My question is does it absolutely have to be points to benefit or can it be a newer electronic style? Is there something to benefit from setting the points differently or what? I have never touched a points style.
No, points are fine for a modest rpm engine, but; they have to be readjusted periodically, because they tend to lose their setting over time as the various parts wear/wear out. As they wear, the point gap changes, which changes the timing.
With the electronic distributors, you just set 'em and forget 'em.
Here's the thing, not too many years ago, every Internal Combustion Engine had points, including lawnmowers and such. I made good coin rescuing old yard-equipment from the scrap bin, and just giving them a tune-up, (which included cleaning and re-gapping the points), then peddling them.
