mpe331lx

iTrader: (5)

I replaced the opti in my wifes 97 a couple months back with a brand new GM opti.

The damn POS came apart in less then 3000 miles!

Last weekend I ripped on it and it backfired. After that it wouldnt rev over 2500. It was popping and backfiring.
The strange thing is that it idled fine with no miss.

I pulled the opti off of it today. I felt somthing binding as I turned the shaft.

I was expecting broken, loose, or stripped rotor screws. Not a broken rotor.

aboatguy

Is there any indication where it was made? I've heard rumors that lots of GM/Delphi production has been moved offshore

SoxXpupPeT

iTrader: (34)

wow that f#cking blows! never seen a failure like that before

Elliott's94Z

iTrader: (12)

The Opti in general is GM's worst idea and design to date.

shbox

The one in this post just suffered from poor quality control. Stuff happens. The design and accuracy of the opti is arguably the best distributor GM ever put on a small block, IMHO.

speed_demon24

iTrader: (6)

At least it gives you an excuse to do an MSD cap/rotor. My gm opti with less than 10,000 miles was already arcing into the cap from the ignition box.

Black94Z28

iTrader: (12)

Are you being serious or joking? I cant tell lol

projekt70chevelle

iTrader: (4)

^^^Agreed.


"Originally Posted by Elliott's94Z
The Opti in general is GM's worst idea and design to date."

Worst location for a distributor to date? Likely. But technology wise, the Opti is probably the most advanced distributor GM ever made. The internal 'window' disk that the optical sensor uses to detect crankshaft revolution provides a full 360' of reading to accurately provide proper ignition timing (unlike standard distributors that only had a few reference points). Although the jump to coil packs was a nice improvement, the Opti was the next step in distributors.

Failure in the cap and rotor is simply poor quality control, as mentioned before. Where as failure in the optical side is usually due to moisture entering due to aged/improper sealing of the case or wiring connector. It doesnt help that its located under the water pump, but again that mainly has to do with location and not design.

FASTFATBOY

iTrader: (23)

I disagree, its a great idea. Bad execution.


Mine is a factory GM opti, took it apart and Loc tited the rotors screws before I put it on the car and have had not one problem. 6000 miles of rawhiding, God knows how many 1/4 mile passes and general FATBOY abuse.


Watch that ****** crap on me the next time I spin it over LOL.

1badzee

iTrader: (12)

I agree. Obviously people who have had bad luck with them will bad-mouth the Opti, but in reality, it's a great design. Like fastfatboy said, bad execution (ei: water pump being directly above/in front of it)

ss.slp.ls1

iTrader: (36)

1) Thread lock the rotor screws
2) Replace the plastic rivets that hold the pointer down with metal rivets
3) Seal the cap to the base with silicone.

z_speedfreak

iTrader: (3)

x3 what other distributor can last as long as an opti?(provided it doesn't get wet) im just about to hit 100k on mine -knock on wood, but they can even do twice that no problem.

XxxLt1TransamxxX

I switched mine to msd rotor and cap...best decision in my life!!!

AChotrod

iTrader: (17)

Im switching to the MSD cap and rotor too. I also just had a brand new GM opti fail just like the OPs

gregrob

iTrader: (8)

You gotta be kidding. Stock opti's are the BEST thing on the market!!!

96Formula6spd

iTrader: (7)

hope mine does not fail just replaced it since I was rebuilding the engine.

camar0corey

iTrader: (22)

Wasn't it Mitsubishi's design? Any case I love the I hate Opti threads. I've only been mistreated by one once, it wouldn't have even been a issue if I took a better look at it when I did a cap and rotor, I wouldn't have had it all back a part six months later if I just paid some attention to its guts. Oh yeah been running a MSD 6a for over four years and I ran a MSD Opti with no issues after the stocker died at 125k.

FASTFATBOY

iTrader: (23)

You are correct, it was a mitchibitchie design, they used it on other cars of theirs in a different form.

leadfoot4

iTrader: (1)

Very true. ALL distributors will have issues over time. The only REAL problem I see with the opti, is all the crap you have to go through to get at it when it needs attention.

Speedy

The original unvented opti on my car lasted for 90,000 miles. With a cap and rotor change it would have lasted longer. My recent opti problems have been new part manufacturer related. The crappy o-ring gasket on my MSD unit led that unit to fail in 4000 miles. I repaired it, resealed it, and it was OK. The opti is good when manufactured and installed correctly.