Who has an MSD Opti?

[Cross]

I am starting to think I might not have gotten the timing adjustment set right when i installed mine.

Can anyone tell me the way it should be stock and how you have it adjusted etc?

Thanks

[Chased]

As far as I know there is no adjustment unless to mean the way it goes on?


number one cyl. at top dead center and the cam pin at three o' clock how I always put mine on...

[The Engineer]

Yes, the MSD Optis have a +/- "trim" timing adjustment, note the adjustment screw on the upper left-hand side of the MSD. CCW adds advance and CW retards timing slightly. The adjustment screws are "supose" to be set to "0" at the factory, but I would check the internal mechanical position prior to installing the MSD. I believe the MDS Optis are the best option for LTX engines. PM me if you need some additional assistance.

WD

http://shutter06.pictures.aol.com/data/pictures/13/002/57/3B/B0/F4/ajuWlpldcFkc34ZdDZoBTTwdm7CkOhRj0300.jpg

[Cross]

Yeah I found my sheet it was supposed to be bottomed out then 2 turns back... I am second guessing myself if I did that now.

I am def happy with it though, hopefully by getting this one I will never have a problem again no matter what I replace around it lol.

[Fixxer99TA]

I have the MSD, its a very quality piece. I am sure you will be happy with it.

Double check where the adjustment screw is, but it should be locked in with some sort of thread locker (in the correct position, of course) from the factory (mine was). Should be pretty hard to move accidentally.

[The Engineer]

FYI. With the MSD Opti, I doesn't hurt to put some thread-locker (red or green) on the #6-32 rotor screws. Additionally, I used some slightly longer allen socket-head screws w/ flat washers on my MSD rotor and I haven't had any problems. Loose rotor screws on any brand Opti can be a big problem.

Also, the new square-profile (cross-section) O-Ring cap gasket is the only one to use. The older round one will slip off the housing lip and the cap will not fit flush.

WD

[Fixxer99TA]

FYI. With the MSD Opti, I doesn't hurt to put some thread-locker (red or green) on the #6-32 rotor screws. Additionally, I used some slightly longer allen socket-head screws w/ flat washers on my MSD rotor and I haven't had any problems. Loose rotor screws on any brand Opti can be a big problem.

Also, the new square-profile (cross-section) O-Ring cap gasket is the only one to use. The older round one will slip off the housing lip and the cap will not fit flush.

WD

+1 on the rotor screws and loctite, I usually do it with any opti I touch.

And good note on the newer O-ring, because I think they still give you both and it can be confusing. I will add that to my MSD Opti thread.

[Cross]

Well I think the MSD just took a dump, its got no spark again... died coming home from work.

I am really getting pissed enough to say screw it and sell it.

This makes 3 Optis now. There is no pulse on the fuel injectors and no spark.... generally means Opti but I did test the ICM and it did not work with another known good one.

I am going to tow it home and test the ground on the bottom make sure that PCM ground is good. Then test the PCM it self, rule out everything... and end up cursing MSD wishing I had just bought the damn GM OEM one. (I can just feel it)

[Cross]

Well I tested again after I got it towed home and it had pulse at the injectors.... ok I could have messed up but it has me concerned still.

I went through the ICM and Coil tests and it looked like the pulsing ground did not exist on the White Black wire.

So I took the ICM and coil off and went to Autozone, tested the coil and it kept going good, bad good bad... the coil would read something different every time.

Since the Fuel Injector test confirmed the Opti should be good and I still could not see how an MSD would go bad like that esp that quick when its so heavily modified... (I just let some of the negative LS1tech forum hype get to me I guess) I decided to spend the 35.99 and buy the MSD Street Coil.

Car fired right up again and this time when I took it out I could not see any gray white smoke behind me any more Above 4800 I did not notice any stumbling. Tomorrow in 4th we shall see how it does around 2000 rpms and if it hesitates again... Seems there were quite a few things going out when I did this, a bad rotor in the original Opti, then a bad Opti.

Now a Bad Coil... Rotor, Opti and Coil... every time another problem solved I guess *Shrugs*

[The Engineer]

Other than water in the Opti, or a worn-out shaft and/or cap and rotor(from mega miles), there are only two typical Opti failures.

1. If the optical sensor within the Opti fails, you will lose the high or low resolution pulses to the PCM. And a corrseponding SES along with a specific DTC will will occur (i.e., loss of high, or low pulse).

2. Next, loose rotor screws are the more common Opti issue. Therefore, you should always use thread-locker on the rotor screws.

WD

[Cross]

Well with the MSD I would expect that the flaws be corrected and the seals not be a problem anymore. Like the Dynaspark. I went with the MSD because I personally had never seen MSD Fail I just felt in the realm of the Ignition Boxes Jacobs was a better product. However MSD never left me without spark.

I was just worried after reading about quite a few failures.

Now would I be wrong to believe the seals were better on this opti? Everything else you stated was done.

[The Engineer]

I had some problems initially with my MSD Opti, however, I've got everything corrected and it has been running over one year now without any problems. I am very happy with the MSD now and I believe it is the best option for LTX engines. For example; The rotor and contact is much stronger than the factory GM rotor.

WD

[95LT1Z28]

The Engineer, i just bought an MSD opti for myself, what are some of the problems you smoothed out, I know I will probbaly have some. You can even leave me a PM so I dont high jack Cross's thread.