I'm pondering doing that with my PV. I have a Megasquirt controller that will eventually run the fuel, but I was going to get it running the ignition first (backwards, but ya know...). I'm still mulling over the optins of triggering the MS box from the distributor, then running the (advance/retard adjusted) output to an MSD box vs. installing an EDIS system. I've all but gone out and grabbed the EDIS parts I'd need. I like the idea of simplifying things under the hood like that. Well, it is complicated in reality, but just a few components and a single simple crank sensor instead of a distributor with a rotor.

I think you could hook a knock sensor up to the MS box and have it determine the proper response (i.e. retard the timing).

AFAIK the knock sensor just needs a secure mounting to the block or cylinder head, presumably close to the cylinder head. It listens for the noises being transmitted and is built to recognize certain patterns as pinging. I think they can be fooled by some other noises like tapping rods, knockng valves, etc.

Also, AFAIK you can't determine pinging from the exhaust - with an O2 sensor or any other sort of sniffer. The fuel still burns, it just burns too quickly and violently.
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I'm JohnMc, and I approved this message.