They DO exist!! (MSD Opti)
it also depends on your application i guess... the high rpm's are a big factor.. i have replaced mine once and a buddy of mine has replaced his probably 6 or more times... but he is running a very fast and powerful TA....
Staging Lane
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 99
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From: Fairfax, VA
The MSD opti is a nice opti, its got great accuracy up to even 10,000 rpms... a bit pricy tho... I just bought the MSD cap and rotor set since i was having a misfire... took my opti apart and only the contacts were trashed on the cap and rotor... everything else was perfect... 150 dollars later and the car runs perfect... much cheaper than buying a new one or an MSD one, unless im planning on reving that high...
My one friend (who breaks one or more of everything) has toasted a few optis at high RPMs. My other friend was running his original opti in his hot cammed 350 to 6600rpms no problem
I'm waiting for the Dynaspark Gen III to be released. What they're doing for the Gen III is eliminating the whole cap and rotor section and making it a dedicated optical sensor in a billet housing that's designed specifically for guys running Delteq or LTCC setups. I wanna see how it compares to the MSD in price. If the MSD ends up being cheaper, I'm gonna buy one and delete the cap and rotor. Then I'm gonna have a billet cover welded over the optical sensor half making it permanently sealed, and run it with my Delteq. Either way, it oughtta be the last time I lay hands on an opti.
Originally Posted by OneFast97Z
The MSD opti is a nice opti, its got great accuracy up to even 10,000 rpms... a bit pricy tho... I just bought the MSD cap and rotor set since i was having a misfire... took my opti apart and only the contacts were trashed on the cap and rotor... everything else was perfect... 150 dollars later and the car runs perfect... much cheaper than buying a new one or an MSD one, unless im planning on reving that high...
TECH Addict
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From: The beautiful Kingdom of Bahrain
Originally Posted by thesoundandthefury
I'm waiting for the Dynaspark Gen III to be released. What they're doing for the Gen III is eliminating the whole cap and rotor section and making it a dedicated optical sensor in a billet housing that's designed specifically for guys running Delteq or LTCC setups. I wanna see how it compares to the MSD in price. If the MSD ends up being cheaper, I'm gonna buy one and delete the cap and rotor. Then I'm gonna have a billet cover welded over the optical sensor half making it permanently sealed, and run it with my Delteq. Either way, it oughtta be the last time I lay hands on an opti.
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Verdad Gallardo TECH Addict
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From: The beautiful Kingdom of Bahrain
Because the talk has been around forever and what have we gotten? What happened with Electromotive? Anyways like I said, Ill stick with my Dynaspark until the GENIII comes out, if it comes out.
I hear alot about this. I know my car still has the factory dist. What is the big downfall of the factory piece? Is it the distributor itself or just the fact that the caps and rotors are junk? My car seems to run fine. I have 88,000 on it. Am I due for trouble? Is mine the vent or non vent? Its a 94
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,023
Likes: 6
From: LT1 land...the "409" of the 90s!
every since you posted I have been trying to get one for a customer..no luck yet 
I installed the MSD cap and rotor on the shop car and have been VERY happy with the results. First time we have ever had completely clean dyno graph's all the way to the 7,200 cut off!
Can't wait to test the entire unit
Let us know how it works for you!
I installed the MSD cap and rotor on the shop car and have been VERY happy with the results. First time we have ever had completely clean dyno graph's all the way to the 7,200 cut off!
Can't wait to test the entire unit
Let us know how it works for you!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,023
Likes: 6
From: LT1 land...the "409" of the 90s!
Well I have very bad news. We have not torn it aprt yet but we just got done trailering the car home. looks like I burned up one of the new MSD rotors 
FIRST time in seven years my car has left me stranded. Tons of spark! MSD 6T into a MSD GM coil and a three inch flame when you crank it. Not a damn thing coming back out of the Opti.
For those who do not know this means the guts in the Opti are working fine but the high voltage is not getting from the coil to the spark plug wires.
Out of all the opti's I have been through this is the first one to leave me stranded....in the middle of the road in holiday traffic......
Only other thing it could be is the Rotor came un-screwed or broke off. I used locetite to put it together so I HOPE it is still screwed in place!
FIRST time in seven years my car has left me stranded. Tons of spark! MSD 6T into a MSD GM coil and a three inch flame when you crank it. Not a damn thing coming back out of the Opti.
For those who do not know this means the guts in the Opti are working fine but the high voltage is not getting from the coil to the spark plug wires.
Out of all the opti's I have been through this is the first one to leave me stranded....in the middle of the road in holiday traffic......
Only other thing it could be is the Rotor came un-screwed or broke off. I used locetite to put it together so I HOPE it is still screwed in place!
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,413
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From: Lee's Summit, MO (KC)
Originally Posted by buffman
I would bet the electronics in the new MSD unit are from the same company the stock stuff comes from
Originally Posted by TwoFast4Lv
Well I have very bad news.
I will be installing my billet opti this weekend, so hopefully I will have results for you guys soon!
Daym Ellis! Now I know why you were trying to push the car throught the stop light in the middle of rush hour 
I'll keep checking on this for the T/A - the one part (and headers) still stock that need to be replaced when we get done with you-know-who.
I'll keep checking on this for the T/A - the one part (and headers) still stock that need to be replaced when we get done with you-know-who.
Launching!
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 202
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Originally Posted by LS1Silverado05
Whats the red flag that the factory unit is going out? A misfire in the upper rpms? Poor idle?
