I think I nailed it!

[Mic]

I picked up 2 MRCs the first day they hit the market and have been running them ever since. One is left Stock and one is modified. I think that I have hit the sweet spot with the setup.

Reversed transmission.
Removed battery Plate.
Mounted shocks out board on front of chassis and out boarded them on the axle.
This allowed me to mount the stock battery on the upper link (upnover1 had the Idea first) (I have a lipo for it but with this modification I do not think that I will need it)
Made a servo plate for a fullsize servo and modified the linkage for it. (After I srtiped the stock servo gears)
2.5 oz of lead in each front wheel
This thing is only limited by the traction of the stock tires now. (which work well inside but not to great on the rocks.)
A set of "blue" claws will be the next thing and I may stop there.

Moving the battery lower and forward is the key I belive.

I had all the parts sitting around to do the job.
Only thing I added that was not in the Box were an unused servo plate from my AX-10, a servo that came with my Jr XS3, Theaded rod (I used the stock rod to make the rod ends)
and 2 2mmx20 bolts for 26 cents each to mount the front shocks on the outside of the axle.