LukeZ28

My original GM opti I kept on my engine after I rebuilt it for boost. It ran fine on the street as it always had, until the second time at the track with power numbers listed below when the rotor blew on me.
http://www.jlturbo.com/pics/optitrashed.JPG
I figured it had miles on it, so it was time for a new one. In a hurry I bought a replacement from an autoparts store and swaped it out. Afterward the car ran terrible, and felt like the timing was way off. After checking over everything I bought a GM opti and swaped it out again. It ran great with the factory opti in for months. Then at the track the other night the rotor blew again. WTF!
http://www.jlturbo.com/pics/Opti_trash/Opti_trash1.JPG
http://www.jlturbo.com/pics/Opti_trash/Opti_trash2.JPG
The only thing I could see that could of caused it was bouncing of the rev limiter once (set at 5800). So I figured to go with the MSD cap and rotor. They looked like a nice set going on.
http://www.jlturbo.com/pics/Opti_trash/Opti_MSD1.JPG
http://www.jlturbo.com/pics/Opti_trash/Opti_MSD2.JPG
http://www.jlturbo.com/pics/Opti_trash/Opti_MSD3.JPG
http://www.jlturbo.com/pics/Opti_trash/Opti_MSD4.JPG
But now that its on, The timing seems to be way off again like the autopart store replacement. The car feels like a dog, and the EGTs are couple hundred degrees higher than normal which causes the manifolds to glow more than normal. Which is another indication the timing has been thrown off from this set up.
Has anyone else run into this type of problem??? I am thinking of calling up MSD to see what they have to say. Im just sick of these opti installs. PITA

Thanks for any help,
Luke

OBE1 95Z28

If the opti drive pin on the end of the camshaft is too long, it will wipe out the opti bearing over time and cause premature failure.

LukeZ28

I did take a look at that and it seemed fine. The opti slid into place fine, and sat flush against the timing cover with no pressure. I reused the alum housing and sensor b/c it felt/looked fine and was only several months old. The metal shield kept out most of the broken pieces and the optical wheel didn't look damaged or deformed at all. I also have reset the pcm and checked plugs and wires. I guess next is to pull it off again and check it out. Then go for another gm replacement to get the car running right, MSD total opti replacement http://www.msdignition.com/2006/06-4.htm(available this summer) , or go for the coil pack conversion.

LukeZ28

Well MSD didn't think there should be a problem. So i pulled the opti tonight and everything looked fine. The cam pin was in the correct slot and checked length with calipers and all was good. Probably going to go with a new GM opti and see if it cures the problem. Here are some more pics.

http://www.jlturbo.com/pics/Opti_trash/Opti_MSD5.JPG
http://www.jlturbo.com/pics/Opti_trash/Opti_MSD6.JPG
http://www.jlturbo.com/pics/Opti_trash/Opti_MSD7.JPG
http://www.jlturbo.com/pics/Opti_trash/Opti_MSD8.JPG

LukeZ28

Well I pulled the opti off again. I kept the aluminum housing and bearing, which was still in good shape, and pulled an opti off a running engine i pulled from a 50k fbody. Pulled that opti apart and used the opti sensor and wheel along with the msd cap and rotor. Again installed this setup and the car still ran like $hit. At this point bought a new GM opti, and again another install, now the car runs great.
So now I am at the point of trying the MSD cap and rotor on the new opti to rule out what exaxtly the problem was. The only thing it seems to come down to is that the opti sensor/wheel is very touchy, which is probably the case, or some thing is up with the MSD cap and rotor, which I don't see being the problem. When I get some time I will post up.

L