RE: 32 cc craftsman engine looking to convert to rc car or truck. Need info
Im guessing your engine is a half-crank design (pullstart at the front, on the side of the output shaft). They are lightweight, and reasonably powerful engines BUT, they are not the best choice for rc cars. The clutches on them (if it does have a clutch) are not really designed to take lateral load. I don't want to kill your enthusiasm, but this is what I have gained from personal experience. You may want to find another weedeater engine with a cluch similar to those used on the zenoah engines. You should be able to find a fairly cheap one second hand. If you really want to use the craftsman engine in your project, you may have to consider retrofitting a different clutch...but this is quite hard to do without the appropriate tools.