I'd probably run the engine as is. I did that with my Old Nova Top and had no problem tuning or running it. It also keeps up with the faster engines providing you have great drivers skill, which is the key to success. Sometimes a little more power can help though, but in 8th onroad, these things are just soo fast. A little more power will help on those giant sized tracks that car run 5th scales or so. I may try a VZR later on or that Ninja engine.