opti replacement
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,493
Likes: 94
From: Westfield MA
If you do an archive search on this forum and many others, you will find that there is not consensus on which opti is best. Having said that, I think that most people would stay with either an OEM, an MSD or a Dynaspark. the MSD and Dynaspark are both beautifully engineered and machined pieces of workmanship however neither has proven to be any more durable than the OEM units. Many people have had troubles with any of the various "low cost" replacements available.
Now you have the first generation "unvented" unit which can be upgraded to the vented type. In my opinion, I think this is a good idea and worth doing. I only base this on doing many hours of archive searches and not on years of actual testing or personal experience. There are several ways to do this upgrade, one is to change your timing chain cover, etc to accept the new style opti, one is to add vents to an unvented OEM unit, the third way is to get an MSD or Dynaspark unit which will bolt on to your engine and have the vent provisions in place. I would probably go with an MSD or Dynaspark unit if it were me. I have a 95, which is vented, so when I changed my waterpump, I used put in a new OEM unit.
Now you have the first generation "unvented" unit which can be upgraded to the vented type. In my opinion, I think this is a good idea and worth doing. I only base this on doing many hours of archive searches and not on years of actual testing or personal experience. There are several ways to do this upgrade, one is to change your timing chain cover, etc to accept the new style opti, one is to add vents to an unvented OEM unit, the third way is to get an MSD or Dynaspark unit which will bolt on to your engine and have the vent provisions in place. I would probably go with an MSD or Dynaspark unit if it were me. I have a 95, which is vented, so when I changed my waterpump, I used put in a new OEM unit.
