Finally getting around to do some routine maintenance on my 94 TA. There car is stone stock, and the opti cap, rotor, spark plugs, and wires are probably original.
Replacing the water pump and wires with Delco products. Would like to just replace the opti cap with an Accel cap, trying to keep this somewhat budget friendly. The Accel cap is about $76 from Summit, and the Summit cap is about $120. Definitely not going the MSD route. Looking for advise on which cap to buy.
It looks like the vented cap should work no problem with the early non-vented distributor.

ttps://www.summitracing.com/parts/acc-8136/applications

Thanks
Mike

 

Personally I’d go with a Standard Ignition DR476. It’s the exact right cap and rotor for a 94 LT1 and AC Delco ignition is reboxed Standard.
That job is too much of a pain in the butt not use the exact parts.

 

Why not the MSD? It's the best thing they have regarding the opti. It includes everything needed to make it a fully vented system.

 

Rob, I read the MSD instructions about the installation. It looks like any vented cap will work, just need to run a vacuum hose. I just would like to not spend almost $100 more for the MSD. The Accel part looks like it should be fine, looking for input on the quality of the product.

Mike

 

I run a vented spline drive MSD on my 94, I bought it that way and it looks like the previous owner had the unit sealed prior to install. Knock on wood I have had no issues. I also run and electric water pump and the optishield because of all the horror stories.

 

No, a "normal" vented cap is not the same as what MSD offers. You cannot hook a vacuum hose to just a vented cap. It will suck in the cap and destroy it and the rotor. The MSD cap has the vent and vacuum ports. A normal replacement vented cap only has one port because the vent side of the system is part of the opti housing and not the cap. MSD incorporates both ports into the cap due to the non-vented opti not having the vent port in the housing.

 

Thanks Rob, so the only "true" vented opti cap is that will work as a vented cap on a early opti is the MSD? Unless I drill out the three " drain ports" on the bottom of the opti as shown in this Super Chevy article.
http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/16758
Is that a true?

Mike

 

That sounds right. Air has to come in as well as go out.

 

Mike

I would do the drill mod, article you link, on your opti base and use the Standard Ignition cap. Yes it is a more expensive cap than Accel but IMHO superior.

Nothing MSD makes for Opti, including C&R is good anymore. Used to be but no longer. Seveal reports of x tracking with MSD caps just like the other China clone ones...like Accel.

My observation on the drill mod is I feel just one hole would be fine putting just a single nipple in and blocking off the other two. You could tap the other two and use a small machine screw with loc-tite on the other 2 holes. Maybe even find a metal nipple that is threaded on one end instead of using a plastic donor like the article showed

Rockauto has the Standard Ignition cap (brass terminals)

 

******, that was path I was going to use. I appreciate the input on the cap. Wanted to make sure I bought a quality cap and not pay the MSD markup.
Thanks for everyone's input.

Mike

 

I use a skim coat of dialectic grease on the large O rings for cap & opti body for a better seal

use blue loc-tite on rotor screws