The best thing you can do is read, read, read. Plus read a little more. I have been researching these things for the last week or so and am getting my parts together to start my first build. I would suggest doing it from scratch for a few reasons. First would be price. You can save a lot of money getting the parts yourself. You will know how the thing works too, it is a good learning experience. Also, if anything goes wrong you will be able to fix it with little trouble. In a kit like that you would have to send off for the parts at a higher cost. Lastly, it is fun and rewarding to do a project from scratch! With that said here is my plan for my first rock crawler...

First, buy the TLT-1 Rock Buster package from Ultimate Hobbies for 69 dollars (real cheap!) Once you get it, put that together and take your time to examine how everything goes together and take notes on how you can better the design. When you get it together observe how the basic suspension works. Now, you can better understand most of the how-to articles out there. Time to tinker!

Here is the outline I am going to follow to mod my tlt-1 and turn it into a bad mother

Diffs: First things first, lock those diffs up! Don't want to have one tire spinning wildly in the air and not go anywhere. Use the JB Weld method as it is the easiest.

Extend the links: You can buy the traxxas rod ends and make your own links or you can go with the tierod kits and make it easy. I am going to order the 105mm and 96mm tie rod packages from either my LHS or tower. Part numbers are 5138 and 2338. You need two of each and should run you about 20 bucks for all of that.

Extend Driveshaft: There are several ways to do this. Some just extend the stock shaft, but I am going to buy the stronger Revo or Tmaxx drive shafts. These will run about 10 bucks each and you need two. You will also need a new output yoke, but I don't have the part number on hand at the moment.

Shocks: Buy some stock Tmaxx shocks off ebay for about 10-15 dollars.

Chassis: Either mod the stock chassis, buy a premade one, or make your own. The choice is yours and it depends on what style you are going for. I will probably mod the stock one to start off with and then make my own later. A premade will cost between 30 and 100 dollars.

Motor: Integy Lathe motor is what most people go with, 45T or 55T. Should cost around 16 bucks.

ESC: Go with either the Moped ESC off ebay or (the one I am going with) the Associated AI Quantum Runner ESC off tower hobbies. These will run you about 35 bucks.

Battery/Charger/Radio: I don't include this with the price, but keep it in mind. Most go with the TQ3 from Traxxas.

I'm sure I forgot a few things, but those are the main things. That will get you out on the trail having fun. Next up would be to upgrade the tranny, get a body on it, and dialing in the suspension.

I will PM you with a good site to go to for advice.