried a modded Italian engine. The first reason is that I don't have the cash to spend 400$ on a mill and second it's that I don't feel it necessary to perform. I rather spend money on tires and fuel to practice as often as I can. Don't forget, you need engine with a pull start or roto start, slide carb and SG crank shaft.

If you plan to upgrade your engine, here's some great engines.

LRP Z28 Spec 3	OS 30VG(P)X
Dynamite Mach 28	Ofna Picco 28
RB TM728

 

 

Suspension setup

Now with new tires, you also need to modify your suspension. Stock shock springs are blue. I found that 8 red springs or 4 red and 4 gold on each corners are a good starting base. I use shock oil from 40wt to 50wt depending of the track but most of the time, I use 40wt.

The suspension arms must be level with the cva's. this mean that a-arms and the cva's must be parallel with the ground. Kind of = sign.

 

Steering modification

The stock servo is 111oz which is good for racing but better servo are available. More torque and more speed will give you better and faster steering. I use a Airtronics 94358 steering servo with 200oz of torque and 0.10 of transit time, this fast servo keeps front tires pointed where I want.

Have a look at the More steering section for more information about getting the best steering for your Monster GT.

 

Tuned pipe

The Monster GT's stock tuned pipe is more designed for bottom end which gives you great acceleration. However, I prefer top end over bottom end I installed a two chambers tuned pipe. There is a lot of tuned pipe on the market, picking the right one must be really difficult. You must know if you want top or bottom ends and some tuned pipes are more "specific" to some engines.

Most tuned pipe are designed to be installed on the side. You'll need to install the Monster GT's side header. This side header is offered in two colors blue (part number 25406) and silver (part number 25405). Depending of your tuned pipe, you may need an exhaust wire (part number 25407)  to keep the tuned pipe in place.

I've tested few tuned pipes with the Monster GT. The best "bang for the bucks" tuned pipe I found is the XTM Mammoth tuned pipe. This pipe gives more top end and this was exactly what I was looking for. The LST's tuned pipe is another great pipe. You can find them on auction site for 20$.

 

 

Lightweight the drive train

The less rotating mass, the fastest your Monster GT will accelerate. Here's some nice options offered by Team Associated

Install the Factory forward conversion kit (part number 25415). This is the first upgrade to do to convert a MGT into a racer. This will remove the reverse but this will also remove a lot of gears in the transmission add dramatically reduce the rotating mass. You will also save weight by removing the reverse servo. Your Monster GT will lost 219 g (7.73 oz).

Install the Factory hex's (part number 25400). Those light hex's are 10.4g (0.37 oz) lighter. This seem little but everything counts when racing.

 

Other important race mods...

One of the best and cheapest mod is practice...Practice and practice. Don't start spending money on aftermarket parts, start with a basic setup and learn from there. You can also ask questions to the fast guys at your track. Do one modification at the time and be patient to fine tune your truck.

Other than all those mods, you can...

Install a humppack for better steering and longer runtime between charge. You'll also save a lot of money in a long term. You'll need to buy a charger to charge your humppack.

Put your truck on a diet, lighter truck will accelerate faster !!! Check the Monster GT parts weight section.

I remove the roll bar and install my body lower by installing body posts one hole lower, this lower the CG and make the Monster GT look cool :)