More Opti Problems, Could MSD Coil Cause?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 934
Likes: 0
From: MO
More Opti Problems, Could MSD Coil Cause?
Hello Guys,
I've been gone for a while with work, glad its slowed down. So
now I have some time to try and figure out why my car EATS Optis!
Ever since I did the Head/Cam swap and went to the new-style opti
I get about 20 hard runs out of one and then they start missing and soon croak. I was talking to a F-Body guy that said the MSD Blaster coil is slowly destroying them from the minute I install a new one. I also run a 6AL box, MSD Wires and Autolite Plugs. Any Truth to this?
I turn it about 7000-7200 rpm is that too much for the opti to handle?
I am so tired of changing these things I almost thought about selling the car. I really don't want to do that though. Any help is GREATLY Appreciated!!!
I've been gone for a while with work, glad its slowed down. So
now I have some time to try and figure out why my car EATS Optis!
Ever since I did the Head/Cam swap and went to the new-style opti
I get about 20 hard runs out of one and then they start missing and soon croak. I was talking to a F-Body guy that said the MSD Blaster coil is slowly destroying them from the minute I install a new one. I also run a 6AL box, MSD Wires and Autolite Plugs. Any Truth to this?
I turn it about 7000-7200 rpm is that too much for the opti to handle?
I am so tired of changing these things I almost thought about selling the car. I really don't want to do that though. Any help is GREATLY Appreciated!!!
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
The optispark was designed to distribute spark from a GM ignition coil that had a switched primary. You installed a CD ignition which has a very short rise time and much higher current pulse. In the older distributors, the MSD system burns out the carbon button due to the higher current pulse and MSD has a copper replacement for the carbon button. I suspect that your MSD capacitor discharge ignition system has higher energy in each spark pulse than the optispark can handle for very long.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,496
Likes: 1
From: alaska
ive read that they will do that.and i can understand how they would.
i cant remember the name of it but theres an ignition system that would be great for you and works with a dead opti left on the engine.it uses multiple coil paks.costs about 6 hundred but from what i understand you are done with ignition problems.
i cant remember the name of it but theres an ignition system that would be great for you and works with a dead opti left on the engine.it uses multiple coil paks.costs about 6 hundred but from what i understand you are done with ignition problems.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 934
Likes: 0
From: MO
I haven't been able to take one of the bad optis apart yet to see exactly whats going on with them cause I've been swappin em back in on warranty. But they sound like there is broken plastic parts inside when you shake them. I am really lost here.
I do remember the MSD burning up the button in old HEIs I've ran on other cars.
Why do I turn it so high? Well I don't have the exact stats on my cam with me right now. However it's a custom grind that was used in the same package on lcvette (Chris's) Dad's LT4 thats was running 11.50's and they said they shifting about 7200 RPM each time. With the 1.6's it has somewhere around .580/.600 lift and I can't tell you the duration with out looking at the spec card at home somewhere. I've been wondering if this too much for the opti. The car from 3500-7000 runs hard when the opti is working properly!
Any and all Help on this is Greatly Needed and Appreciated!
I do remember the MSD burning up the button in old HEIs I've ran on other cars.
Why do I turn it so high? Well I don't have the exact stats on my cam with me right now. However it's a custom grind that was used in the same package on lcvette (Chris's) Dad's LT4 thats was running 11.50's and they said they shifting about 7200 RPM each time. With the 1.6's it has somewhere around .580/.600 lift and I can't tell you the duration with out looking at the spec card at home somewhere. I've been wondering if this too much for the opti. The car from 3500-7000 runs hard when the opti is working properly!
Any and all Help on this is Greatly Needed and Appreciated!
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 14,165
Likes: 9
If there is something rattling inside the opti I would say it's probably physically broken, which is not related to the MSD. I'd actually guess that maybe the cam dowel pin is too long, putting too much stress on it.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 934
Likes: 0
From: MO
Nathan,
I've thought about this myself, however if that was true would the opti still fit on properly? They are always flush when I install them, I never use the opti bolts to pull it on or anything?!?! How far does the cam dowel pin normally stick out? This makes total sense to me also.
Also my shiftlite which is wired to the tach output on my MSD 6AL box never works properly. Use to work until the Opti would start failing then it seems anymore it never works. It will flash if the car fails to start so I know its not burnt out. Maybe the whole thing is just possessed?!?!
I've thought about this myself, however if that was true would the opti still fit on properly? They are always flush when I install them, I never use the opti bolts to pull it on or anything?!?! How far does the cam dowel pin normally stick out? This makes total sense to me also.
Also my shiftlite which is wired to the tach output on my MSD 6AL box never works properly. Use to work until the Opti would start failing then it seems anymore it never works. It will flash if the car fails to start so I know its not burnt out. Maybe the whole thing is just possessed?!?!
Last edited by James94LT1; Jul 27, 2004 at 02:51 PM.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 7,339
Likes: 137
From: WilkesBarre PA
Originally Posted by Nathan Plemons
Possible, but I don't buy it. I've been running a complete MSD ignition system for 2 years now, read close to 20k miles. That's an MSD Digital 6, MSD GM Blaster Coil, MSD Wires.
I have 4 years and 10,000 miles on all my stuff.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 934
Likes: 0
From: MO
So right now there is 3 options that is destroying my optis:
1) MSD Coil possibly 6AL box
2) Cam dowel pin to long
3) Turning over 6500 rpms
Is there anyone else that spins higher than 6500 out there?
Others are running the MSD system without problems, any for sure troubleshoots to an MSD coil?
Cam dowel pin? Could it stick to far out or possibly be slightly bent and cause failure? The optis all install fairly flush, I never have to force em on or anything.
I am stumped right now, the only other thing I can think of is the wire that runs into the opti from the harness, it had some corriosion in it that i cleaned with contact cleaner. COuld it be shorting out somewhere causing problems? I tried to replace it the last opti swap but no dealer in town had one.
Anyone else had any similar problems with a cam swap or did I do something wrong?
1) MSD Coil possibly 6AL box
2) Cam dowel pin to long
3) Turning over 6500 rpms
Is there anyone else that spins higher than 6500 out there?
Others are running the MSD system without problems, any for sure troubleshoots to an MSD coil?
Cam dowel pin? Could it stick to far out or possibly be slightly bent and cause failure? The optis all install fairly flush, I never have to force em on or anything.
I am stumped right now, the only other thing I can think of is the wire that runs into the opti from the harness, it had some corriosion in it that i cleaned with contact cleaner. COuld it be shorting out somewhere causing problems? I tried to replace it the last opti swap but no dealer in town had one.
Anyone else had any similar problems with a cam swap or did I do something wrong?
Last edited by James94LT1; Jul 28, 2004 at 02:56 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,522
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by mitymek
ive read that they will do that.and i can understand how they would.
i cant remember the name of it but theres an ignition system that would be great for you and works with a dead opti left on the engine.it uses multiple coil paks.costs about 6 hundred but from what i understand you are done with ignition problems.
i cant remember the name of it but theres an ignition system that would be great for you and works with a dead opti left on the engine.it uses multiple coil paks.costs about 6 hundred but from what i understand you are done with ignition problems.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 6,595
Likes: 1
From: Thornton CO
Are you running a solid roller setup in your car or something? Most of us can't spin more than 6,500. There is the Delteq and LTCC ignition systems that might help you out but I'm not sure since it sounds like you are physically breaking the opti.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 934
Likes: 0
From: MO
No It is still a hydrallic roller, compcam roller lifters, crane 1.6 gold rockers. LT4 fully ported heads with 2.02/1.60 ferrea vales.
Where can I find info the the LTCC or Delteq setups?
Where can I find info the the LTCC or Delteq setups?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 6,595
Likes: 1
From: Thornton CO
Here's the website for the Delteq: http://www.delteq.com/opti_stage1.htm
I think you can get the LTCC kits off of eBay.
I think you can get the LTCC kits off of eBay.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 6,595
Likes: 1
From: Thornton CO
Here is the website for the LTCC thing: http://www.bailey-eng.com/LTCC.html
I also found this little clip in a magazine article:
Sounds like your problem?
I also found this little clip in a magazine article:
The LTCC can be run to 8000 rpm, much higher than most anyone runs an LT1. For high rpm operation (>6000 rpm), it is a good idea to remove the rotor from the Opti-Spark as it tends to shatter.
