Providing your charger can charge at the proper rate, the charging process will take about 1.5 hours give or take.

Most lithium chargers have a power limit. This means that if the charge voltage X the charge current exceeds this limit, it will only charge up to that limit. Example: the Hyperion has a power limit of 120W. If you try to charge a 3s 12Ah pack at 12A, the charger will only charge at 9.5A instead of 12A. This is because 12A * 12.6v (4.2v/cell X 3 cells) is 151W. So, think about that before you buy a charger if you decide to go with a 3s pack at high capacity (over 8Ah).

You can either get two packs for 40 min each and change them out, or get one big pack. It depends what is most important to you. If you really want one long continuous runtime at the expense of a heavy single pack, then go with one big pack. If you don't mind replacing the pack halfway through, then two smaller packs is a better option. The less weight will actually increase total runtime over a large pack of equal total capacity because the truck won't have to haul that extra weight around. I would choose two smaller packs over one big one. Two 8Ah packs should be perfect IMO. Other people would suggest getting three 6Ah packs instead for less weight.

So the MaxAmps Lipoly 8000mah 2S2P 7.4V Pack, along with the Mamba Max 5700 Motor/ESC will give me decent run time of approx. 40mins whilst still being able to hit 55mph?

Is it possible to pull the battery pack apart and reaarange the cells into a more confined hump looking shape? That way it should fit easier?

Do you know if products from RC-M can be shipped to Australia, and how much and how long it would take?

Thanks for everyone's help, I will post up some pics as soon as I get the parts needed and put them all together.

Yes, that combo should give you what you're looking for.

The battery pack consists of stacked flat cells, so you won't gain anything by disassembling them. If you lay the pack across the chassis so the ends are over the dirt guards, they'll fit.

Maybe someone else here can confirm the questions about shipping to Australia...

Don't forget to get a suitable charger and balancer for your lipos.

We ship to Australia all the time. Items typically arrive in 3-5 days, though I have had packages arrive NEXT DAY!! Service to Australia is guaranteed to arrive in 7 days, but typically arrives faster. :)
Shipping cost is based on package weight.

Thanks Mike. Do you know when you will be getting more of the Mamba Max 5700 combo's in stock so I can grab one?

Also does anyone know what plug I will need for the Maxamps li-po?

Tomorrow or Thursday should bring the 7700 and 5700 combos back in stock - though in small quantity for now. Be sure to sign up for notification so you receive an email when they go back in stock as well. They go pretty quick and I haven't been able to get them in very large quantity yet.
You can order whichever plug you want with the Maxamps pack - I use Dean's plugs myself, with the "standard" balancer plug.

Thanks Mike, I received the engine & battery's all in one piece!

I just have a few questions now about the set up.

Since I am keeping the 2 speed and mechanical brake, i believe the wires from the brake join up with those from the engine to the esc? How does the esc know when to apply the mechanical brake?

On the battery there are the two wires that run to the esc, but there are also some smaller thinner wires with a white connector, what are they for? A fan? or something totally different?

Not to jump in, lol, I'm sure Mike will get back to you also, but was on line and figured I'd post it :) You keep the mechnical brakes by using a "Y" connector to attach the ESC and brake servo to the receiver. Simply connect the "Y" to the throttle brake slot in your reciver then plug the ESC lead into one and the servo into the other (hope that made since). You'll need to set your ESC for forward only, what will happen is when you apply the brakes the ESC will do "nothing", but the reciver will still operate the brake servo as if it were normal, applying the brakes and allowing the motor and ESC to "free-wheel" in a since. Works great and is what most of us do when converting our savages, maxxs, etc, etc. As for the white connectors on the batts, those are for a cell balancer. If your using li-pos (and you want to take good care of them), you'll want to pick up a decent balancer. Check with Mike, I know he'll have some recommendations.

Best of luck with that Jato and post up some pics when your done, would love to see it!!

No worries, I don't think it could be any easier.

Mike, can you recommend a good charger and balancer for the Maxamps 8000mah Li-Po?

I would recommend a Hyperion EOS7i with the Hyperion Balancer. I have been looking into lipo for quite some time, and the setup (if I choose to go lipo) I plan to get is that charger setup with the 8000mah 2s2p Lipo's.

If you have a radio with channel mixing, set it up so that the servo only moves when you apply brakes and the ESC only receives signal under throttle. This will make it a little easier to setup.

If not, go and program the ESC to have no brakes and reverse (I'm quite sure its possible) so that way the ESC just gives throttle and nothing else. This will save the ESC alot of work and save battery energy and reduce temperatures.

I like the MRC charger. This can charge both packs at the same time. The LBA10 balancer would also be my choice.
I also agree with Brian - if it were my truck, I would use each 8kmah pack seperately. The extra weight adds a load on everything, and will get slightly less runtime vs. the individual packs. The weight alone would be the determining factor for me - both packs would be heavy for this little truck and would likely cause premature failure on the drive train(and require some beefy springs and heavy shock oil). I use two 8k packs(in series) in my emaxx, which is twice the truck a Jato is(at least).