i know this has probably been handled a million times but.... it is time to replace the opti spark, its dead dead dead... i have searched the forums and it seems that most think it is wiser to replace with after market such as MSD or Dynaspark. would love to hear opinions and reasoning as i am over this.

thank you and have a great holloween

 

....i have a 94 coupe......and i did not even consider replacing my optispark with another one. i purchased a dynaspark for $600 and put it on 3 years ago, and i have enjoyed every second i drive it now. it starts after 1 rpm and runs hot all the time. the manufacturer contends its good for 100k miles. it is built for racing.....and i would say that i have been well satisfied ever since.

 

Replaced mine a few months ago(94cpe). My mechanic said stay with the factory part. He builds all types of race engines so he knows his stuff. He also does something else when installing one of these units. He puts an "elbow" in the drain hole of the water pump with a short tube to redirect any drip away form the optispark.

 

I replaced the OEM Opti about 3 years ago as well. At the time MSD and ACCEL had just come out with their versions but I didn't want to be the first kid on my block to test one so I went with a Dynaspark and haven't regretted it at all. It was more expensive than the OEM but it is also much better quality. I also had a drain tube installed in the WP to bypass the opti in the event of wp failure. Can't hurt to be too cautious.

 

Just installed an MSD on mine about 4-5 months ago. Runs like an absolute CHAMP. My mechanic really liked the MSD over the stock opti. While having my car in the shop, he ended up selling an MSD upgrade on a 95 vette and a 96 Impala SS.

 

MSD's have been breaking left and right. Do a search this subject has been beat to death for years......

 

There have been "few" failures with MSD. That being said I would go with MSD. It is vented and the OEM part for our '93 isn't. Psssst RedEasy has it in for MSD. I have an MSD on the shelf here at home when my opti craps out.

 

I had a Dynaspark on my last LT1 no problem the only thread I remember with a failure was due to the posters issues not the Dynaspark. As far as MSD goes

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ht=msd+failure
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ght=failed+msd
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ght=failed+msd
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...light=msd+opti

I have read many good testimonials on the MSD unit even a MSD guy came here once but I have read about issues with the early units and failures with the later units too. The timing adjustment screw on them defeats the ECM's purpose. The rotors fly off because they don't even put them together right and expect the user to finish the assembly. The customer service has reported to be spotty. I do not feel any better about them than the OEM unit except for the fact that they are vented. The Dynaspark is what MSD pretty much stole their design from and can be rebuilt if needed for $30. See if MSD will rebuild theirs.To me this is a David and Goliath thing and prefer the big guys do not squash the little ones. The Dynaspark is $100 more than MSD but is ready to go out of the box and a great improvement over the OEM unit addressing all of the weak points in it.I still do not know what MSD has done about the bearing issues of the OEM and obviously they do not have a sealed unit if you have to take it apart to locktite it. You cannot take a Dynaspark apart and there are no issues with the rotor it is riveted.

 

After seeing somebody else factory opti then mine. MSD was the only choice

 

My GM opti was junked after 147k and 12 years, it just couldnt make it anymore...so...I got one off the bay for $99. EOM NIB...I figures; getting another 12 years would be OK for me...


Install what you want...dont even get into the reliability of one vs. the other....You can get good or bad in any product.
These days, it really dont make much of a difference unless you have a car that is strictly for the track, or you just flat out prefer a different brand over a GM.




How many miles did you get out of your 15 y/o unit?...had it been changed before?



Jim

 

Had my MSD installed about a year and half ago with no problems

 

Had my MSD installed about a year and half ago with no problems