MSD opti question
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 182
Likes: 1
From: oak island NC
MSD opti question
We are going to change the opti on LT4. On hand I have a new GM and new MSD. Are there any issues with the MSD that need perfecting? The MSD is a fine looking piece but I heard some rumors that it can be troublesome. Hope those are just rumors. Any input out there?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,799
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From: Cape Coral FL
Originally Posted by ncChris
We are going to change the opti on LT4. On hand I have a new GM and new MSD. Are there any issues with the MSD that need perfecting? The MSD is a fine looking piece but I heard some rumors that it can be troublesome. Hope those are just rumors. Any input out there?
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Fort Knox, KY
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The only issue I've heard about on this and other forums is the shaft bushings coming loose. This could have been an early production quality control issue.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 182
Likes: 1
From: oak island NC
Can you please give me the addresses for the forums that the MSD opti was discussed? I just spoke to a tech rep at MSD and he indicated that some people may have dissassembled theirs and not put them together properly. There are also issues with clearances using the stock water pump. We are running an electric.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 3,504
Likes: 4
From: Mexico Beach FL
The two main issues I saw on the Z28 forum were:
1) One had the rotor burn through in a very short time.
2) One had the plate under the rotor warp to the point the rotor rubbed on it and put debris through the inside -- the owner claimed he did not take it apart. He claims it came that way from MSD.
I've seen a few people complain about the timing adjustment being off the way it was received.
Tom Piper
1) One had the rotor burn through in a very short time.
2) One had the plate under the rotor warp to the point the rotor rubbed on it and put debris through the inside -- the owner claimed he did not take it apart. He claims it came that way from MSD.
I've seen a few people complain about the timing adjustment being off the way it was received.
Tom Piper
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,377
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From: Central Maryland
Originally Posted by ncChris
I just spoke to a tech rep at MSD and he indicated that some people may have dissassembled theirs and not put them together properly. There are also issues with clearances using the stock water pump. We are running an electric.
Be well,
SJW
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,141
Likes: 7
From: Metairie Louisiana
There were a few threads on here a while back about the MSD. Some people were modifying them before installing for some reason. There was a post or maybe a link to a write up that had pictures and the steps involved.
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Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 271
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From: Suisun City CA 1992 Coupe LT1 A4
My MSD distributor runs great as I now have about 1K miles on it. I think there were some folks that had timing issues although I had none. Mine fired right up, ran perfect, and still does. I did have a little trouble getting the rotor cap o-ring to stay in place, apparently if it slips out of place it causes distortion to the cap when you tighten it down which causes the rotor to rub. There is a guy in the Camaro forum that wrote an interesting report on this. I'll see if I can find it if you're interested. Hope this helps.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,141
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From: Metairie Louisiana
Originally Posted by wrw7255
My MSD distributor runs great as I now have about 1K miles on it. I think there were some folks that had timing issues although I had none. Mine fired right up, ran perfect, and still does. I did have a little trouble getting the rotor cap o-ring to stay in place, apparently if it slips out of place it causes distortion to the cap when you tighten it down which causes the rotor to rub. There is a guy in the Camaro forum that wrote an interesting report on this. I'll see if I can find it if you're interested. Hope this helps.
I think that is probably what I was remembering.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 182
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From: oak island NC
Sorry for the misconception. I heard rumors that a clearance issue existed and asked the MSD tech rep. His answer was that it was possible with a factory water pump that wasnt made to strict tolerances.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,141
Likes: 7
From: Metairie Louisiana
You may want to read these. I have always liked MSD products. When my opti goes I'll go with a delteq or an MSD.
http://home.comcast.net/~markpoulton/dist.pdf
http://web.camaross.com/forums/showt...light=MSD+opti
http://web.camaross.com/forums/showt...light=MSD+opti
http://www.msdignition.com/pdf/8381_frm27275.pdf
http://home.comcast.net/~markpoulton/dist.pdf
http://web.camaross.com/forums/showt...light=MSD+opti
http://web.camaross.com/forums/showt...light=MSD+opti
http://www.msdignition.com/pdf/8381_frm27275.pdf
Last edited by rickneworleansla; Oct 20, 2006 at 03:14 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 143
Likes: 3
From: Erie PA
MSD opti-spark
I installed one on my "93 and had problems with clearance to the water pump,specifically the bolt on the driver side.If you look at the GM one you will see that the bolt flange has a flat machined on it and the MSD does not.I had to grind off some material on the waterpump to get the necessary clearance.Also I called MSD to find out which rotation does what,clockwise rotation retards the spark.They said that the factory setting for shipping was two turns out from the bottom,mine was two and half turns.I still have a leak that I can not locate and am still looking for the optimin advance setting.I agree that the o-ring setup is not good,its a blind assembly and you do not know if did not slip off the lip as you tighten it.
Keep the wave,Ray
Keep the wave,Ray
