Who Wants a MSD Replacement for the Opticrap?
Registered User
Joined: Sep 1998
Posts: 51
Hate to burst everyone's bubble but I've been trying this one on the local level with the senior managers here since 95. There just isn't an economical benefit out there for this company to do this. Autoronics Control Corp. (MSD) just isn't that big of a company to take on this type of engineering project. My car was a test car for a blaster version of the 96+ coil & even that didn't produce a significant gain to make it into production. That's why it never made it to the shelves. They've already researched it quite a bit and came up with the solution that some sort of coil pack conversion would work best to replace the opti but it would cost them so much to undergo the project that the'd lose wuite a bit of money by doing so. 
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97 Z-28, 11.2 to 1 comp. 355, 236/242 w/ .580/.600 lift Crane cam, Hooker LT's, LT-1 edit (OBD II), TCI SSF 3800 stall, 3.73's, true duals w/ Dr. Gas X-pipe, Callaway CAI, LT-4 intake, ported heads, TH-400, NX wet kit, tons of suspension mods among other things. No times yet, will get kicked off the track on the first pass.
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97 Z-28, 11.2 to 1 comp. 355, 236/242 w/ .580/.600 lift Crane cam, Hooker LT's, LT-1 edit (OBD II), TCI SSF 3800 stall, 3.73's, true duals w/ Dr. Gas X-pipe, Callaway CAI, LT-4 intake, ported heads, TH-400, NX wet kit, tons of suspension mods among other things. No times yet, will get kicked off the track on the first pass.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 127
From: Akron Ohio
[QUOTE]Originally posted by James Krawcion:
[B]Hate to burst everyone's bubble but I've been trying this one on the local level with the senior managers here since 95. There just isn't an economical benefit out there for this company to do this. Autoronics Control Corp. (MSD) just isn't that big of a company to take on this type of engineering project. My car was a test car for a blaster version of the 96+ coil & even that didn't produce a significant gain to make it into production. That's why it never made it to the shelves. They've already researched it quite a bit and came up with the solution that some sort of coil pack conversion would work best to replace the opti but it would cost them so much to undergo the project that the'd lose wuite a bit of money by doing so.
The single connector coil for 1996-newer cars you refer to is part number 8231. I put it in the Summit catalog several months ago. I couldn't tell you the performance benefit in hard numbers because I've never dyno'd one, but I would guess it is the same as any other coil (not much).
A basic rule for a company to make money is to produce a product that people want for a price they can pay at a profit margin that will generate sales revenue. If MSD can develope a DIS system, a magneto, and the Digital 7 Plus programmable ignition, they should be able develope a distributor. They have distributors for Flathead Fords, Air Cooled VW's, and the Pontiac 2.5L. I would think that since there are 1.2 Million LT1's out there that will have to replace the Opti, there is a lot more sales pontential than for a Flathead (no offense old schoolers, but let's be real).
Anyway, the point of this excersise is to show MSD that there is a real demand for this product. I feel they do have the resources, considering the rest of their product line. If you are an employee of MSD, maybe mention to your senior management that if you let operations run your business, you will not see any growth. If Summit did that, it would still be a two man operation out of the back of the owner's pick up.
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1997 Z28 MM6 Moroso CAI, Flomaster American Thunder, Taylor, Air Foil, SLP Headers, Crane Ignition, MAF, HPPIII, 4:10's, Summit Girdle, Drilled Rotors,
13.75@ 100.98 MPH
2.055 60'
No New Times With Gears....yet.
[B]Hate to burst everyone's bubble but I've been trying this one on the local level with the senior managers here since 95. There just isn't an economical benefit out there for this company to do this. Autoronics Control Corp. (MSD) just isn't that big of a company to take on this type of engineering project. My car was a test car for a blaster version of the 96+ coil & even that didn't produce a significant gain to make it into production. That's why it never made it to the shelves. They've already researched it quite a bit and came up with the solution that some sort of coil pack conversion would work best to replace the opti but it would cost them so much to undergo the project that the'd lose wuite a bit of money by doing so.
The single connector coil for 1996-newer cars you refer to is part number 8231. I put it in the Summit catalog several months ago. I couldn't tell you the performance benefit in hard numbers because I've never dyno'd one, but I would guess it is the same as any other coil (not much).
A basic rule for a company to make money is to produce a product that people want for a price they can pay at a profit margin that will generate sales revenue. If MSD can develope a DIS system, a magneto, and the Digital 7 Plus programmable ignition, they should be able develope a distributor. They have distributors for Flathead Fords, Air Cooled VW's, and the Pontiac 2.5L. I would think that since there are 1.2 Million LT1's out there that will have to replace the Opti, there is a lot more sales pontential than for a Flathead (no offense old schoolers, but let's be real).
Anyway, the point of this excersise is to show MSD that there is a real demand for this product. I feel they do have the resources, considering the rest of their product line. If you are an employee of MSD, maybe mention to your senior management that if you let operations run your business, you will not see any growth. If Summit did that, it would still be a two man operation out of the back of the owner's pick up.
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1997 Z28 MM6 Moroso CAI, Flomaster American Thunder, Taylor, Air Foil, SLP Headers, Crane Ignition, MAF, HPPIII, 4:10's, Summit Girdle, Drilled Rotors,
13.75@ 100.98 MPH
2.055 60'
No New Times With Gears....yet.
Registered User
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 14
From: california
Knowing Im on My 4th optispark in 2 years. im looking into any alternatives.
i mean ide be willing to go as far as ripping all the electronics off the motor and loose fule injection to not have to replace 1 more optispark.
this part is complete crap, i cant wash my car with out my opti taking a crap. and considering the amount of lt1 motors on the road. 1.2 mill camaros not to mention all the lt1 vettes devilles etc......
has anyone watched that show on the history channel " Great Blunders In History " you would be a damn fool to make performance parts and not consider a reliable replacement for a CRAP ignition (NEED I REMIND YOU IT IS CRAP GM) on a common sports car like a vette or camaro. if i had the known that i would be replacing my opti 4 times in 2 years and paying stupid amounts of money and wasting so much of my time due to a part which should never have been installed. i woulda replaced it with the alternative a long time ago and saved my self the tears
. ide back any alternative to opticrap .
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mystic teal 97',z28, a4, k&n cai filter-charger kit, hyper-tec Ppp+, 275 nitto dr's @15lbs on zr1 rims, gm 373:1 gears, bbk headers. flowmaster catback. b&m shift thingy, 72mm maf, bmr boxed subframe connectors, asp 25% + alt pulley, 58mm tb, home ported intake.
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soon to come: ported afr 195cc lt4 heads. lt4 intake, 3600 vig, a nice big cam. and a bunch of other misc. parts.
www.nothot.net
i mean ide be willing to go as far as ripping all the electronics off the motor and loose fule injection to not have to replace 1 more optispark.
this part is complete crap, i cant wash my car with out my opti taking a crap. and considering the amount of lt1 motors on the road. 1.2 mill camaros not to mention all the lt1 vettes devilles etc......
has anyone watched that show on the history channel " Great Blunders In History " you would be a damn fool to make performance parts and not consider a reliable replacement for a CRAP ignition (NEED I REMIND YOU IT IS CRAP GM) on a common sports car like a vette or camaro. if i had the known that i would be replacing my opti 4 times in 2 years and paying stupid amounts of money and wasting so much of my time due to a part which should never have been installed. i woulda replaced it with the alternative a long time ago and saved my self the tears
. ide back any alternative to opticrap .------------------
mystic teal 97',z28, a4, k&n cai filter-charger kit, hyper-tec Ppp+, 275 nitto dr's @15lbs on zr1 rims, gm 373:1 gears, bbk headers. flowmaster catback. b&m shift thingy, 72mm maf, bmr boxed subframe connectors, asp 25% + alt pulley, 58mm tb, home ported intake.
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soon to come: ported afr 195cc lt4 heads. lt4 intake, 3600 vig, a nice big cam. and a bunch of other misc. parts.
www.nothot.net
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 26
From: Clovis,NM
definalty count me in. an aftermarket replacement for the opticrap would be a huge improvement on the reliability of the LT1 platform.
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93 Z28 M6 M29 K&N FIPK, Accel 300+ Ignition, Flowmaster 80 Muffler, 12 bolt rear end.
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93 Z28 M6 M29 K&N FIPK, Accel 300+ Ignition, Flowmaster 80 Muffler, 12 bolt rear end.
Registered User
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 41
From: Tampa, FL
Hell yes I'm in. I'm on my second opti now and know it won't be long before I need another. If MSD or anyone for that matter made a replacement that was water proof, I know it would sell like hot cakes. Someone really needs to do something for us!!!
Bruce
Bruce
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 924
From: SE Michigan
Heres another one! I haven't had any problems with my opti yet, which leads me to believe that it's in the "near" future!
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~Rich
95 Arctic White Z~28
Borla, Quictime Electric Cutout, MAC Headers/Y-Pipe/Off Road Pipe, Granatelli MAF Sensor, MSD Super Conductor Wires, Bosch Platinum +4 Plugs, Air Foil, K&N, Trans Go Shift Kit, Digital FP Gauge, Autometer Trans Temp & AF Ratio Gauges, LT1 Scanmaster, SLP Fan Switch, 160 stat, Chrome ZR1 Rims, Nitto 450s, Z~Roc Hood.
Next: Heads, Cam, Intake and Throttle Body!
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~Rich
95 Arctic White Z~28
Borla, Quictime Electric Cutout, MAC Headers/Y-Pipe/Off Road Pipe, Granatelli MAF Sensor, MSD Super Conductor Wires, Bosch Platinum +4 Plugs, Air Foil, K&N, Trans Go Shift Kit, Digital FP Gauge, Autometer Trans Temp & AF Ratio Gauges, LT1 Scanmaster, SLP Fan Switch, 160 stat, Chrome ZR1 Rims, Nitto 450s, Z~Roc Hood.
Next: Heads, Cam, Intake and Throttle Body!
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,433
From: Akron, Ohio
For sure Scott!!
I sent you mail tonight too about my car. Get a hold of me and we'll get together, @ Jason's maybe?
Aaron
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94 Z28 A4 GU5
RPM Racing CAI
SLP LoudMouth
Hypertech 160* stat
I sent you mail tonight too about my car. Get a hold of me and we'll get together, @ Jason's maybe?
Aaron
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94 Z28 A4 GU5
RPM Racing CAI
SLP LoudMouth
Hypertech 160* stat