It look based on Mass Air Pressure (Pressure/Vaccuum in the intake).

In theory this is only a worry in a high performance application. I'm pretty sure most manufacturers of engines take into account the low octane of fuel these days, and factor it into compression ratios and engine operating temperature.

A standard Duraspark II system should be just fine for everyday driving, and the one I bought for my 82 F100 (all new) was around eighty bucks for a distributor and the control box. You still have vaccuum and mechanical advance, and setting the timing right is fairly easy.

Now, if you want to go seriously overboard you could try transplanting an EFI and EEC system from a newer machine into it. The most gains would be from the EFI (Electronic Fuel Injection) since it monitors and meters fuel usage near instantaneously according to sensor feedback.

It would be a BIG project though.


~Wolf