MSD Opti-Spark Rant!
10-24-2016, 10:21 PM
#1
Drifting
Thread Starter
MSD Opti-Spark Rant!
So,
I have a NICE healthy LT4 motor, that I put major time, money, effort and only the BEST parts, and after a few months of actual use this MSD state of the art, best of the best, POS craps out on me again.
During a complete restoration of Grand Sport #91, rklessdriver wanted to freshened up the motor after experiancing the first MSD Opti-Spark failure.
[ Original Build Thread here: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/...-pictures.html ]
In the build thread this was stated about the MSD Opti brand new out of the box:
Will (rklessdriver) was aware of the issues with the MSD opti's so he decided to ensure that the internals were good. Once he opened it up he realized that the screws holding the rotor were not tight at all, and behind the cover we found a victim.
It appears to be a dead Mosquito.
Once together, the motor ran strong but suffered a MSD failure, fortunate for me MSD repaired the failure for free but at the cost of my motor being down hard. Because of this MSD failure, Will decided that it would be a good time to freshen the motor up for the Grand Sport restoration.
After 5 years of sitting in shops undergoing restoration and repairs, I finally put 500 miles on the car before the MSD failed again.
Upon opening up the cover on the MSD:
It appears that the screws backed out on the rotor and the rest is history.
When the first failure happened MSD rebuilt the unit, this failure will cost me $112.00 because it's been five years (according to Alex at MSD, since the repair). Never mind the less than 500 miles of usage, but it's been 5 years since they rebuilt it. I understand that some manufactures won't and can't stand behind their products to last forever, but the reason that I chose MSD is because of their race presence, and "apparent" reputation.
I recently had the pleasure of spending time with close to 60 Grand Sports during FunFest last month. The amazing fact is that a significant number of these cars never have had to touch the opti, so WHY does MSD feel that their product is engineered to a suitable standard at a price point that is double the cost of a remanufactured AC Delco unit.
So in closing, I will say I don't think MSD is a bad company I do believe that they make a SHITTY Opti-Spark. So to my fellow LT owners, I HIGHLY recommend that you stay away from the MSD Opti, it has been nothing but trouble from day one and you would be much better off with the proven AC delco reman for ½ the price of this billet POS. High horsepower performance motors don't need MSD to run hard, they just need reliability.
Thank you for your time
Noland Smith, Jr.
STSC(SS) USN Ret.
I have a NICE healthy LT4 motor, that I put major time, money, effort and only the BEST parts, and after a few months of actual use this MSD state of the art, best of the best, POS craps out on me again.
During a complete restoration of Grand Sport #91, rklessdriver wanted to freshened up the motor after experiancing the first MSD Opti-Spark failure.
[ Original Build Thread here: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/...-pictures.html ]
In the build thread this was stated about the MSD Opti brand new out of the box:
Will (rklessdriver) was aware of the issues with the MSD opti's so he decided to ensure that the internals were good. Once he opened it up he realized that the screws holding the rotor were not tight at all, and behind the cover we found a victim.
It appears to be a dead Mosquito.
Once together, the motor ran strong but suffered a MSD failure, fortunate for me MSD repaired the failure for free but at the cost of my motor being down hard. Because of this MSD failure, Will decided that it would be a good time to freshen the motor up for the Grand Sport restoration.
After 5 years of sitting in shops undergoing restoration and repairs, I finally put 500 miles on the car before the MSD failed again.
Upon opening up the cover on the MSD:
It appears that the screws backed out on the rotor and the rest is history.
When the first failure happened MSD rebuilt the unit, this failure will cost me $112.00 because it's been five years (according to Alex at MSD, since the repair). Never mind the less than 500 miles of usage, but it's been 5 years since they rebuilt it. I understand that some manufactures won't and can't stand behind their products to last forever, but the reason that I chose MSD is because of their race presence, and "apparent" reputation.
I recently had the pleasure of spending time with close to 60 Grand Sports during FunFest last month. The amazing fact is that a significant number of these cars never have had to touch the opti, so WHY does MSD feel that their product is engineered to a suitable standard at a price point that is double the cost of a remanufactured AC Delco unit.
So in closing, I will say I don't think MSD is a bad company I do believe that they make a SHITTY Opti-Spark. So to my fellow LT owners, I HIGHLY recommend that you stay away from the MSD Opti, it has been nothing but trouble from day one and you would be much better off with the proven AC delco reman for ½ the price of this billet POS. High horsepower performance motors don't need MSD to run hard, they just need reliability.
Thank you for your time
Noland Smith, Jr.
STSC(SS) USN Ret.
10-24-2016, 10:46 PM
#2
Team Owner
Pro Mechanic
And feel that way about ALL their products. 
10-24-2016, 11:34 PM
#3
I locktight the cap and rotor.
10-25-2016, 01:44 AM
#4
Melting Slicks
another in a LONG line of posts about disappointing MSD products, especially Optis, sorry about your experience and having paid a PREMIUM for such substandard performance must be a double disappointment.
10-25-2016, 10:37 AM
#6
Drifting
Thread Starter
Noland
10-25-2016, 12:19 PM
#7
Racer
After my MSD was bad on my '96 Impala it was back to an AC Delco Opti and a spare in the trunk for me 
Nice idea but it pissed me off after my engine build,trans,rear, and full suspension too. Many friends went to the relocation or away with the opti now.
Nice idea but it pissed me off after my engine build,trans,rear, and full suspension too. Many friends went to the relocation or away with the opti now.
10-25-2016, 02:23 PM
#8
Ok. Now you've got my attention. I literally just installed the entire MSD line in my 92 last night, distributor, coil, 6AL. Course waiting on a harness adapter for the 92, that MSD neglected to tell me about.
We have 4 drag cars in the family. My 73 Vette, two dragsters, spritzer and a neil & parks and then the top sportsman car. All of them are MSD everything. Never once had a problem with any of the products. Thus my reasoning for buy MSD on our drag cars. Now, after hearing about Opti spark and a MSD not working out so well and seing yours, I am a little worried.
Heck it was 1100 plus for system I bought for the 92.
We have 4 drag cars in the family. My 73 Vette, two dragsters, spritzer and a neil & parks and then the top sportsman car. All of them are MSD everything. Never once had a problem with any of the products. Thus my reasoning for buy MSD on our drag cars. Now, after hearing about Opti spark and a MSD not working out so well and seing yours, I am a little worried.
Heck it was 1100 plus for system I bought for the 92.
10-25-2016, 02:43 PM
#9
Race Director
ive been on here screaming and yelling about it for years now...
the only optispark that anyone should be using is the oem one. did your 92-94 oem opti fail? you need to add a vent to make it 100 % reliable.
i still laugh at the people who replace their working fine oem optispark, just as insurance, with a non -oem unit and have it then fail.
msd was sold 10 years ago or so to some investment group who is just using the name to sell products. the products are garbage can grade - save for a few old designs that may have not been bastardized yet.
oem optisparks are hard to come by, but you can go to junkyards (it was used on a few cars, not just corvette).
also sometimes you get lucky on ebay, you will find one that someone had as a spare
good luck
the only optispark that anyone should be using is the oem one. did your 92-94 oem opti fail? you need to add a vent to make it 100 % reliable.
i still laugh at the people who replace their working fine oem optispark, just as insurance, with a non -oem unit and have it then fail.
msd was sold 10 years ago or so to some investment group who is just using the name to sell products. the products are garbage can grade - save for a few old designs that may have not been bastardized yet.
oem optisparks are hard to come by, but you can go to junkyards (it was used on a few cars, not just corvette).
also sometimes you get lucky on ebay, you will find one that someone had as a spare
good luck
10-25-2016, 03:02 PM
#10
ive been on here screaming and yelling about it for years now...
the only optispark that anyone should be using is the oem one. did your 92-94 oem opti fail? you need to add a vent to make it 100 % reliable.
i still laugh at the people who replace their working fine oem optispark, just as insurance, with a non -oem unit and have it then fail.
msd was sold 10 years ago or so to some investment group who is just using the name to sell products. the products are garbage can grade - save for a few old designs that may have not been bastardized yet.
oem optisparks are hard to come by, but you can go to junkyards (it was used on a few cars, not just corvette).
also sometimes you get lucky on ebay, you will find one that someone had as a spare
good luck
the only optispark that anyone should be using is the oem one. did your 92-94 oem opti fail? you need to add a vent to make it 100 % reliable.
i still laugh at the people who replace their working fine oem optispark, just as insurance, with a non -oem unit and have it then fail.
msd was sold 10 years ago or so to some investment group who is just using the name to sell products. the products are garbage can grade - save for a few old designs that may have not been bastardized yet.
oem optisparks are hard to come by, but you can go to junkyards (it was used on a few cars, not just corvette).
also sometimes you get lucky on ebay, you will find one that someone had as a spare
good luck
Yes, my factory one had failed. Didn't look to old either. The previous owner had a book literally about 8" thick recording every single thing he had done to the car. This appears to be the 3rd "factory" opti spark its had.
Honestly, I can't think of anyone I know who's had any MSD products fail in racing. I tried a mallory system a few years back and it lasted two runs before the module failed. We run a crank trigger on our 632 in our top sportsman car. The others are 85551 with the usual parts. 7AL2 Plus and blaster, 2 Steps, one has a 3 Step. If there have been issues with MSD, its news to me. I certainly have not had any issues. Now that I say that, it probably a certainty that the opti version I bought will crash.
Granted I didn't really ask around to much on the Opti. So in my world, it seemed like a good choice from what my experience has been. Guess I will find out. I would certainly be pissed if what happened above, happens to me!
10-25-2016, 03:17 PM
#11
Team Owner
Pro Mechanic
IMO, you've got just as good a chance of having long life from the MSD as ANY; they're all a crap-shoot, IMO.
My issue w/MSD is that you're paying a premium price. To me, that implies premium quality...but the unofficial stats that we see on this forum seem to be that the MSD units don't do any better than any other. If I'm paying an MSD price...I darn well want a bullet proof, infinite life, distributor.
So in reality, I think you're MSD has just as good a chance of "lasting" as my NAPA unit has/does.
My issue w/MSD is that you're paying a premium price. To me, that implies premium quality...but the unofficial stats that we see on this forum seem to be that the MSD units don't do any better than any other. If I'm paying an MSD price...I darn well want a bullet proof, infinite life, distributor.
So in reality, I think you're MSD has just as good a chance of "lasting" as my NAPA unit has/does.
10-25-2016, 04:15 PM
#12
Melting Slicks
Ok. Now you've got my attention. I literally just installed the entire MSD line in my 92 last night, distributor, coil, 6AL. Course waiting on a harness adapter for the 92, that MSD neglected to tell me about.
We have 4 drag cars in the family. My 73 Vette, two dragsters, spritzer and a neil & parks and then the top sportsman car. All of them are MSD everything. Never once had a problem with any of the products. Thus my reasoning for buy MSD on our drag cars. Now, after hearing about Opti spark and a MSD not working out so well and seing yours, I am a little worried.
Heck it was 1100 plus for system I bought for the 92.
We have 4 drag cars in the family. My 73 Vette, two dragsters, spritzer and a neil & parks and then the top sportsman car. All of them are MSD everything. Never once had a problem with any of the products. Thus my reasoning for buy MSD on our drag cars. Now, after hearing about Opti spark and a MSD not working out so well and seing yours, I am a little worried.
Heck it was 1100 plus for system I bought for the 92.
This pass Sunday went to Island Dragway in NJ and drove from LI (approx 100 miles each way). 1992 6 speed-Stock with headers 4.11 gears 12.89 at 108 MPH.
10-25-2016, 04:17 PM
#13
Team Owner
Pro Mechanic
10-25-2016, 07:57 PM
#15
IMO, you've got just as good a chance of having long life from the MSD as ANY; they're all a crap-shoot, IMO.
My issue w/MSD is that you're paying a premium price. To me, that implies premium quality...but the unofficial stats that we see on this forum seem to be that the MSD units don't do any better than any other. If I'm paying an MSD price...I darn well want a bullet proof, infinite life, distributor.
So in reality, I think you're MSD has just as good a chance of "lasting" as my NAPA unit has/does.
My issue w/MSD is that you're paying a premium price. To me, that implies premium quality...but the unofficial stats that we see on this forum seem to be that the MSD units don't do any better than any other. If I'm paying an MSD price...I darn well want a bullet proof, infinite life, distributor.
So in reality, I think you're MSD has just as good a chance of "lasting" as my NAPA unit has/does.
10-25-2016, 08:20 PM
#16
Racer
Just go OE don't miss the Optis, after the Impala SS I have had several GM LS V8s right now my 04 z06 keeps me pleased. Good luck I did not want to scare anyone my experience was almost 10 yrs ago with this.
10-28-2016, 12:42 AM
#17
Race Director
I have also felt the agony of Defeat with the "Premium MSD" Products. I've had two MSD 6AL Ignition boxes go weird. Didn't fail completely, but would shut off intermittently for a couple of seconds and then come back to life. Very scary when you are far from home.
I wanted the "BEST" I could get when I replaced my antifreeze murdered Opti, so I chose the high dollar MSD. The case is very impressive. Very sturdy and well built. Nice ball bearing shaft and a cap with an 'extra' hold down bolt. Too bad they filled the inside with junk electronics. The damn thing never did run right.No codes though so I chased ghosts trying to find what was making it run weak and not rev past 4800rpm. Well, It finally SMOKED and stopped. I figured if I have to replace these damn things every couple of thousand miles anyway I'd might as well just buy a couple of cheapies and have a spare on hand. Well, my 1st $100 AIP has been in there 6 years and been across country a couple of times now and I still have a new one in the box for a spare.
As far as what I think about the over priced MSD OPTI...
MSD = Makes Shitty Distributors.
I wanted the "BEST" I could get when I replaced my antifreeze murdered Opti, so I chose the high dollar MSD. The case is very impressive. Very sturdy and well built. Nice ball bearing shaft and a cap with an 'extra' hold down bolt. Too bad they filled the inside with junk electronics. The damn thing never did run right.No codes though so I chased ghosts trying to find what was making it run weak and not rev past 4800rpm. Well, It finally SMOKED and stopped. I figured if I have to replace these damn things every couple of thousand miles anyway I'd might as well just buy a couple of cheapies and have a spare on hand. Well, my 1st $100 AIP has been in there 6 years and been across country a couple of times now and I still have a new one in the box for a spare.
As far as what I think about the over priced MSD OPTI...
MSD = Makes Shitty Distributors.
11-01-2016, 08:35 PM
#20
Race Director
yep. im tired of hearing 'they are all a crapshoot'.
its not a crapshoot. its a reliable design provided it has the mitsubishi optical sensor and a (working) vent system. the only thing that ever needs done is a cap/rotor change after 100+k miles
the OEM unit, with mitsubishi optical sensor, works reliably.
-and ac delco 'remanufactured' is not the same as a new old stock, or low mileage takeoff unit. the problem with the remanufactured is they do a great job replacing bearings/seals but 'recycle' the optical sensor from the base unit. and you better hope the base they rebuilt was an oem unit with mitsubishi sensor
tips
if you have a 92-94, you need to add a late model vented harness to make it reliable.
as for them being 'unobtanium':
you cAn find a new old stock takeoff on ebay.
sure you will pay $400 for it (vs. $100 for break me down on the road, or $500 for an msd also break me down on the road)
its not a crapshoot. its a reliable design provided it has the mitsubishi optical sensor and a (working) vent system. the only thing that ever needs done is a cap/rotor change after 100+k miles
the OEM unit, with mitsubishi optical sensor, works reliably.
-and ac delco 'remanufactured' is not the same as a new old stock, or low mileage takeoff unit. the problem with the remanufactured is they do a great job replacing bearings/seals but 'recycle' the optical sensor from the base unit. and you better hope the base they rebuilt was an oem unit with mitsubishi sensor
tips
if you have a 92-94, you need to add a late model vented harness to make it reliable.
as for them being 'unobtanium':
you cAn find a new old stock takeoff on ebay.
sure you will pay $400 for it (vs. $100 for break me down on the road, or $500 for an msd also break me down on the road)