henry172

iTrader: (2)

I finally got my new 355 done and fired up, but I have a problem my starter blew apart when the motor kicked back on start up. I think it is the opti https://ls1tech.com/forums/lt1-lt4-m...-starters.html this is the same problem I am having. It did it with my old motor also and the only part this 355 has from the old motor is the opti, so I am almost sure the opti is the problem; what do you guys think?

henry172

iTrader: (2)

Has anyone other than me and the few guys on the thread I posted up ever experienced anything like this due to a bad opti.

jay7199

iTrader: (9)

The starter needs to be shimmed probably, had this happen before. And yeah.. I'd say you need a new opti.

RGSS

iTrader: (2)

I had this happen to me once but there was nothing wrong with the OPTI. It happened in my 396 with 11.7 Static compression ratio.
I was using a brand new nice looking cheap ebay starter. That might have been the cause.
Its a good idea to check your opti though.

henry172

iTrader: (2)

I am running 11.7 compression, but when I went to start the car it felt like the motor fired incorrectly and caused the starter to fall apart; it also did this in my old stock 350. I have not taken the starter out yet but I am sure it is in at least 2 pieces. If I unhook the ignition the motor cranks fine, but with the ignition hooked up it broke my starter again. It is a msd opti with a few thousand mi on it; I think it might be the issue, so I pulled it out and sent it to MSD for them to take a look at it. I should have installed a new GM opti instead of the MSD.

05HD

You need 60+ degrees of ignition advance during cranking to blow the starter off. I have seen this plenty of times on mis-timed distributor ignition cars and also on 4.3 V6 engines that needed a crank sensor shim. Funniest one was a $10,000 crate 502 that blew a chunk off the side of the block, where the starter was bolted. Warranty was denied because it was determined distributor was mis-installed. A starter that needs to be shimmed will absolutely NOT do this.

henry172

iTrader: (2)

Yes I know the starter is on correctly; no way a miss alined starter will blow apart like this. I am sure the opti is on correctly, it really only goes on one way on the 96 and 97 style opti's. I should have some answers from MSD in a couple days.

robsquikz28

iTrader: (246)

THere was a issue with MSD selling optis and they were installed from the factory completely mis aligned. SO the 6 was 1 and vice versa. So when you went to time the motor it was already 180* off. Guess what happened to some people, starters blew up, rods were blown out the block and intakes blew off. SOme were lucky with very minor damage. You will need to pull the opti back off and take a video of your opti removal and show proof of what you have and call MSD to tell them if you have this issue!

henry172

iTrader: (2)

Those bastards I knew it was that opti; luckily I ended up with just a damaged starter I am going to have to have a long talk with MSD. Good thing I only damaged the starter and did not throw a rod.

MattSapp95_T/A

iTrader: (35)

if it has **** or tires it will cause you problems.....

Could be a timing issue with your opti messing up... Sucks you got to pull it back apart to put a new one on