Building the World’s Smallest Gas-Powered RC Truck with the CISON V8 Engine — JohnnyQ90’s Story | Stirlingkit

Back in March 2024, JohnnyQ90, a well-known RC and model enthusiast, finished putting together the CISON Small-block V8 engine. Johnny is famous for his attention to detail and creative mods, and this time he chose the 44CC gas-powered V8 from CISON. This isn’t just a cool desk model — it’s a real gasoline engine that revs up to 10,000 rpm with smooth throttle control and solid power.

Most people see the CISON V8 as a display piece, but Johnny took it further. It took him a full year of tweaking and trial-and-error before he managed to fit this engine into a 1/10 scale RC truck chassis and get it running as a true gas-powered RC vehicle. This project wasn’t just about tech; it’s a nod to the raw charm of classic gas engines.

“Nitro Never Dies”: Why Gas Engines Still Matter

Electric RC cars dominate the scene these days — they’re simple, fast, and easy to maintain. Because of that, gas-powered engines have been pushed aside, often seen as outdated or “old-school.”

But RC started with the roar of combustion engines. That vibration, the exhaust heat, and the deep rumble — it’s a mechanical experience you just can’t get from electric motors.

“Nitro Never Dies” isn’t just a catchy phrase. It’s a real passion for the feel and sound of a gas engine.

Johnny’s truck with the CISON V8 brings that feeling back. The vibration, the exhaust noise, the mechanical power — it’s an experience electric RCs just don’t offer.
Sure, the CISON V8 looks great on a shelf, but it’s a full-fledged engine with pistons, combustion chambers, and an ignition system. It runs on gas and can power all kinds of RC vehicles. Johnny’s project proves these engines are still worth the effort — not just for nostalgia, but for the unique mechanical experience.

Early Challenges: Fitting the Engine and Powertrain

When Johnny finished the first build in March 2025, he had some big challenges:

The gear ratio (38/43) wasn’t right — the truck was too slow and lacked power for off-road fun.

The front driveshaft angle was too steep, causing breakages and damage.

The engine’s size left very little room for the servo, messing with controls and layout.

Johnny didn’t give up — he dove into a serious upgrade phase.

Major Upgrades: Metal Gears and Transfer Gearbox

By June 2025, Johnny made some key changes:

Switched from fragile 3D-printed plastic gears to durable metal ones, and tweaked the gear ratio to 36/41 for more speed.

Added a transfer gearbox to reduce the driveshaft angle, which fixed the breakage issues and improved power delivery.

Redesigned the couplers with metal sleeves to stop slipping — plastic just wasn’t cutting it.

These upgrades made the truck way more stable and improved both climbing and driving.

Testing the Beast

Johnny took it for a spin:

On smooth roads, it was noticeably faster, smoother, and had snappy acceleration.

On rough, hilly terrain, the improved gearing gave it enough torque to climb well without drivetrain damage.

Why This Is Challenging — and Why It’s So Damn Fun

Fitting a 44CC V8 gas engine into a 1/10 RC truck isn’t just about making it fit — it’s a hands-on engineering puzzle that forces you to think creatively and get every detail just right. You get to dive deep into gear ratios, driveshaft angles, fuel systems, cooling, and electronics. Every tweak you make changes how the truck performs, and figuring out those perfect settings? That’s where the real satisfaction lies.

Here’s why builders love projects like this:

Building a Strong Chassis: Crafting a metal frame that can take the engine’s weight and handle those intense vibrations is like making your own little fortress.

Upgrading to Metal Gears: Swapping out fragile plastics for durable metal parts feels like giving your truck a serious power-up.

Optimizing Driveshaft Angles: Fine-tuning angles to reduce wear isn’t just smart engineering — it’s a fun challenge to master.

Planning the Layout: Tight spaces mean you get to flex your design skills with 3D modeling and clever arrangements.

Dialing in Gear Ratios: Testing different setups for speed or torque keeps every test run exciting and full of learning.

Cooling the Beast: Designing an effective water-cooling system lets you geek out over thermodynamics — and keep that V8 running smooth.

Fuel & Ignition Tuning: Watching your engine fire up reliably after careful tuning never gets old.

Easy Maintenance Design: Building for quick fixes means you spend more time driving and less time stuck under the hood.

Tracking & Improving: Keeping logs of speed, RPM, temperature, and fuel use turns you into a true data-driven mechanic.

Patience & Persistence: Every hiccup is a chance to learn something new — the trial and error is part of the fun journey.

But here’s the best part — this project is totally yours to make your own. It’s about starting with raw parts and ideas and turning them into a working, roaring V8 RC truck that reflects your creativity and problem-solving skills. You’re not just following instructions — you’re building from scratch, designing, testing, and improving as you go.

This freedom to innovate and customize is what gets builders hooked. It’s a hands-on journey that lets you take ownership, try new things, and see your ideas come to life in mechanical form. For anyone who loves to tinker, this is the ultimate playground.
Johnny’s build proves gas-powered RC cars aren’t just old-school—they’re a hands-on, all-in mechanical adventure. It’s not just about going fast; it’s about the sound, the feel, and the raw power of a real V8 under the hood.

If you love getting your hands dirty, tweaking every detail, and building something truly your own, the CISON V8 is the perfect starting point. It’s a real engine that lets you take control, experiment, and push the limits of what an RC car can be.

Ready to dive in? Grab a CISON V8  from Stirlingkit and start building your own gas-powered RC beast today.