MSD cap and rotor kit for OPTIspark...
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 781
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MSD cap and rotor kit for OPTIspark...
Man, would I love to whip the rodnuts out of the guys who designed and located the optispark distributor!
Anyway, I recently posted some querrys about the ignition control module and optispark possibly overheating. Once my car got warmed up and driven normally, it would miss, cut out, and die. I finally pulled the opti after trying different things to pinpoint the source. I had recently replaced my defective (screw loose inside) GM opti with a nice, clean, used opti, BUT with the NEW MSD cap and rotor KIT (vented '95 newer style). I say "KIT" because it also comes with a new intermediate 'cover' that isolates the optical sensor/wheel from the rotor & and plug wire terminals. It is made of thick, durable plastic, similar to the cap itself. This is where the MSD's dimensions vary, greatly, from the stock opti (at least this one that I purchased new about 6 weeks ago off Ebay). It appears that this plastic cover piece is thicker, or taller, than the GM piece, and hugs the underside of the rotor VERY closely (the MSD rotor seems to be dimensionally identical to the stock rotor in this area). The MSD cover piece shows signs of the rotor actually rubbing in a couple spots. This would probably create excessive heat and/or static, upsetting the already fragile nature of delicate opti's internal status. So much for the aftermarket improving on an inferior, problematic design.
So I replaced the beefier MSD cover piece with the lighter/thinner GM piece and the MSD rotor clears it easily, with the same amount of clearance the GM rotor has. This is probably how I will assemble it and run it on the car, since I really only desire the stronger MSD rotor and MSD cap w/brass terminals.
Basically what I am saying, if you are going to use this MSD kit, either check this clearance OR just use the cap and rotor ONLY, and reuse everything else from the GM opti (use the MSD screws, but not their two O-rings). Meanwhile, I will be making a call to MSD...
Anyway, I recently posted some querrys about the ignition control module and optispark possibly overheating. Once my car got warmed up and driven normally, it would miss, cut out, and die. I finally pulled the opti after trying different things to pinpoint the source. I had recently replaced my defective (screw loose inside) GM opti with a nice, clean, used opti, BUT with the NEW MSD cap and rotor KIT (vented '95 newer style). I say "KIT" because it also comes with a new intermediate 'cover' that isolates the optical sensor/wheel from the rotor & and plug wire terminals. It is made of thick, durable plastic, similar to the cap itself. This is where the MSD's dimensions vary, greatly, from the stock opti (at least this one that I purchased new about 6 weeks ago off Ebay). It appears that this plastic cover piece is thicker, or taller, than the GM piece, and hugs the underside of the rotor VERY closely (the MSD rotor seems to be dimensionally identical to the stock rotor in this area). The MSD cover piece shows signs of the rotor actually rubbing in a couple spots. This would probably create excessive heat and/or static, upsetting the already fragile nature of delicate opti's internal status. So much for the aftermarket improving on an inferior, problematic design.
So I replaced the beefier MSD cover piece with the lighter/thinner GM piece and the MSD rotor clears it easily, with the same amount of clearance the GM rotor has. This is probably how I will assemble it and run it on the car, since I really only desire the stronger MSD rotor and MSD cap w/brass terminals.
Basically what I am saying, if you are going to use this MSD kit, either check this clearance OR just use the cap and rotor ONLY, and reuse everything else from the GM opti (use the MSD screws, but not their two O-rings). Meanwhile, I will be making a call to MSD...
