MSD Pro-Billet Optispark Review!

[Fixxer99TA]

Pictures to come soon when I can get to my other computer (kinda messed up right now).

I posted this a few months back when I installed my MSD PB Optispark on my Hawk, just to debunk alot of the anti-MSD crap that was floating around. Happy to say we hit about 3,000 miles today and its still pulling smooth as a babys ass. Here is what I origionally posted :

The best answer you can give to my title is "NO, your OPINION means NOTHING!".....

(The title, if you posted on LS1tech.com, was "Just picked up an MSD Opti, would you like my opinion?")

But in all seriousness, I just got my pro-billet optispark in the mail and its going on the LT1 hawk before the 3rd (whenever I get off my lazy ass and get it done).......Just checking the forums here to see if you guys would like me to post up impressions/actual results.

I have seen alot of posts asking about optis, MSD optis, how well they work, what to get, is it worth the money ect... So I figured I could give a little first hand input as I have one in my hands, and I know a thing or two about the system so I can put some of these threads to rest.

I am a trained GM tech, and have many years experience with a wide range of vehicles.....Especially y/b/f bodies as we ALL know they are the best! (LT1 or LS1 alike) http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_nod.gif

My Initial thoughts? :

This thing looks awsome, but we have ALLLLL seen it....Nice machined billet backing, NEW high/low res sensors and timing adjustment screw, the rotor lost some weight and "apparently" is better balanced, brass contacts, extra screws to hold it togeather and to top it off, a BRAND new opti harness is included with all of them (as far as I know). Looks to be made of a "better" composite material also....

My last delco (origional) opti bit the big one at 66k, the rotor bearings were grinding, and eventually got the dreaded opti codes one by one. If anyone is interested in me continuing this little review, post it up here and I will keep checking back.... I do not by any means drive my car easy, it gets all the best parts, but does not lead an easy life.....So I figured if this can stand up to me, then others might be interested to try it. So post up guys, let me know if all this typing is going to be worth something, or should I just take it somewhere else http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_chug.gif

NOTES FOR INSTALL :

Two quick things to note when installing your MSD (OR any opti for that matter, most any opti can benefit from this). #1 - LOCTITE YOUR ROTOR SCREWS : Its pretty simple, only two little screws to take out and loctite. Size on the screws is #6-32 IIRC, and red OR green loctite can be used. #2 - The MSD Opti is supplied with two gaskets, use the NEWER O-ring with the SQUARE profile. The older design can slip off the lip its supposed to sit on and cause the cap to seat incorrectly. MAKE SURE THE CAP IS FLUSH TO THE BILLET BASE! When you finally install the Opti onto your engine, you should NOT have to pull the Opti to the timing cover with the bolts. IT SHOULD FIT FLUSH WITHOUT MUCH FORCE! Once the opti is flush with the cover, THEN reinstall opti bolts.

So my timeline starts here :
- 7/20/08 - Installed.
- 10/11/08 - 3,000 Mile mark.


EDIT : Updated on 10/11/08 with the most recent mileage at 3,000. Still going strong. Not much, but I will keep track until this sucker decides to give up the ghost :D

Should be something like 5,000 on before the season ends and the car is off the road, hopefully with a few track passes. The car has already been put through its paces and run all the way out with no problems. Just need some solid track runs.

EDIT : Update again 5/5/10 : Still Great. Something like 8,000-10,000 on it? Lots of WOT runs, some spirited driving.... ect.... I will keep it updated.

[Fixxer99TA]

Maybe a review section in the "walkthrough" area would be a good idea, as I have a few parts I could also review. This is the only one I have done so far, so if theres anything you would like to know/add post it up. I only did this review (as stated before) to put to rest alot of the BS that MSD haters were posting, so I decided to take on a review from a non-biased standpoint. Alot of the guys that were talking trash about the MSD PB Opti had never even seen/touched one before. Now I like to hear about new products for sure, but not from someone who has no experience with it whatsoever. I like MSD products, but not to the point I would defend trash (doesnt happen with me, if its trash it gets shit on).

EDIT : Tomorrow I will post up some pics of my install/the MSD before it went in. They are on my other computer.

[SSSC]

Good deal

[James Montigny]

/subscribe

[Blubird]

i installed this also last april, havent had any issues, its out lasted every opti ive had, i think i have ~15,000 miles on it now

[grn95t/a]

/subscribe

x2....:D

[jaysz2893]

i did a review of this unt at my local club's website. I agree fixxer, it is an impressive looking piece. I was fully impressed with the build quality. I have toasted 2 optis before installing the MSD. One had 55K miles the other had 4K. So far i have about 1000 miles on the MSD. It runs a lot smoother, and starts better than any Delco unt i used. Keep us posted on yours. Mine wil not see 5000 miles untill 2 years from now.. LOL Hofully it doesnt die of old age. /hijack \suscribe

[Spudnick]

10k on mine and not one hiccup.

[uncool]

Mine is sitting in the passenger seat waiting to go on with a new WP/plugs/wires/midtubes/tstat.......

I have used MSD for 15+ years and have only ever had 1 problem, it was a 6AL box that crapped out after two years, sent it back and they repaired it for $50. Put it back in and I died a year later. Sent it back and the sent me a 6A to replace it, (didn't need the revlimiter function). I was happy, and will continue to run MSD for years to come.

There digital stuff sure looks nice.

[Fixxer99TA]

Yeah my last estimate of 5k might be a little high, as its starting to get cold here and I just hit the 3k mark... Hopefully I can get some track runs in before the end of the season for some real numbers but we will see.

Time to prepare for plowing season :D

[hartman]

any other updates?

[uncool]

Got mine installed. Starts faster, idles smoother, pulls harder up to redline. I can say so far that it is money well spent.

Good thing I was changing out the WP also. The outer seal in the bearing was gone, the bearing cage was gone and all the ball bearings were down in the bottom.

Got a little over 1k on the Opti now.

[95LT1Z28]

Have mine installed, havent started the car yet though! I cant wait to do so!

[96 Z-Ragtop]

Mine is in and working like a champ :cool:

[Fixxer99TA]

Pulling the car out soon to give that MSD Opti a workout again. Just bumping this up as I saw another review and people asking for updates...

Car isnt out yet, but almost there...

Currently, about 1 year and 3k Miles on the new MSD Unit.

EDIT : Going to see if we can make some kind of review section for all these part reviews..

[alan]

long term update on MSD please!!

Also, spoke with Joe at MSD yesterday and he was honest enough to say the reason the MSD opti had gotten some negative feedback was that some of the early models were held together by inferior screws (which is probably why the op said take out and loctite) but the new units (post Feb 09) are held together by bolts.

[jaysz2893]

crap, i got mine back in may of 2008. I didnt know about loctiting the screws back then. Well 2 years and about 3500 miles, so far so good..

[Fixxer99TA]

Running fine here, locktite those screws anyways I say. Better safe than sorry.

Couldent be happier, car still runs strong as ever and I cant wait to get some real runs out of it this season. Now that I remember this thread, when I get the car back out I will bump it constantly with updates for those interested.

[Tarheel'Z']

have i just been lucky?
stocker went over 50k and oem replacement is at 24k,and i didnt know to put locktite on rotor screws

[Fixxer99TA]

Not sure if GM puts anything on them from the factory, they might.

Id just locktite em all to be safe, not that GMs units have a history of it.

[19mike84]

ive had an msd distributer for over a year with no problems at all

[Fixxer99TA]

Update for those who wanted to know how its doing...

Just got the car back out and its running a little better with some new stuff, thankfully I got it out early this season so it should see some good use.

Just put in some Pacesetter LTs (Race/Coated)/ORY/Hooker catback along with a new GM waterpump (finally started leaking through the weep hole). The MSD Opti got a little coolant on it with the whole weep hole leak/changing the waterpump deal and it wasnt a problem.

I will update this thread every so often for those interested in hearing how it holds up. So far so good, great investment.

[Transamman25]

Just so everyone knows,

when I installed my MSD Opti it stole 10 degrees of timing, I might have never known if I wasn't data logging and on the dyno.... Just a heads up - check your timing before and after an MSD opti install!

Although after programming 15 degrees of timing back in.... I have yet to have an issue!

[CamaroGirl]

wow thanks for this thread fixxer! i'm in the midst of either pickin this or the delco up :D

[Blubird]

Usually the people who blame the opti don't know what they are doing and install it wrong

[Phstratton]

/subscribe

[CamaroGirl]

Just so everyone knows,

when I installed my MSD Opti it stole 10 degrees of timing, I might have never known if I wasn't data logging and on the dyno.... Just a heads up - check your timing before and after an MSD opti install!

Although after programming 15 degrees of timing back in.... I have yet to have an issue!
and this makes sense. i figured i'd have to, i mean msd says it's pre set for a stock engine but come on.

[BLK95-Z]

I think Im going to give one if these a try. My dad doesnt understand why I want a $500 opti when Ive got 2 working ones but theyre both old (100k+). Its such a pita to change I dont want to do it again.

[Fixxer99TA]

Well, for all you that have been coming back and looking for updates. Its still in the Hawk, and still kickin ass.

Hit the track at the end of this year, ran 12.7 and pulled smooth as hell. And I wasnt babying it this year either (not like I ever do) :D

EDIT : I will have to get a "total mileage/time its been in the car" estimate soon again, its been awhile since the last update and I cant remember how far exactly I drove it this year.

[Blubird]

I had mine on my car for 3 years with no problems when my Camaro was my daily driver,and it was a stock engine.It even ran on the dyno and it didn't pull timing so idk what that guy is talking about.I haven't heard anyone say that.

[Stockish]

Hahaha, wow I just deleted a whole long ass post about how many problems I had with one a friend bought, killed 2 summers he could have been driving it but I am glad to see they are working for you guys, maybe I will try to give them the benefit of the doubt and just believe the one he bought was the last one out the door on a Friday before a holiday haha

[Blubird]

Mine also came with a 1 yr warranty.I don't know if they are still doing that,but can't go wrong with a warranty.

[CamaroGirl]

sheet that came with said limited lifetime. as long as i work with lordco that shit is always gonna be under warranty. i wouldnt even fuck around sending it back to them to repair. i'd just defective it, and get new unit. IF that had to happen.

[Rob94hawk]

Just ordered the MSD opti through summit since my so called "reliable" AC Delco unit took a crap after ~500 miles. Praying this one doesn't piss me off.

[Some_Random_Guy]

Mine is calling it quits. Almost 6k miles old

[tarheelsoldier]

Hell I got mine wet. Dried it out and it still runs strong. And i have had mine on now o
For over a year... 15-20k

[Pontiac-a-lack'a]

well mine started to misfire the first day :-(

[shadowbandit]

I got 101,000 on my factory opti and its still turning like a champ

[Pontiac-a-lack'a]

I got 101,000 on my factory opti and its still turning like a champ


Do you spin your motor past 6000rpms often??

[uncool]

16K on my MSD opti. See's 6500 every time I get on the freeway.

[Pontiac-a-lack'a]

I found very small amount of loctite residue on the MSD opti-disc and surrounding area where the disc is located. I cleaned the disc, car runs better but still misfires at high rpm's. Getting a cheaper opti to temporarily replace the MSD to send it back for warranty repairs. May try the LTCC in the near future, though.

[shadowbandit]

All the time I'm no way easy on that thing car has spray to and wind it up to 6400 every time

[Pontiac-a-lack'a]

All the time I'm no way easy on that thing car has spray to and wind it up to 6400 every time

Well, you dodged the bullet, I bit it!! lol

[Pontiac-a-lack'a]

16K on my MSD opti. See's 6500 every time I get on the freeway.
Well, You dodged the bullet......And I bit the bullet....................................again. :doh:

[Pontiac-a-lack'a]

16K on my MSD opti. See's 6500 every time I get on the freeway.

Wondered why mine took a dump the first day? I loctite the rotors, like a lot of people suggests . I install opti's quite often so I know I installed it correctly. The car started up and run like a champ the first 2 to 3 hours. Lot's of torque at low RPM's. And when I would roll start in second gear, then nail it, the tires would fight for traction. Loved it..... at first. THEN later on, all of a sudden, it started to loosing a little power and misfires at top end. Then, it would misfire rather loudly when I take off driving normally after the misfires at high RPM's had taken place. After cooling down, it would run a little better but the misfires would start over again once warmed up. AND THIS IS THE MSD !!! :doh:

[uncool]

Pontiac-a-lack'a, sorry to here of your troubles. How long ago did you purchase your opti? I do have one of those oddball 93 LT1's. I have always had good luck with the MSD stuff, so I bought this one when I needed a new opti after a water pump went out. I read everything I could about them and still took the chance. Has been working flawlessly for me. Right now I am fighting a fuel issue, so I can't even drive the car.

[Pontiac-a-lack'a]

Pontiac-a-lack'a, sorry to here of your troubles. How long ago did you purchase your opti? I do have one of those oddball 93 LT1's. I have always had good luck with the MSD stuff, so I bought this one when I needed a new opti after a water pump went out. I read everything I could about them and still took the chance. Has been working flawlessly for me. Right now I am fighting a fuel issue, so I can't even drive the car.


Wow! Sorry to here about fuel issue. You think that could be the opti doing this as well??
Yes, my car is a '93 but I didn't know this particular year was so "special" lol

I purchased the MSD opti about 2 weeks ago. I do have a warranty on it, however my car is daily driven and since my other car is also down, the Trans Am is my only source of transportation right now, so I would have to buy another opti and put that on first before I send the MSD opti back to factory . :doh:

[Pontiac-a-lack'a]

Wow, no MSD updates you guys???

[stevo9389]

mine called it quits after 20k miles of weekly beatings for almost 2 years. around 18k i found some engine harness issues which would trigger a high res fail randomly but the stake through the heart was a broken rotor from both screws backing out. FWIW i pulled the opti on 2 occasions to spot check cap/rotor wear and both times never had loctite on hand to do it so it was my fault.

[Pontiac-a-lack'a]

For a part as expensive as the MSD Opti, screws shouldn't be backing out in the first place and we shouldn't have to loctite anything on this part. It's a performance part. It supposed to take the abuse without the loctite or any other help for that matter!!!

[Fixxer99TA]

True, they should locktite em from the factory. That I would agree with.

Somewhere around 10k+ and LOTS of beatings (pretty much every time I drive it, gotta enjoy it right?) and still no problems here. Its seen 6k+ many many times. Its been at least 4 years too, maybe 5 since I did that install... Not sure though, havent done the math :D

[joelster]

My MSD updates......

On my stock shortblock engine I have a non-vented MSD opti. I was running a stock opti but after a few years of 6800-6900 rpm shifting it started to sputter at anything above 6k. I replaced the stocker with the MSD and have no issues for 2 years and a ton of street miles. Probably 6-7000 street miles along with 80-100 dragstrip passes all at near 7k rpm. The motor was pulled and is waiting right here for a new home. MSD opti still running strong.

New 414" motor has a MSD vented opti. 2 years now, not as many street miles, maybe 2000, and around 40 track passes, with zero issues.

[Pontiac-a-lack'a]

Wow!!! After intense examination of my engine, I notice something very interesting. One night, while I was looking under the hood with no light, running the motor, and was just staring at the engine compartment, I noticed streaks of light coming from ignition coil to the opti and from the opti passing along one of the spark plug wires on the driver side of the engine compartment. "MY GOODNESS!!! HERE IS THE CAUSE OF THE MISFIRE!!," I said. It had a bad ignition and a bad spark plug wire!

This cause me to think about, some time ago, I remember changing a particular spark plug wire because the wire before that one got singed by touching the header. Replaced it with an old one laying around at that!! But it wasn't misfiring at that time, though.

Well, soon after discovering the bad ignition and the bad spark plug wire, I'd gotten new wires and the misfire were GONE!! Engine power RESTORED!!! Now the engine scream pass 5000rpm's with no sputters!! Smoke tires at first, second, third, and a chirp at fourth!! LOving this!!:claps::finger: This is with a cheap $80 opti I bought to use while waiting for the NEW MSD opti replacement to come in the mail (that I thought the previous MSD opti was bad).
Now, the new MSD opti replacement just came in. :claps::clap:

[Pontiac-a-lack'a]

Update:

MSD installed and put it through it's paces. Noticed quicker engine response and stronger top end power. Drove a very hard 50 miles. No issues so far. seem to run even better after that!!:claps: :finger:

[Pontiac-a-lack'a]

Update: Now I am starting to believe in MSD again. The car is running better than ever!! Approaching the 200 mile mark!! :cool:

[Pontiac-a-lack'a]

1,500 miles and still going strong!!

[1sicks10]

Any updates guys?

[casey20000007]

My MSD pro billet is still going strong after a year and a half, with a radiator hose busting all over it and whatnot, best opti money can buy


SMOKE TIRES NOT DRUGS

[1sicks10]

Good, I'm about to pull the trigger on a new one. Hopefully my luck will be as good as you guys