Stick with Mamba 8000, or switch to 6800?

I still have the stock 18MT pinion, whatever that is, haven't changed anything. Last time I was running it with the MT tires and all the oil puked out of the stock shocks making it actually torque twist and balloon the left front tire. I flipped the arms on both the front and rear to get a longer and more stable wheelbase (should help with jumping too), but even with the 18T "pin" tires and my LRP 1200 pack it doesn't wheelie. I'm going to get some Associated FT shocks before I do anything else to it though, I'll build it up like my friend's that has all rear shocks and super ground clearence for jumping and stuff.