LT1-LT4 Modifications 1993-97 Gen II Small Block V8

This MSD unit is pretty solid. Let's see how it holds up.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 17, 2012 | 07:25 PM
  #1  
Rob94hawk's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,664
Likes: 28
Default This MSD unit is pretty solid. Let's see how it holds up.

Just got this in from Summit today. Let's hope it lasts longer than the POS new Delco unit. The quality looks nice from the exterior. I hope it's guts work better than it looks. Wish me luck.
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2012 | 07:28 PM
  #2  
OlMastaScrilla's Avatar
Launching!
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 214
Likes: 0
From: Bloomington MN
Default

Good luck! looks like a very nice peice, also curious to see if this is worth the extra bones.
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2012 | 07:32 PM
  #3  
stevo9389's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 680
Likes: 7
From: Clearwater
Default

the bolts to mount it liked to back out on me. the stock ones managed to stay put.
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2012 | 07:56 PM
  #4  
shbox's Avatar
TECH Veteran
15 Year Member
Liked
 
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,142
Likes: 61
From: Little Rock, AR
Default

I hope it does well for you. The Delco units have at least as good, if not better, track record. It's not all about looks. Be careful of the timing screw. If it is or gets out of whack your timing will be skewed and there is no real way to tell where it is. Some have had trouble with the screw not acting correctly.
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2012 | 08:01 PM
  #5  
95LTXZ28's Avatar
10 Second Club
iTrader: (19)
 
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 250
Likes: 0
From: Carbondale, PA
Default

^^what he said, also still take the unit apart and loc Tite the rotor screws!!
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2012 | 08:04 PM
  #6  
FocusVince's Avatar
TECH Apprentice
 
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 305
Likes: 0
From: Goldsboro NC
Default

That's pretty nifty, it sure is purtty
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2012 | 08:19 PM
  #7  
Rob94hawk's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,664
Likes: 28
Default

Originally Posted by shbox
I hope it does well for you. The Delco units have at least as good, if not better, track record. It's not all about looks. Be careful of the timing screw. If it is or gets out of whack your timing will be skewed and there is no real way to tell where it is. Some have had trouble with the screw not acting correctly.
I'm not messing with the timing screw. According to MSD it already has loctite on it.

Originally Posted by 95LTXZ28
^^what he said, also still take the unit apart and loc Tite the rotor screws!!
I was told the rotor screws now have bolts.
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2012 | 10:00 PM
  #8  
shbox's Avatar
TECH Veteran
15 Year Member
Liked
 
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,142
Likes: 61
From: Little Rock, AR
Default

Yeah, ok, just making sure you know what is what. Most probably don't have a problem with it, but some have been gimped up from the factory, so just be aware. Better to have more info than what you might need. I'd feel better about the MSD if they had left that "feature" off.
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2012 | 12:23 AM
  #9  
fex77k's Avatar
8 Second Club
15 Year Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,668
Likes: 2
From: AR
Default

Originally Posted by 95LTXZ28
^^what he said, also still take the unit apart and loc Tite the rotor screws!!
Yes the first unit I bought in 09 didn't have any lock tite on it, after I sent it back it did. I have another one and it had it on from the factory.
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2012 | 07:17 AM
  #10  
camar0corey's Avatar
TECH Junkie
15 Year Member
iTrader: (22)
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,974
Likes: 2
From: Spring Hill, FL
Default

I had no issues with my MSD opti, and I had one of the earliest units. It had just come out when I happened to need an opti, good timing I guess!
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2012 | 10:02 AM
  #11  
96capricemgr's Avatar
11 Second Club
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,975
Likes: 15
Default

Way are you basing the below statement on?
This MSD unit is pretty solid
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2012 | 12:19 PM
  #12  
Rob94hawk's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,664
Likes: 28
Default

Originally Posted by 96capricemgr
Way are you basing the below statement on?
All your base belong to us?
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2012 | 01:30 PM
  #13  
Zlow28's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,080
Likes: 1
Default

Originally Posted by Rob94hawk
All your base are belong to us?
Fixed!


But i havent heard anything bad about the msd distributer. Only that its more expensive than an oem replacement. However i bought an ac delco.
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2012 | 01:38 PM
  #14  
RamAir95TA's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 9,467
Likes: 8
From: South Jersey
Default

More expensive, less reliable, and provides zero benefit over an OEM AC Delco? I'll pass!

ACD FTW.
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2012 | 02:41 PM
  #15  
pillarpod's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,776
Likes: 1
From: South Dakota
Default

Originally Posted by RamAir95TA
less reliable
in what way is it less reliable?
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2012 | 03:04 PM
  #16  
R3DLT1's Avatar
Launching!
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 245
Likes: 0
From: Bartlesville,OK
Default

Originally Posted by RamAir95TA
More expensive, less reliable, and provides zero benefit over an OEM AC Delco? I'll pass!

ACD FTW.
Its red!
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2012 | 03:29 PM
  #17  
Rob94hawk's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,664
Likes: 28
Default

Originally Posted by pillarpod
in what way is it less reliable?
It's not. They all suck. What day doesn't go by where you read about someone's opti taking a dump on any of these forums? I went with MSD because I need to be able to point the finger at someone if their "high quality" product takes a crap earlier than it should. Believe me, someone will pay.

BTW, the opti adapter that I got from EFI Connections brand new, was completely corroded. I like the fact that the MSD unit comes with one built in. Not that it's a guarrantee but it goes to show you that anything brand new can crap out.

My "new" AC Delco opti is proof of that.
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2012 | 03:41 PM
  #18  
BTC's Avatar
BTC
TECH Fanatic
15 Year Member
Liked
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,745
Likes: 18
From: Lansing, MI via Bowling Green, KY, Dalton GA, Nashville, TN & Atlanta, GA
Default

My factory installed optispark lasted over 100K. It was an AC/Delco.
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2012 | 03:55 PM
  #19  
3DFORMULA's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 625
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by Rob94hawk
I was told the rotor screws now have bolts.


Take it apart and verify.
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2012 | 04:30 PM
  #20  
96capricemgr's Avatar
11 Second Club
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,975
Likes: 15
Default

A LOT of "opti problems" are caused by incompetence on the part of the person diagnosing or installing them. The opti is BLINDLY bashed and any hiccup is seen as a complete failure.
It also is pretty badly neglected, nobody would ever think of leaving an HEI cap and rotor unchanged for 100K and if they did they wouldn't blame the HEI they would admit it just wore out.

A lot of the heavy hitters tried the MSD when it first came out and a LOT of them went back to stock because it is better, some of them might do things like pop rivet the rotor or something but at any rate you find a lot of stock optis on fast cars doing well and a lot of "failed" optis on cars like your's.

Stock opti is not perfect but it is a whole hell of a lot better than the newbs are lead to believe by the ignorant masses.
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:23 AM.