Bad MSD optispark experience?
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Teching In
Joined: Jan 2010
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Bad MSD optispark experience? I just bought an MSD 8381 distributor (94 spline drive model). With both distributors out of the car, and the flat indexing spline at 12 o'clock, the rotors are 180 degrees opposite of each other. In other words, one rotor points to 12 o'clock and the other rotor points to 6 o'clock.
I called MSD tech support who said that it's impossible for that to happen and just wanted me to get a replacement under warranty. So now I have to wait another 3-5 days to get the new one and HOPE it's not backwards too.
Has anyone out there ever experienced anything like this with the MSD 8381?
I called MSD tech support who said that it's impossible for that to happen and just wanted me to get a replacement under warranty. So now I have to wait another 3-5 days to get the new one and HOPE it's not backwards too.
Has anyone out there ever experienced anything like this with the MSD 8381?
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jan 2010
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Unless MSD makes a rotor for that distributor that points 180 degrees in the opposite direction, I don't see how the distributor could physically be assembled incorrectly. Even the crank position slots line up with the old factory opti. It's just the rotor that's off.
Just wondering if I got a bad MSD distributor or if anyone else experienced anything like this as well.
From my experience, you can’t put the MSD rotor on a GM Opti side. I tried it before, will not fit right. Without the rubber ring, the MSD rotor sits too flush to the opti and will not screw down right and will bind against it. With the rubber ring underneath the rotor, it wouldn’t let the rotor sit right to be able to screw the rotor down.
The MSD cap will fit on the GM opti, which is what I have now. This may not be the case for all GM style optis, but the one I have wouldn’t let the MSD rotor fit.
What I did do was copy the MSD rotor setup and drilled out the back plastic retainer on the rotor and found a small screw to fit(computer type screw, used in computers to hold the board down), and screwed it in the metal T bar and plastic to help secure the T bar on. I also put a little bit of brown gasket sealer on the back side to cover the tip of the screw.
This is just my experience trying to use a GM bottom and a good MSD top on the opti build.
The MSD cap will fit on the GM opti, which is what I have now. This may not be the case for all GM style optis, but the one I have wouldn’t let the MSD rotor fit.
What I did do was copy the MSD rotor setup and drilled out the back plastic retainer on the rotor and found a small screw to fit(computer type screw, used in computers to hold the board down), and screwed it in the metal T bar and plastic to help secure the T bar on. I also put a little bit of brown gasket sealer on the back side to cover the tip of the screw.
This is just my experience trying to use a GM bottom and a good MSD top on the opti build.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jan 2010
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I've read about modifying stock optis for the venting, but figured it would be easier (and possibly cheaper) in the long run to just get a complete kit from MSD. I'm beginning to think otherwise now.
Thanks for all the input guys!
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Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jan 2010
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Well, the new distributor came in today. The old 'bird fired right up after installing it. I guess in hindsight I could have adjusted the rotor's position by taking it off and turning the allen key'd bolt behind the rotor. I just didn't want to mess with it.
So far so good!
So far so good!
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