which opti to buy?
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,871
Likes: 15
From: Detroit's West Side MI
The Dynaspark is about $600, the MSD about $500.
Did that, still failed.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
From: Kemah Texas
92 LT1, C4... I went back with the MSD and love it... Easy install and I now have a vented opti in our humid weather... As an old racer I come to respect the MSD name and the quality (not perfect I know), but if I am going to spend the time and energy to replace the opti, clean the timing cover area, replacing and painting the water pump, I want to do the job with something a little better than OEM... After all if I wanted OEM and a half A$$ job I would go to the stealership... Be sure and check the timing adjustment before installing the MSD (if you go that way)... I spent a day looking for a vacuum leak (high idle) when I found out the adjustment for timing was not set...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,102
Likes: 1
From: Portsmouth Virginia 396LT4 435RWHP/400RWTQ Best so far 11.26 @ 123mph
Ditto on locktite for the rotor screws. My older Dynatech did have locktite on their screws. Don't know about Dynaspark when they took over the company.I would almost bet that not all, but alot of stock GM optis are failing due to rotor screws coming loose and damaging the internals as much as the opti sensor failing. Taking them apart to check this along with the cover being sealed correctly only makes good sense especially with the time it takes to install an opti. You wouldn't think that as much as you pay for even a stock GM opti, it should be necessary, but it is especially people that like to turn their engines high rpms frequently. I personally had a new stock GM opti fail in 1000 miles due to the rotor coming apart at 6500 and damaging the trigger wheel disc,optical sensor, and housing.
Rick
Rick
Last edited by PDQUIK95; Sep 3, 2008 at 09:20 AM. Reason: modify
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,871
Likes: 15
From: Detroit's West Side MI
I reinstalled this new rotor, being overly careful to loctite the screws and tighten to spec. I installed the seal, etc. Before ever seeing the track I already had an engine light. I pulled codes and got either a 16 or 36, can't remember now. Not having time to pull the damn thing off for the tenth time I ran the car anyway, and it lasted most of a Friday test and tune prior to leaving me stranded on the infield again.
Dissassembly showed that the screws had basically ripped themselves out of the metal disc. Same damage to the rotor as last time. I used red loctite, but not high-temp red loctite which is very hard to find (at least in my area). So...come to your own conclusions. My car is a higher HP 383 and I rev it up to about 6700 RPM about 4 times per lap, so I'm guessing I'm subjecting it to more heat and higher revs than most of you. But MSD promised that their part would handle 10,000 RPM and I'm only 67% of the way there...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,789
Likes: 8
From: Myrtle Beach SC
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
"
The Dynaspark rotor is equipped with aluminum rivets to hold the rotor contact in place and balanced to 6800 RPM."
No locktite for them.
Seriously I have not been able to tear down either MSD or Dynaspark's units but since Dynaspark offers a $36 rebuild and is every bit as good or better than MSD (better to me you do no dissasembly to mount it and it has the cap riveted on too. No user servicable parts) A slight premium on the price is not out of line. I see a lot of MSD guinea pigs and more than a couple dying. I have read of a couple of Dynaspark issues but not as many as MSD. They name recognition does not make it better. Look at the ACCEL opticraps that no one wants(and know one has mentioned)
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,102
Likes: 1
From: Portsmouth Virginia 396LT4 435RWHP/400RWTQ Best so far 11.26 @ 123mph
Redeasysport,
My mistake. I have the 5 year old Dynatech opti distributor before Dynaspark took over the Company. It did have Locktited screws, not rivets. Had it apart to verify this. I obviously made an assumption and shouldn't have.Sorry. Corrections made to post.
Rick
My mistake. I have the 5 year old Dynatech opti distributor before Dynaspark took over the Company. It did have Locktited screws, not rivets. Had it apart to verify this. I obviously made an assumption and shouldn't have.Sorry. Corrections made to post.
Rick
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,789
Likes: 8
From: Myrtle Beach SC
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Redeasysport,
My mistake. I have the 5 year old Dynatech opti distributor before Dynaspark took over the Company. It did have Locktited screws, not rivets. Had it apart to verify this. I obviously made an assumption and shouldn't have.Sorry. Corrections made to post.
Rick
My mistake. I have the 5 year old Dynatech opti distributor before Dynaspark took over the Company. It did have Locktited screws, not rivets. Had it apart to verify this. I obviously made an assumption and shouldn't have.Sorry. Corrections made to post.
Rick
Why did you have it apart if I may ask? Wasn't it sealed around the cap or did you cut the seal?
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,102
Likes: 1
From: Portsmouth Virginia 396LT4 435RWHP/400RWTQ Best so far 11.26 @ 123mph
Why? Call it curiosity. I was interested in what mods were made to it for educational reasons and after having a new Gm opti fail due to a loose rotor, I guess I didn't trust anybody's product at the time. I did obviously break the clear rtv cover seal but just resealed it. I also had it serviced by Dynatech in 2006 after running it 2 years on my 383 before installing it on my 396 just to make sure it checked out ok.
Rick
Rick
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,789
Likes: 8
From: Myrtle Beach SC
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Why? Call it curiosity. I was interested in what mods were made to it for educational reasons and after having a new Gm opti fail due to a loose rotor, I guess I didn't trust anybody's product at the time. I did obviously break the clear rtv cover seal but just resealed it. I also had it serviced by Dynatech in 2006 after running it 2 years on my 383 before installing it on my 396 just to make sure it checked out ok.
Rick
Rick
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,102
Likes: 1
From: Portsmouth Virginia 396LT4 435RWHP/400RWTQ Best so far 11.26 @ 123mph
Yes. 6500 rpms. I drag race it frequently. No problems yet at 7000 miles. Car is not a DD. Nothing really visibly different inside other than the nice machined billet base with o'ring seal. It mainly just appears to be sealed better at the built in harness connection and cover to help prevent moisture intrusion. Being vented doesn't hurt. As stated in past threads, the only other real problem I have had is oil intrusion into the dist.housing.It could have been coming through the rear bearing seal but I personally believe it came from increased reversion in the intake manifold due to an increased overlap camshaft, getting past the T.B. and being sucked into the opti vent suction hose. Unable to prove it though, I currently run an external filter on the suction hose outside the air plenum to eliminate this as a factor. I would buy another one if this should ever fail in either MSD or Dynaspark if finances permit. If not, then I would probably just go thru a new stock GM one and make sure it is tight and sealed well.
RG
RG
