[n86121]

Add a lambda O2 sensor in the exhaust with display,
and a knock sensor,
with an ECU that automatically advances timing,
that can lean to the edge of knock detection,
....now you're talking.

As you fellow dinosaurs recall,
older cars and boats ALL had mechanical points with centripetal advance mechanisms.
Little weights and springs twirling around.
Crude but effective.
Not reliable, but functional for the time.

AC Delco (and others) came out with direct drop in replacement electronic distributor series,
that have their ECU IN the distributor cap.
They automatically figure out 4,6, or 8 cylinders, and advances RPM curves accordingly.
Not tied to a knock sensor, as did some of the original OEM ECU stuff.

Now imagine that in an airplane,,,,,