Sounds like you may have installed the Opti incorrectly indexed to the cam. You didn't tell us what year your car is, but I'll take a guess and say its a 93 or 94 with the splined driveshaft a notch or two off (yes, it is VERY possible to assemble it that way, in spite of the teeth being splined).

 

i thought maybe msd tested and compared???

 

Yeah, and manufactures never tell fibs

 

yeah. i was just hoping there were some facts on longevity

 

It is a 94
For want of a better description there was a flat section on both splined
ends of the shaft, I lined these up with the "flat sections" in the cam gear
& the opti rotor drive bush.
Was this correct ?
I am also considering slotting opti engine mounting holes to allow for manual timing Adj ?
Going to strip again & recheck assembly of Opti drive.

Thanks
Patrick

 

F.Y.I. for the 93/94 owners. The MSD cap and rotor kit for 93/94s comes with the vent retrofit kit and the vent fittings on the cap.

 

Good to know. I wonder if the MSD replacement cap for the MSD Opti is different than the MSD replacement cap for the OEM Opti? Previous posts have said they would be the same but if they are, then I would have two intake vents ports, one on the housing and one on the replacement cap. The outlet vent port is already on the cap of the MSD Opti so that one shouldn't be a problem.

I would hate to have an extra port to plug since water intrusion is one of the suspected problems with Optis. Anyone know how this is handled?

 

Get a rubber cap the right size and plug the other one off. Ya wouldn't have to use a clamp if it fit tight and ya can get them in most any size.

 

If in fact the OEM replacement cap has a vent port, and the cap that comes with the entire MSD Opti has no port (I can confirm this), then I believe there are 2 different caps available for the MSD. I am going to find out what the part numbers are to confirm. I would use a rubber cap as you mention but I don't like having to seal openings when the OEM Opti is known for problems with water intrusion.

Jeff

 

I replaced the IAC last night (even though the original one measured OK using Shoebox's procedure) and thouroughly cleaned the throttle body. For good measure, I cleaned the MAF using a CRC electrical cleaner.

The car is idling great now. I can even see the IAC counts changing as they should and the RPMs changing in response. The hissing sound is gone too! I believe I have that problem worked out now.

I am still getting hesitation and surging when accelerating from a stop. I did not have this issue before putting in the MSD so either the MSD Opti is causing it or I something went wrong during the install. I am going to check for vacuum leaks where I connected the vent kit. I also got a code 32 (EGR) when I test drove it. Since the vent kit connects to the EGR vacuum line, maybe there is a leak there. I know the Opti is indexed properly on the shaft as I triple checked it.

If the timing adjustment was not at factory settings on the MSD, would it cause hesitation and surging?

Jeff

 

I just installed the msd opti dist in mine and i had to clearance the housing so the water pump would clear, i had to grind about a 16th of an inch off the opti housing. The pump would not seat right on the block because it was hanging up on the opti housing on the right side nearest the coil, wtf is this b.s.? I'll know tomorrow if this thing works or not.

 

Has anyone figured out which way you turn the adjustment screw to advance timing and which way retards it? The instructions say what's "stock", but not how it works.

 

I called MSD and they told me that Counter Clockwise (out) is advance. The instructions also said that the Opti is shipped set to the factory settings which is 2 turns out. Mine was only set to 3/4 turn out. The MSD rep also told me that you should have about 2 turns in or out from the initial factory setting. I could only go 3/4 turn in and about 1.5 tunrns out so the turn range is not quite as large as they say. I can't say about the actual number of degrees of timing because I don't have timing marks.

Jeff

PS. I had no clearance issues. It fit perfectly. I am still having hesitation problems that were not there before I replaced the Opti. Still not sure if it is the Opti or something else I did not put back together properly. I am now looking into the grounds on the ICM and checking the plug wires.