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

Optispark rotor sound

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 29, 2016 | 11:48 PM
  #1  
350 groundpounder's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 28
From: Michigan
Default Optispark rotor sound

I put an msd cap and rotor on my original ac delco optispark. I loctited the rotor screws and when i put it together everything seemed to clearance well. After i got it all back together and sealed it up with the seals and rtv i spun the opti by its shaft and noticed i could hear the rotor spinning in it. I dont hear scraping but im thinking maybe its because of the air it displaces when it spins? Anyone else spin there opti and hear noise?
Reply
Old Oct 30, 2016 | 11:25 AM
  #2  
BALLSS's Avatar
TECH Veteran
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 4,985
Likes: 112
Default

I have OEM opti with MSD C&R...no noise when I spun the shaft

You sure you got the plastic plate/disc under the rotor on right. if the large O ring for the cap is not set right the cap won't sit flush and the rotor would be rubbing against it or the plastic disc under it.
Reply
Old Oct 30, 2016 | 07:12 PM
  #3  
350 groundpounder's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 28
From: Michigan
Default

Thought everything went together well. All screws are loctited. Seals went on. Cover is rtv sealed. Its an ever so slight sound. Guess i will run it and find out!
Reply
Old Oct 31, 2016 | 01:40 PM
  #4  
Spartan7's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,714
Likes: 8
From: Spring, TX
Default

I also have an MSD cap/rotor on a stock base. I experienced the same thing, and it's the ribs molded into the inside of the MSD cap. In my case, they were actually wearing grooves into the rotor. I ground them down with a dremel.
Reply
Old Oct 31, 2016 | 03:35 PM
  #5  
BALLSS's Avatar
TECH Veteran
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 4,985
Likes: 112
Default

any cap to rotor interference is not good. The plastic shavings that collect can cause problems

IIRC the MSD C&R kit comes with two large O rings for the cap. One round and the other square IIRC. I can't remember which one I used but did notice it had a tendency to come out of the groove on the base so I hand "stretched" it some and then put it on and then quickly put cap on before the O ring constricted and popped out of the base

I would think if not using the large O ring than the cap & base would sit closer together.
Reply
Old Nov 1, 2016 | 11:55 AM
  #6  
SS RRR's Avatar
Village Troll
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 11,111
Likes: 598
From: Jackstandican
Default

Every good opti I've ever encountered has never made any sound. I did try my luck at Autozone with an opti. Spun it and it made a horrendous rubbing noise. Told them I couldn't accept it.
Reply
Old Nov 2, 2016 | 09:01 AM
  #7  
350 groundpounder's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 28
From: Michigan
Default

Thanks for your experiences. I will check into it.
Reply
Old Dec 23, 2016 | 11:20 PM
  #8  
350 groundpounder's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 28
From: Michigan
Default

Final census, the scraping noise from my original opti was the 99k opti bearing gone bad!
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:55 PM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE