ok here the deal I have a 3 cell 1500 just sitting on the old work bench and it weighs about the same as the stock 9.6 battery pack so do I have to get the up graded motor and pinion? what kind of flight times can i expect? and I can still use the flat bottom blades? are the symmetrical ones that much harder to fly?

You can do it stock ,b tuthe head speed will be much higher. I reccomend getting the 9 or 8 tooth pinion motor and the heat sinks for starters. Aside from that, it is all personal preference and speed of advancement.