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......