LT1-LT4 Modifications 1993-97 Gen II Small Block V8

This MSD unit is pretty solid. Let's see how it holds up.

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Old 01-17-2012, 07:25 PM
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Default This MSD unit is pretty solid. Let's see how it holds up.

Just got this in from Summit today. Let's hope it lasts longer than the POS new Delco unit. The quality looks nice from the exterior. I hope it's guts work better than it looks. Wish me luck.
Old 01-17-2012, 07:28 PM
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Good luck! looks like a very nice peice, also curious to see if this is worth the extra bones.
Old 01-17-2012, 07:32 PM
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the bolts to mount it liked to back out on me. the stock ones managed to stay put.
Old 01-17-2012, 07:56 PM
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I hope it does well for you. The Delco units have at least as good, if not better, track record. It's not all about looks. Be careful of the timing screw. If it is or gets out of whack your timing will be skewed and there is no real way to tell where it is. Some have had trouble with the screw not acting correctly.
Old 01-17-2012, 08:01 PM
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^^what he said, also still take the unit apart and loc Tite the rotor screws!!
Old 01-17-2012, 08:04 PM
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That's pretty nifty, it sure is purtty
Old 01-17-2012, 08:19 PM
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Originally Posted by shbox
I hope it does well for you. The Delco units have at least as good, if not better, track record. It's not all about looks. Be careful of the timing screw. If it is or gets out of whack your timing will be skewed and there is no real way to tell where it is. Some have had trouble with the screw not acting correctly.
I'm not messing with the timing screw. According to MSD it already has loctite on it.

Originally Posted by 95LTXZ28
^^what he said, also still take the unit apart and loc Tite the rotor screws!!
I was told the rotor screws now have bolts.
Old 01-17-2012, 10:00 PM
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Yeah, ok, just making sure you know what is what. Most probably don't have a problem with it, but some have been gimped up from the factory, so just be aware. Better to have more info than what you might need. I'd feel better about the MSD if they had left that "feature" off.
Old 01-18-2012, 12:23 AM
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Originally Posted by 95LTXZ28
^^what he said, also still take the unit apart and loc Tite the rotor screws!!
Yes the first unit I bought in 09 didn't have any lock tite on it, after I sent it back it did. I have another one and it had it on from the factory.
Old 01-18-2012, 07:17 AM
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I had no issues with my MSD opti, and I had one of the earliest units. It had just come out when I happened to need an opti, good timing I guess!
Old 01-18-2012, 10:02 AM
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Way are you basing the below statement on?
This MSD unit is pretty solid
Old 01-18-2012, 12:19 PM
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Originally Posted by 96capricemgr
Way are you basing the below statement on?
All your base belong to us?
Old 01-18-2012, 01:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Rob94hawk
All your base are belong to us?
Fixed!


But i havent heard anything bad about the msd distributer. Only that its more expensive than an oem replacement. However i bought an ac delco.
Old 01-18-2012, 01:38 PM
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More expensive, less reliable, and provides zero benefit over an OEM AC Delco? I'll pass!

ACD FTW.
Old 01-18-2012, 02:41 PM
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Originally Posted by RamAir95TA
less reliable
in what way is it less reliable?
Old 01-18-2012, 03:04 PM
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Originally Posted by RamAir95TA
More expensive, less reliable, and provides zero benefit over an OEM AC Delco? I'll pass!

ACD FTW.
Its red!
Old 01-18-2012, 03:29 PM
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Originally Posted by pillarpod
in what way is it less reliable?
It's not. They all suck. What day doesn't go by where you read about someone's opti taking a dump on any of these forums? I went with MSD because I need to be able to point the finger at someone if their "high quality" product takes a crap earlier than it should. Believe me, someone will pay.

BTW, the opti adapter that I got from EFI Connections brand new, was completely corroded. I like the fact that the MSD unit comes with one built in. Not that it's a guarrantee but it goes to show you that anything brand new can crap out.

My "new" AC Delco opti is proof of that.
Old 01-18-2012, 03:41 PM
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My factory installed optispark lasted over 100K. It was an AC/Delco.
Old 01-18-2012, 03:55 PM
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Originally Posted by Rob94hawk
I was told the rotor screws now have bolts.


Take it apart and verify.
Old 01-18-2012, 04:30 PM
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A LOT of "opti problems" are caused by incompetence on the part of the person diagnosing or installing them. The opti is BLINDLY bashed and any hiccup is seen as a complete failure.
It also is pretty badly neglected, nobody would ever think of leaving an HEI cap and rotor unchanged for 100K and if they did they wouldn't blame the HEI they would admit it just wore out.

A lot of the heavy hitters tried the MSD when it first came out and a LOT of them went back to stock because it is better, some of them might do things like pop rivet the rotor or something but at any rate you find a lot of stock optis on fast cars doing well and a lot of "failed" optis on cars like your's.

Stock opti is not perfect but it is a whole hell of a lot better than the newbs are lead to believe by the ignorant masses.


Quick Reply: This MSD unit is pretty solid. Let's see how it holds up.



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