Bell shaped is a bit of an exaggeration but the torque rose rapidly and steeply to peak at 5300 or so and the hp dropped rapidly after peak at 6800 or so. Torque at 5000 was 115 it's now 130. Hp at 7000 was 130 it's now 140.
Timing has never been outrageous 30-34 degrees max but small changes of 1 or 2 degrees above where a tradional curve would be constant seems to work well.
This is an SIR motor so that may have something to do with the unusual gains. But I still have seen gains on IT motors of 2 to 3% by messing with the timing above 4000rpm.
As far as timing control, the megasquirt is directly driving an Electromotive 4 cylinder DFU (waste spark coil pack). It's using a 36-1 tooth crank trigger for rpm/tdc. Timing is very accurate and contollable to .5 degrees.
All of our testing was done on a portable dynojet, outside air and it's VERY consistant.
While I'm well aware of the fact that standalone systems can create a disaster, I have a lot of experience with megasquirt (as I said 9 installs with tuning in the last year) and once you know your way around it it's very friendly.