how do you adjust the timing on the msd opti?
how do you adjust the timing on the msd opti? Long story short, sold my built 93 ta to a girl about 2yrs. ago. just bought it back this summer. Car seems to be running lean. Headers are not glowing, but they are running 500+ degrees at the base of the headers.according to my temp gun. PS LT's. ceramic. and the car seems to have some lean surging going on.my gto has the same headers, and only runs 350 degrees at the base of the headers. She had the car dynotuned, and then added a msd opti.last year. I believe the shop she had put it on, might have the timing retarded on it. The car has a walbro, and a elec. fp gauge and is putting out 42lbs. at idle, and around 44 at wot. I believe it might be the msd opti causing the lean prob. so Im wondering how hard is it to adj. the timing on the msd. thanks for any help.
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Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Clearwater
it is on the installation instructions on how much to turn that screw but i gotta go dig them up. i just left mine alone and it runs fine. IIRC it depends on how much advance was ground into the cam.
The cam is the cc306 straight from comp. Im not sure on the advance. Thanks.
Oh yeah, could the msd opti be making the car run leaner if the timing is off on it, if the screw is hard to get to, I plan on having the car re dynotuned this spring, could they play with the timing with the tune? the car is a 93' so speed density.
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 680
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From: Clearwater
+/- 7 degrees but i swear the manual initially said +/- 5. there is actually no mention of which way you turn it to advance/retard and the only way to know for sure is with some kind of homemade timing marker. my GM847 has 4 degrees advance (your cc306 is prolly very close) and runs just fine on the factory setting. ya would benefit a lot more with ECM/PCM tuning because thats where the advance and retard comes from anyway.
Well I will just wait until I get the car to St.Louis. I'll let them get her straightened out, that's what they make the big bucks for..lol thanks for the help Stevo9389.
TECH Veteran
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,146
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From: Little Rock, AR
MSD has the instructions on their website. Unless you rig up a timing pointer and index mark, you don't know the real effect of turning the screw. Plus, if you did not take reference readings before the MSD was put on, you are still working in the blind. Not having the screw would have been a better idea. Timing should be adjusted in the computer, anyway.
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Launching!
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: tacoma, wa
its been a while since i read the instructions for my msd opti but im pretty sure if you turn the timing screw all the way to the right then back it out 2 turns it should put it back at factory settings. like i said though, its been a while since i looked at it
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All the way in is retarded the 5 degrees two turns out is stock timing so another turn oun would be 2.5 advanced the another would be 5 degrees advanced. The way I adjusted mine was I took a small wrench and socket put a dot on the socket and go in between the altermator and tb. You can see the screw put the socket on the screw and turn out one full turn using the dot as a guide.
Well just an update, I went to look for the adj. screw by the electrical plug that plugs into the opti, and there is no screw there. I guess the prev. owner just had a msd cap and rotor put on the stock opti. So I guess a good dynotune is in order. I'll just wait until march.
Okay thanks, I just assumed it was running lean Since the header flange is about 150+ degrees hotter then my goat's coated ps LT's. Prob. just the timing running alittle late. Thanks again.
