GM's wonderful desing flaw....
 

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...rel/Opti_4.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...rel/Opti_3.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...rel/Opti_2.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...rel/Opti_1.jpg

what the **** happened??

Granted the opti is not stellar engineering, but it does not do this under normal stock RPM operating conditions.

So what kind of RPM are you turning to do that?

Looks like opti detonation to me. I worry about that stupid thing every time i buzz up to almost 7k.

Steve

That is what happens with the MSD HVC blaster coil will do to a rotor. I never spun it over 6500. That was the stock unit with an aftermarket cap and rotor though, so GM probably can't get the full blame.

I am sorry but i cant see hotter spark doing that. Cheapo non GM rotor seems more likely.

I have seen many stock units fail under the upgraded DIS units. Granted that is just a contributing factor, but all the opti's I have replaced have had an aftermarket ignition.

+1 for msd ****ing up my new opti!

Its funny, just reading the title of this thread but not clicking on it, I had the feeling this was going to be about the Optispark.:)

I also have trouble believing that a hotter coil will cause the rotor to physically fall apart, but even if it does, that is not a GM design flaw. Using the part in conditions it was not designed for is user error, not design error.

<edit>

I almost missed that part. So you're operating it outside of voltage spec and outside of RPM spec.

</edit>

I have a MSD coil and OEM replacement opti-spark..I have never seen this before and mine works fine upto 6500 RPM

Guys, I am not saying that MSD is at fault and they should replace my opti. This is a totally funny thing that has never happened to me before and I wanted to share the "glory" of how bad the damge was. Also, if you look closely had the last picture, you can see the melted portion of the rotor, this is what caused the rotor to come apart due to centrifugal force. I am not saying this is a direct cause of the MSD, but it didn't help the situation. Maybe it's just a freak accident.

Any pictures of the cap? It looks to me like the melting was due to rubbing on the cap, not the heat of the spark.

I have been running a Blaster coil and 6A for six years or more with no incident to the opti. People are quick to jump on the "MSDs kill optis" bandwagon without some thought. In most cases, there are often too many factors to even begin to isolate it to one thing.

Same thing goes for the "design flaw" theory. There have been guys post with stock, unvented optis lasting for over 300k miles. People expect it to last forever with all kinds of odd ignition modifications and then cry when it breaks. Get real. It's a wear and tear item. How many caps and rotors did you change on your old SBC in 100k miles (if the engine even lasted that long?). The opti is arguably the best, most precise distributor ever put on an SBC type engine.

I know they did not mount it in the friendliest of locations, but that is part of the game with the LT1. If they had left it in the traditional location, it would have been under the cowl and the whining about that would have never ended.

well said......

OMG, this is turning into a grudge match now. I simply wanted to show the damage that I had caused, nothing more. In my opinion, the hotter spark was a good culprit affecting a "not so sturdy" rotor. We can all agree that the optispark rotor could have been a little beefier. Maybe my choice of subject titles was wrong, my bad.

I have an accel opti spark 2. The rotor clearly appears to better made.

Me too.. And thats why i have my Delteq and took the rotor out.. :D

There's no "grudge" involved at all..... you damned GM for a poor design, then admitted you ran your engine outside of design specs, using aftermarket parts. Your whole approach to the problem is flawed. People are just trying to point that out.

Just out of curiosity, how many miles on the Opti?

Ahhh good times...good times. How about adjusting and replacing points. LOL I love my opti compares to those things.

Doggone, right! :D

Hmmm...let's see...where did I put my dwell meter.... :cool:

I agree with Shoebox. I dont mind the opti that much. The car has been through 2 in over 100,000 miles, but the trick is that I used GM parts. No remans, no Autozone garbage, GM ACDELCO Optisparks. I never have to screw with the opti, just put it on and drive, then when it fails, replace.

-Dustin-

The opti was the stock unit with less than 100,000. The cap and rotor were fairly new with less than 10,000. The car is rarely driven. Again, I probably used the wrong title, but it sounded good at the time. This is a result of what happens when want to go fast.

i also think the opti isnt as bad as most say, and after you've done it a time or two an opti exchange can be done in next to no time. my stock opti lasted around 180,000 miles and had gotten wet countless times.

I have to agree. The optispark is often blamed for a problem that can be repared simply by replacing the distributor cap and rotor. Some go the full length and replace the entire unit unnecessarily.

The problem posted is clearly an unusual one. It could have been caused by anything, and since it hasn't happened here before it likely is an anomaly.

I do think it makes for a very clean setup but I still think it could have been done a little more sturdier. But, I also understand that GM has to abide by the economics of mass production.

i see nothing wrong. just put it back on and forget it.

After my 1st opti, I had the same rotor crash (20K miles), I purchased a 2nd gm unit from Summit. It lasted 1 month. Took it off, and sure enough, it made noise, so, Summit gave me my money back. I looked @ Deltec, and, I could not jutify trashing all that extra MSD stuff I was using. So, I purchased another gm opti. This time I voided the warrantee, and, inserted my own rivets in place of those wimpy sonic welded plastice rotor contacts. It's working, or, I have luck. I've pulled 7K shifts with all that MSD 6A and 8202 coil. I agree, opti was not designed for MSD large spark energy. Also, I don't believe in the gm filtered vent tube (not enough internal opti air flow). I run an open tube now. I've had some luck for now. (97 LT1).

Expand on this a little bit. Open tube? Meaning you don't have anything connected to the air intake side of the opti?

Yes, I'm running an ATI-D1, and, I have this theory that these opti's get hot inside due to lack of air flow (and the added spark energy - MSD). Those stock filters are quite restrictive. So, now I run an open tube (vent). The suction side is run close to the D1 air intake. I don't have any data to support this open vent theory, except it's running good. I had to route the vent tube to a dry place due to potential problems with water. But, I try not to drive the car in wet weather due to lack of traction. Very dangerous with those 315-35-17 BFG KD's.

The fresh air feed side of the opti vent system has no obstruction or filter inline.

That's what had me so puzzled.