It sounds as if the shoes are to light for the springs or the springs are to heavy either way. You can try to ruff up the inside of the clutch bell to get the shoes to grip better. But the best thing to do is like you said get springs and shoes with a known weight.

While you are waiting for parts you can work on that center diff setup. Like I'm one to talk I still haven't figured out what I'm going to do with the CVD's. Getting close though trying to decide between T-maxx hubs or buggy hubs. I can do either one relatively easy.

I have come close to doing the same thing with my temp gun and I have stepped on it more than once. If your LHS doesn't have any you should be able to get one from Radio Shack (electronics hobby store).

Glad to here that there isn't anything broken yet. Really the only weak parts on the truck is the diff cups and CVDs and you fixed those.

rolland