Cison LS-52 V8 Engine Full Review After 10+ Hours of Running by Jamie RCBlock | Stirlingkit

The Cison LS is the absolute best engine I've built to date.

This is a very special engine. Looking over all the pieces, it is clear that Cison has taken everything they learned from their 44cc V8 and made the LS V8 52cc superior in every way.

It has 4-bolt mains and comes with oil pan baffles. The pressurized oil system is well designed. I did multiple tests to look for flaws, and the oil system performed exceptionally well, with oil flowing to all areas of the engine.

I was blown away by the beauty of all the pieces that make up this engine. The machining of the parts is unlike anything I've ever seen, and the quality is impeccable. The LS crankshaft was straight, spins easily with no tight spots, and fit perfectly in the block. The main bearings are a good size, and the front and rear seals do an exceptional job of keeping the oil in the engine. I also got the glass oil filter, and what an exceptional piece of work. I love the reusable filter.

The cylinder heads are water-cooled through 4 transfer port holes that go back down from the cylinder head through the block to the water pump output. I enlarged the left side a small amount and noticed more efficient cooling on that side. The oil and water pumps have brass gears, no plastic.

I was surprised by the large air intake and exhaust ports, which allow this engine to breathe easy. To help the LS scream, Cison made a new carburetor just for the LS V8. It seems to work well and is easy to tune. I have been able to get the engine to hit the 11,500 RPM rev limiter, and wow, does this engine scream.

The Cison LS is the absolute best engine I've built to date. All the parts fit together nicely without any drama. I am very meticulous with all my engines, and this one required very little extra work to assemble. The instructions are very easy to follow, and when the engine was built, she started right up. The MCU multi-coil ignition was so easy to set up that I never felt confused. I use a 3-cell LiPo with a voltage regulator set to 11V.

Cison has really created something awesome with the LS V8. They captured the beauty of the LS3 engine, and the intake manifold is iconic. Cison produced a miniature engine that starts and runs every time. It is very reliable: even when the engine is hot, she will start right up, and she's a smooth-running engine. I love that the flywheel has a few options for clutches, and we finally have a powerful cooling fan that actually works.

The only extra work I did was bevel the heads of the rocker arm adjustment cap screws. My left head gasket also developed a bulge that reduced oil pressure to the left cylinder head. I easily cut the bulge out, and the oil pressure has been good ever since. I have had no other issues with this engine. She easily has 10 hours of running time, and everything is working great.

Thank you, Cison and Stirlingkit, for making my dreams come true and producing the smallest miniature V8 engine in physical size that looks beautiful and actually runs. This engine can be worked hard, making it perfect for powering models.

If you have ever dreamed of owning a real miniature scale V8 engine, the Cison LS V8 is the best V8 engine at an amazing price.

— Jamie RCBlock

More from Jamie

Jamie RCBlock has been building engines from Stirlingkit for years. Before the Cison LS V8, he reviewed the Toyan FS-L400BGC and fitted a Cison V2 engine into a Morgan 3-wheeler.

Toyan FS-L400BGC 2nd Gen reviewHis first impressions of the gasoline inline-4. Morgan 3-wheeler with a Cison V2Fitting a Cison FG-VT9 V-twin into a scale build. Cison LS-52 engine partsSpare parts and accessories for the LS V8.