MSD and Dynaspark
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,204
Likes: 4
From: Midland Georgia
St. Jude Donor '06
MSD and Dynaspark
While my engine is out of the car, I am considering a new Opti. (Although mine was only a few thousand miles old). I realize that the MSD is new, however, I was hoping someone might have installed one and have some type of initial feedback?
I can get a MSD on group purchase for $429
The Dyna spark cost is $600 or more.
I am looking for opinions on these options?
I can get a MSD on group purchase for $429
The Dyna spark cost is $600 or more.
I am looking for opinions on these options?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 9,916
Likes: 38
From: South Carolina
St. Jude Donor '03 & '05
Originally Posted by jakers
While my engine is out of the car, I am considering a new Opti. (Although mine was only a few thousand miles old). I realize that the MSD is new, however, I was hoping someone might have installed one and have some type of initial feedback?
I can get a MSD on group purchase for $429
The Dyna spark cost is $600 or more.
I am looking for opinions on these options?
I can get a MSD on group purchase for $429
The Dyna spark cost is $600 or more.
I am looking for opinions on these options?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,204
Likes: 4
From: Midland Georgia
St. Jude Donor '06
Thanks
I appreciate it Steve. I also found a few other posts. Quite a few you were involved in... What to do, what to do? MY car has spent more time sitting than moving over the last 14 months I have owned it. With a new motor and a ton of money spent, a bad opti is the last problem I want to have when I get it back...
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,204
Likes: 4
From: Midland Georgia
St. Jude Donor '06
Thanks
I appreciate it Steve. I also found a few other posts. Quite a few you were involved in... What to do, what to do? MY car has spent more time sitting than moving over the last 14 months I have owned it. With a new motor and a ton of money spent, a bad opti is the last problem I want to have when I get it back...
Racer
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento California
I Too went through the same diffculty of trying to justify paying $100 more for the Dyna-spark over the MSD opti-spark replacement. i chose the Dyna-spark for a couple of reasons#1 readly avaiable, #2 know history of both excellent performance and Hi quality craftmanship. the MSD's ignition coils seem to have a bad wrap with premature failures and i didn't have the confidence that MSD could produce with their 1st production run a HI quality opti-spark replacement i just thought it in my best intrest to pay a extra $100 for the peace of mind that the Dyna-spark's know history gave me.
my.2 worth
my.2 worth
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 9,916
Likes: 38
From: South Carolina
St. Jude Donor '03 & '05
I see a couple options.
1: Electric Water pump, cloyes double roller chain and a OEM Opti, with rotor cut off and enough left to hold the metal plate down for the optical sensor to see, and use DELTEQ.
2: Dynaspark/MSD with extensive ensurance and rechecking of learances when OPTI is installed. Dynaspark has very good instructions for this.
1: Electric Water pump, cloyes double roller chain and a OEM Opti, with rotor cut off and enough left to hold the metal plate down for the optical sensor to see, and use DELTEQ.
2: Dynaspark/MSD with extensive ensurance and rechecking of learances when OPTI is installed. Dynaspark has very good instructions for this.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 3,504
Likes: 4
From: Mexico Beach FL
Originally Posted by boonie
....the MSD's ignition coils seem to have a bad wrap with premature failures....
That means these ignition coils are running very close to their rated capability. They draw more current on the primary side -- more current and/or more voltage means more heat is generated internally in the coil.
And, what most don't understand, this also means the life expectancy is shorter. (I can see the posts coming now about how long some have lasted)
The OEM do a lot of research to determine what is the hottest coil that can be used, "ON AVERAGE", without a short life span.
The "stock" '96 coil (with its ignition module) represents the best of both worlds -- reliability with the extended RPM range for the LT4.
If that is not enough, the next best thing is to step up to a multi-coil ignition system.
I think of aftermarket "hot" coils like flashbulbs, they may bright for a second or two but you are going to replace them in a short time.
Tom Piper
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Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,322
Likes: 2,245
From: Central Maryland
Originally Posted by steve40th
Theres allot of threads on this. The MSD is really new, and the Dynaspark is a modified OEM, with many many imporvements. But, in all fairness the MSD is barely on the market. But based on previous MSD products through the years, I think MSD will come out on top, if you can get one quickly enough for your project. TJWONG has a few I believe.
The Dyna is vastly better than the first-gen OEM Opti. It is also better than the second-gen OEM Opti, although not as much better because the OEM unit was a huge improvement over the first-gen OEM unit.
The MSD is a new-to-the-market aftermarket replacement for the Opti, similar to the DynaSpark. We hope it will prove to be as good as the Dyna, but there is no long-term field data available to us as of yet.
The OP's member profile suggests that he's inquiring in reference to an opti on a '94. If this is the case, I'd strongly recommend that he NOT go with an OEM first-gen as a replacement, but rather that he opt for the Dyna or MSD instead.
Be well,
SJW
Last edited by SJW; Jun 25, 2006 at 10:36 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 9,916
Likes: 38
From: South Carolina
St. Jude Donor '03 & '05
Originally Posted by SJW
DynaSpark does not modify OEM Opti units and resell them. The Dyna is a built-from-scratch unit. The housing is whittled out of billet aluminum. It is a very high quality piece with substantial performance history in the field. It is totally waterproof.
The Dyna is vastly better than the first-gen OEM Opti. It is also better than the second-gen OEM Opti, although not as much better because the OEM unit was a huge improvement over the first-gen OEM unit.
The MSD is a new-to-the-market aftermarket replacement for the Opti, similar to the DynaSpark. We hope it will prove to be as good as the Dyna, but there is no long-term field data available to us as of yet.
The OP's member profile suggests that he's inquiring in reference to an opti on a '94. If this is the case, I'd strongly recommend that he NOT go with an OEM first-gen as a replacement, but rather that he opt for the Dyna or MSD instead.
Be well,
SJW
The Dyna is vastly better than the first-gen OEM Opti. It is also better than the second-gen OEM Opti, although not as much better because the OEM unit was a huge improvement over the first-gen OEM unit.
The MSD is a new-to-the-market aftermarket replacement for the Opti, similar to the DynaSpark. We hope it will prove to be as good as the Dyna, but there is no long-term field data available to us as of yet.
The OP's member profile suggests that he's inquiring in reference to an opti on a '94. If this is the case, I'd strongly recommend that he NOT go with an OEM first-gen as a replacement, but rather that he opt for the Dyna or MSD instead.
Be well,
SJW
The rest of it is OEM bearings, and the thing is sealed and balanced, tighter clearances etc etc.
The MSD is all new, everything, even the optical sensor, which dynaspark reuses. Dynaspark is a modified OEM, thats all, and its very good and well built to withstand the abuses of us. But, it is only rated to the rpm of the LT4, I beleive, as there warranty states within there instructions, or its 6200rpm.
From there website it states now 6800 rpm, but in there instructins when DTE had it, it was I beleive 6200rpm. http://www.dynaspark.net/advantage.htm
Last edited by steve40th; Jun 25, 2006 at 02:21 PM.
Collections Hold
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,899
Likes: 6
From: Fort Wayne Indiana
Originally Posted by steve40th
The housing is home made, but the cap and rotor are OEM, trust me I have seen one apart. ALso, the rotor is modified to stay together with a rivet I believe.
The rest of it is OEM bearings, and the thing is sealed and balanced, tighter clearances etc etc.
The MSD is all new, everything, even the optical sensor, which dynaspark reuses. Dynaspark is a modified OEM, thats all, and its very good and well built to withstand the abuses of us. But, it is only rated to the rpm of the LT4, I beleive, as there warranty states within there instructions, or its 6200rpm.
From there website it states now 6800 rpm, but in there instructins when DTE had it, it was I beleive 6200rpm. http://www.dynaspark.net/advantage.htm
The rest of it is OEM bearings, and the thing is sealed and balanced, tighter clearances etc etc.
The MSD is all new, everything, even the optical sensor, which dynaspark reuses. Dynaspark is a modified OEM, thats all, and its very good and well built to withstand the abuses of us. But, it is only rated to the rpm of the LT4, I beleive, as there warranty states within there instructions, or its 6200rpm.
From there website it states now 6800 rpm, but in there instructins when DTE had it, it was I beleive 6200rpm. http://www.dynaspark.net/advantage.htm
The Dynaspark Distributor was engineered from it's inception to withstand a 6800 RPM limit and that has been it's advertised operational range since it was first brought to market 3 1/2 years ago. Our old webpage stated it, Dynaspark.net's webpage states that now, as does the written instructions both then and now.
Regards,
DTE
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 9,916
Likes: 38
From: South Carolina
St. Jude Donor '03 & '05
Originally Posted by DynoTech Engineering
Just for clarification~
The Dynaspark Distributor was engineered from it's inception to withstand a 6800 RPM limit and that has been it's advertised operational range since it was first brought to market 3 1/2 years ago. Our old webpage stated it, Dynaspark.net's webpage states that now, as does the written instructions both then and now.
Regards,
DTE
The Dynaspark Distributor was engineered from it's inception to withstand a 6800 RPM limit and that has been it's advertised operational range since it was first brought to market 3 1/2 years ago. Our old webpage stated it, Dynaspark.net's webpage states that now, as does the written instructions both then and now.
Regards,
DTE
Well, Iam off to Washington. See ya in 5 weeks.
Last edited by steve40th; Jun 25, 2006 at 04:41 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,204
Likes: 4
From: Midland Georgia
St. Jude Donor '06
Yup.
Kevin,
Your assumption was right. So far, you are the only response with a actual MSD opti in the car. Are you running stock ignition or a MSD box?
I am leaning towards MSD because of the reputation and I am sure they R&D'd the thing to death...
Thanks.
Your assumption was right. So far, you are the only response with a actual MSD opti in the car. Are you running stock ignition or a MSD box?
I am leaning towards MSD because of the reputation and I am sure they R&D'd the thing to death...
Thanks.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Kenosha WI
I bought the Dyna for three reasons -
1) Needed it now - MSD keeps pushing delivery on Gen I back (heard it is now mid-July)
2) Dyna has a better warranty in case something should happen -
3) Dyna can also rebuild it in case something happens that is not under warranty -
Might be $100 more, but to me it was an easy choice.
Good luck on yours -
1) Needed it now - MSD keeps pushing delivery on Gen I back (heard it is now mid-July)
2) Dyna has a better warranty in case something should happen -
3) Dyna can also rebuild it in case something happens that is not under warranty -
Might be $100 more, but to me it was an easy choice.
Good luck on yours -
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 9,916
Likes: 38
From: South Carolina
St. Jude Donor '03 & '05
Originally Posted by jakers
Kevin,
Your assumption was right. So far, you are the only response with a actual MSD opti in the car. Are you running stock ignition or a MSD box?
I am leaning towards MSD because of the reputation and I am sure they R&D'd the thing to death...
Thanks.
Your assumption was right. So far, you are the only response with a actual MSD opti in the car. Are you running stock ignition or a MSD box?
I am leaning towards MSD because of the reputation and I am sure they R&D'd the thing to death...
Thanks.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 283
Likes: 0
From: stanwood wash
dynaspark
i went with dynaspark, for several reasons, advertised engineering, projected 100k usage, and waterproof. and i love it so far with about 15k miles on the unit. it starts right now and runs without fault. you pay more, but the peice of mind that the unit is designed to go long distances without breaking is worth it.
