Pete, your all over the map there with engine choices. You must be undecided on the plane you want yet. I have been running the 1200 in the garage on the bench and it is purring like a kitten. A really loud kitten!!
I will let you know how the 8000 works out. I ordered it with electric start also. I do know someone that has already built one and he said that you can build it in an evening. I would assume that is the probably the case with any of the kit engines since they are all the same design. Gary