RE: Best engine for xxx-nt for $150?
I've seen videos of that done to T-Maxx's. One had a reloadable 25# thrust that gave so much rear thrust it just spun the truck like a ceiling fan. Another I saw used 6 C-sized engines mounted at the rear. In the end it wound up misfiring and the rockets burned from the front, not sure how. The intense heat melted over half of the cooling head off the the engine and pretty much destroyed the truck. My idea is: get a $10 used Bolink pan car to do it with.
About the motor...
I have both an Orion Wasp .12 rear exhaust and an O.S. .12 TR. The Wasp is more powerful but the smoothness of the O.S. is perfect for racing. Not the most powerful engine out there but it can still pull the front wheels off the ground if you can put the power down. It's a great race motor.