got my new summit last week and noticed msd makes a new cap and rotor kit for the lt1 optispark. vented, and nonvented versions available. just wondering if anyone has any input on this product? sells for $150.00

 

To little, 8 years to late. Theres been some talk about this in a couple of the posts.

 

so is it any good or not?

 

I don't think to many people have tried it. With the coil kits around they are a little late making it. If they would have made a whole opti unit to go with the cap and rotor and able to sell it for $200 they would have actually made somethin.

 

Not enough data, yet. Plus, some sources say they are back-ordered.

Even after people get them on their car, it will be many miles down the road before anyone knows if they are worth anything. I would say it would be at least a year before there is any decent data out there.

 

I noticed the "new" MSD cap and rotor for the LT1 opti distributor and was also wondering if someone had used it? One thing for sure, MSD makes high-quality products, so it should be good.

In the past when you had LT1 optispark distributor problems, your only option was to purchase a complete GM replacement distributor at about $270. However, we now have another option to buy the MSD cap and rotor at $150. So, with the new MSD items we can now rebuild the optispark distributor. Maybe it will hold-up better with the MSD cap and rotor!

I'm planning on installing the GM LT4 roller timing chain and gears on my LT1 in a few weeks. And, while I have it apart, I'm going to use the MSD cap and rotor to rebuild my opti. So, I've already decided to use the MSD cap and rotor, unless I hear something bad.

 

This is just a cap and rotor not the comeplete unit though, keep that in mind.

 

There has always been the option to buy just a cap and rotor, just not one from MSD. GM has always sold the cap and rotor kit. Aftermarket ones have been available, too.

 

Wells makes the caps, but I could never find one... they also make a good cap [brass contacts instead of aluminum, etc]

 

I just wasted an hour searching the internet for a Wells cap and rotor. I found their website and it's about the worst I ever saw. They have no links to anyone who sells their products, the only link on there that might help is dead, and the comment form (which I tried to use to tell them their website sucks and that I won't be buying their product since I can't find it) doesn't work. I sent them an e-mail instead. I would just get the MSD but it might be a good while before it would get here, while my car with new headers is running awful because of the opti.

 

Here are some additional thoughts on the optispark and MSD cap and rotor issue. If you are having optispark problems (bearings worn, photo emitter/receptor module bad), or have extreme high mileage (100K +), your best course-of-action would probably be to replace the complete distributor with the GM (OEM) replacement at $270+.

However, if you are not having any problems (other than cap & rotor), have low mileage and just want to freshen-up your optispark, the MSD cap and rotor would be the way to go at $150. Also, I haven't checked on the availability of an OEM, or aftermarket cap and rotor, other than the MSD. I do like MSD products.


1997 Silver Z/28 LT1-Auto
w/ 30 th Anniversary navy blue stripes
Kooks Long-Tubes w/ Off-Road Y-Pipe
Crane 1.6 Roller Rockers, K&N Air Intake,
Hypertech Performance Program,
Aluminum Driveshaft and a few undisclosed
upgrades.

 

I think Autozone might have the Wells. Look up the distributor, on Autozone's site, for an LT1, and see if it isn't a Wells.

 

I just saw an a big ad for this in the latest GMHTP I received yesterday, I was wondering what the price was, $150 sounds pretty reasonable for what it is. When it comes time to tear back into the motor for a cam upgrade or anything else down the road I would likely go with it, Ive never had any problems with my original opti but as mentioned it would be good to freshen up an older opti. I wouldnt expect any increased performance from it though.

 

Autozone has the Wells cap/rotor kit for $131.99 and CSK&AA stores have 4 different cap/rotor options: GP Sorensen ($132.88), AC Delco ($168.88), Borg Warner ($190.99), and Niehoff Ignition ($169.99).

 

My post wasn't a plug for Wells, just saying that others than GM makes them..
I never did find one locally[ no Autozones around here] but the way I did find out was I emailed their engineering dept when I first got the car[5+ yrs ago]
Here's the p/n's they gave me:
Cap & Rotor Kit Wells DR 2032 unvented [DR 2026 vented]
Never did get one, so can't say good or bad, but any others I have used are red, with brass contacts.. [not even positive that the p/n's are correct but they were gotten from Wells]