I drive a 94 Z28. so my opti **** the bed, just great. I want to replace it with an MSD along with wires and some better spark plugs (might as well do it all now)

I have two predicaments.

1. I searched ebay, they all say 95-97...will this opti really NOT work on my 94? So i guess im wondering if i can use a 95-97 on my 94

2. is there a good place to buy one of these things besides ebay? i checked Autozone and they want $550!!??!?!

any help would be GREATLY APPRECIATED, thanks.

 

Last time I checked they were 500 at jets or summit for the whole assembly some people claim that there not worth it for the money u have to spend but I think otherwise hopes this helps good luck

 

Imo just get a new delco/delphi unit from thepartsladi on ebay! I think they are just under 300.00. The stock units seem to be far more reliable than anything aftermarket as far as opti's go.

 

Yes, the '95-'97 really won't work on your '94.

+1 on thepartsladi. $265 + shipping!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/92-93...49644083QQrdZ1

^^^Buy this, remove the cap and thread lock the rotor screws when you get it. Be sure that your water pump is good and all gaskets and hoses seal properly. You should be problem free for a long time.

 

SS SLP, thanks alot!

is that the whole distributor, i cant tell lol. i cant just buy the cap, i need the whole assembly!

 

It's the whole thing.

BTW, MSD does make an opti that will fit your 94. Their optis come with a venting system that functions like the 95-97s. That would be the only real benefit in buying the MSD unit, IMHO.

 

i have the MSD and that is why i bought it is to have the vented opti. The other stated benefit by MSD is the ability to adjust the timing +/-7 degrees. But as most people know the timing is computer controlled.

 

Use gmpartsdirect.com Just under $200 if you can wait the week it will take to get it. I just saw my invoice from the last opti I put in...$195.00

 

Excuse me?

From GMPartsDirect:

Search Results of Available Items
*Prices are Per Unit


Page 1: 1-1 of 1 items
GM PART # 10457702
CATEGORY: Ignition Distributor
PACK QTY: 1
CORE CHARGE: $30.00
GM LIST: $789.39
OUR PRICE: $410.48


DESCRIPTION: DISTRIBUTOR/OPTI-SPARK
Fits 92-94 Corvette and 93-94 Camaro, Firebird and Trans Am. Without vent.

 

Wow !!! I know where I'm buying my next one.

 

See my post above ^^^.

 

Definitely stick with an AC DELCO unit... I've had many issues with MSD Opti's. OEM, no problems!

 

i have the msd opti and i think its work the money. Built in harness, vented for the 94 guys built really good. I think you should get one. Check it out before you shut it down

 

You're probably 10 years too late to get the "good price" quoted in this thread. Not to mention gmpartsdirect won't even give you a kiss after they've added on their shipping charges, and they really should.

 

My brother has an MSD opti in his LT! and he loves it. It's been in 2 years now without a hiccup.

 

I can help someone out in this area if your still looking

 

A $150 MSD cap and rotor would have given you the venting. The timing adjustment is a source of more trouble than good except in the most knowledgable hands. Even then I doubt any benefit, seen some claimed but just did not make any real sense if you understand how things work.

 

Well there are two different adjustment screws on the MSD Pro Billet Distributor. There is one set screw that will move the optical sensor further away/further on the shutter wheel. The other set screw moves the optical sensor up and down on the shutter wheel. Like you said though it is just more of a source of trouble. but if it is adjusted here i would think the computer would readjust for changes made.

Now as far as the cap making it a vented system it only is one part of the vented system. you will still not have the vacuum line coming out of the actual distributor. There is also a vented line coming out of the distributor that is located directly above the optical sensor. this vacuum line is connected to the intake tubing. The one that is connected to the cap goes to the vacuum line that the EGR vacuum line is connected to.
The purpose of this is, when a vacuum is pulled from the vacuum line connected to the intake manifold fresh air is then pulled through the distributor via the vacuum line connected to the distributor then the fresh (after air filter) air from the intake/CAI.

Sorry to ramble on like this. Hope this helps out OP. the actual only true benefits to buying this product is the full vented opti for the 93&94 and a hardwired harness. The other benifit is only like 96capricemgr stated; if you are experinced with adjusting the timing using this type of adjustment and a way to prevent the ECM from counter acting the changes you had just made.

 

The MSD cap and rotor kit for the "unvented" opti adds a vent system. I am sorry if you did so little research that you thought you had to spend $350 extra to do that but that does not change the fact a $150 cap and rotor would have done it.

I have handled the MSD opti, when we took a broken, no miles one off a car and replaced it with an Autozone stocker to get the car to run right.


Bottom line, the MSD is FAR less reliable than stock but the folks who made this $500 mistake will come up with all sorts of excuses as to why it was a good idea. At least till it dies on them.

 

If you look at a stock unvented opti body without the cap and compare it to a 95 up body you'll notice a nipple missing from the body of the earlier opti. This nipple is where the manifold vacuume is connected, the cap nipple provides the fresh air.