[MikeK]

Originally Posted by Tiny

I am not looking for a top speed per se. What I am looking more is a little more umph. . . I can't help but think a rework of the ignition will be a good place to start.

I think you're starting in the wrong place. The only seat-of-the-pants feeling a hot ignition system will give is a lighter wallet. With everything else stock, the biggest HP gain will be from a higher compression head. The Snyder 6.0 comp head will give you that uphill boost and run fine with a stock Kettering (points) ignition system. In the 60's even hot 400 HP V8's with 10:1 compression ran on points ignition systems with standard coils.

Unless you're looking to cross that magic 1 horsepower per cubic inch threshold or exceed 5000 rpm or trying to run an engine with a damp & wet ignition, some of the over-the-top systems mentioned achieve little more than bragging rights.