Hey guys,

Local speed shop phoned me and said their batch of MSD Opti's just came in. He put one aside for me. I'd like to go get it, but, am wondering what the first impressions are like for those that have installed them and ran them.

I'm also reading that many ppl. differ in oppinions about the timing adjustment and how to adjust it. I dunno about this, I wish it didn't have it. Here is why:

a) I have tunecat
b) I have a digital 6 igniton box with retard.

Too many retard adjustments might make stuff work wonky.

Right now my car is stock with 60k miles on it. If I drive it for 2h straight, it'll start to miss/cut out here and there, but otherwise at all times it starts to brake up (spark I think) above 4000 RPM in third gear and up. First and Second are ok, but Thrid and up is not. I put a fuel pressure gauge on it and it seems to be just fine during these miss/breakup periods. Feels like ignition. I have the following parts to install:

MSD Digital 6
MSD Wiring harness adapter
New Plugs
MSD Blaster Coil
Hooker LTs
CSI Electric WP
RR
MSD Self made OVC wires (I think I"m just gonna get this and make my own)
and now maybe MSD Opti

I have not had the car for too long and I have a lot of parts from my other car. I'm just finishing up the suspention install and am waiting for my diff to come back with fresh set of Motive Pro 4.10s, Auburn Posi, welded axle tubes, Main cap studs, TA cover. Once that is in, will go for a ride, then pull it back into the garage and take off the exhaust(got hooker LTs), do the free mods, change my intake gasket, install the electric pump and all the other parts and was gonna do the OPTI at the same time. Chances are its not my Opti, but I've been down this road before, and all my problems went away when I put on a new opti. I don't have as much time these days so I don't want to be taking stuff off more times then I have to.

So again, the guys that are running the MSD Opti, what are your thoughts? Any problems?

Thanks,

Igor.

 

You need the understand..... the "timing adjustment" does not appear to be there so people can play around with their ignition timing. The adjustment appears to be there so you can advance or retard a cam install, and not face the problem or reindexing the Opti by changing all the timing tables in the PCM. That's a one-time adjustment when the cam is installed. If you don't want to use that feature, don't use it.

The odd part seems to be that its apparently difficult to figure out what the "0" reference is on the adjustment dial, and how its set at the factory. The posts seem to indicate even the MSD techs are confused about this.

 

Yes, this is exactly what I have read. I would love to just leave it at "zero", but where is it. I guess its something a guy can play with.

I also heard that the first batch of MSD Opti's had a recall, but the new batch is "ok".

 

I second what Injuneer said. It installs nicely and looks quality but now I am having hesitation problems that I did not have before installing. I believe it is related to timing but have not been able to adjust it out yet. No zero pointer makes it a challenge to work with. The instructions say factory setting is 2 turns out and the unit is already set. I don't know if I trust them because I have a hesitation. By the way, according to MSD, (CCW) Counterclockwise is advance.

Jeff

 

Thanks Jeff.

It looks like a quality piece for sure. I just don't want any ignition problems otherwise its almost wiser to just get another GM one. Keep us posted on your progress.

Anyone else with this "hesitation" problem? Any other problems?

Thanks.

 

I have the first batch MSD disty on my 97 WS6. The only problem it gave me is that the timing was off on the opti. I wasn't sure which way to turn the screw, so I turned it all the way in. That obviously retarded my timming as I had no power at low RPM's. Then I turned it all the way out, the screw actually came out. That gave me a SES light and screwed up my O2's. I found that the best setting for my car was 3 turns clockwise after taking the screw all the way out. As far as the durability of this opti, I couldn't really tell you. Its only been installed for 2 months now. When I first put it on I thought it was garbage because after a few hours of driving I would start misfireing and stumbleing. Turns out that I cracked a few spark plug wires reinstalling the MSD opti. Changed the wires and plugs and now it runs great.

 

Without a pointer it is difficult. The computer is going to have the same amount of timing regardless, the screw just changes the pickup point of the sensor. So the computer thinks it is seeing the right amount of timing but it could still be off. I just played around with mine, just advanced it until I saw a little know retard and backed it off a little bit.

 

Still deciding on this....

Not even sure I need it yet, but it would not be a bad part to compelete my MSD parts list, lol.

 

Danny, Did you happen to measure the number of turns from the fully seated position? In other words, how many turns CCW from when the adjustment screw bottoms out? MSD told me that you should have about 2 turns CW or CCW from the center position which is the OEM equivalent.

Thanks,
Jeff

 

I installed mine yesterday. The only issues I'm having are when I start the car. I haven't touched the timing adjustment.
First time it started no problem, ran great.
Second time (a few hours later) it just cranked for a while like it was out of gas then fired up and ran fine.
Third time (a few more hours later) it started right up but it was idleing around 2000rpm until I put it in gear then it ran normal.

Maybe it's something else but I didn't have these issues before the swap.
I'm going to double check my wires later today. If I find anything I'll let you know.

 

Well its nice to know that no one makes a good replacement opti....heh.

 

If the MSD truely does not have some sort of calibration to establish the baseline "factory" Opti alignment, its a major faux pas.

 

I spent a few hours today and here is what I found. My MSD was set to 2 3/8 turns CCW from the fully turned in position out of the box from MSD. Their instructions say that 2 turns out is OEM equivalent and that the unit is supposed to be set to OEM setting out of the box. Well, that was not true. I tried advancing and retarding the timing in increments and can not find a setting where the engine will run properly. The car is undrivable at this point. It idles fine but it pops and sputters when I pump the throttle. On a road test, the car will not accelerate when I press the throttle.

I am now going to put the OEM Opti back in and see if the car runs correctly. I have checked all the basic causes of hesitation and found no other issues. The car ran fine before I put the MSD in. I almost hope now that it is the MSD. At least it will explain what happened.

What a waste of time!

Jeff

 

Let us know what happends.

My car is only driven in the summer in nice weather. I have an msd opti waiting for me at a local parts store but have not picked it up yet. Maybe the answer is just a new stock replacment one. Like you said, it would be a shame to waste so much time.

 

I'de bet he put it on wrong and it's slightly advanced. At idle it's not a problem. But when it revs up, it advances more and at that point it is so advanced, it's popping out the intake since it's firing when the valve is not fully closed.

Talk about wasting time, how about changing an opti that was running fine.

I never install an opti without viewing the rotor. Keep the rotor pointing in the direction it was when the old one is removed keeps the alignment straight every time.