Thanks for the compliments. As for transmitting from the back.. well that will still be awhile.
Yes Phil I to had the issues with over painted parts. I picked up a brand new heavy duty 6v battery from a supplier the other day and then when I hooked it all up nothing. I even put in the external toothed washers to give me a better connection. Still nothing. Then it dawned on me, too much paint.
So a sanding drum in the Dremel and i cleaned off the paint where the main ground goes. Hooked it all up and voila the engine cranked over nicely and it fired up once I gave it some gas.
I also added another ground from the bottom of the starter down to a chassis cross member. Conveniently there was a bolt hole on the cross member. Ill be adding a few more grounding straps as I do find they work very well. Plus this truck, being a wireless one seems to have been covered in them.