Well after reading the very limited info from people that actually have this unit- I was a little nervous. But my Meziere needed replacing and I couldn't see NOT doing the optispark since I had to tear it down anyhow. So I ordered the MSD pro billet opti and a new mezeire HD pump from T Byrne about a month ago. Well the parts show up a week later and I finally got around to it last Monday. Installation was very straight forward. I don't like the allen bolts that they supply to attach the MSD Just causes you to need another tool to do the job. I don't like how they don't install the o-ring in the cap...so you HAVE to take the cap off to install it(the o-ring). That is it for the don't likes. I did like the quality look an feel of the unit alot. So, I screwed the timing screw all the way in- then backed of 2 rounds for a stock timing setting according to the instructions. Finished putting every thing back together with no issues.

To tell the whole story takes forever- but the cars had a serious high end miss for years(hardly ever drove it cuz I was tired of fooling with it). It would dead miss at about 5100rpm....spit and sputter. Been through 2 GM opti's wires, plugs the whole nine yards. I had convinced myself that it had to be fuel related. on to the rest of the review-

So I fire it up...noticibly(sp) smoother idle right away. Pulled out onto the highway and rolled into it in 2nd- pulled nice! looked down-5500 rpm. I was like SWEET! So getting closer to my house I jumped it in 1st...6500- smooth as butter. i am was shocked- I was convinced after 2 opti's that it wasn't the ignition. Next turn- a 1st, 2nd gear blast- car is screaming at 6800 rpm! that's the car I used to love!

So my official review -- I forgot what 6500 rpm felt like! The MSD fixed it! no more high rpm miss at all! It was worth every penny!!!!



PS- Hopefully I won't be posting in a month about how it came apart.

 

i had one in my car for 4 months...it was great quality, til it failed with 4000 km on it. took it apart, the screws that hold the rotor to the cam drive backed out completely.

if you haven't done it, i would use thread locker on it, mine is still at msd under a rma.

 

Hope MSD fixes any potential problems, its been a long time comming since we had viable options other than GM units.

 

seriously? man that sux! I am not pulling mine out until it breaks. That was the first I read about that problem...haven't been on here in 2 weeks. Searched and searched MSD treads for reviews- didn't see that one. woulda been SO easy to do before the install.

 

tell me about it...i never saw anything about it myself, or i would of done it too...other than that i had no complaints about it, it never hick-up'd once, was always smooth til the end. hopefully msd comes thru. i have a stock gm replacement on the car now, but i did take it apart to check it over and thread lock the bolts.

hopefully yours stays together.

 

Put clear fingernail polish on the screws. When ya get ready to remove them they will come out.

 

I wonder about the fastners in the msd unit.

I recently installed an msd cap and rotor and the supplied fastners, at least for the rotor, were just not right. They supplied two screws and washers. The screws were shorter than gm screws but the base of the msd cap is thicker. That made for a considerable loss of thread reach into the opti compared to the gm set up. On top of that, the washers o.d. was too large to sit in the cap properly. You would have to force them into place, gouging the cap or maybe even cracking it. I didn't take that chance, I used the gm screws with locktite.

 

GM should be shot for putting the darn ditributor where it is...I'd pull mine and fix her up if I didn't have to pull the darn waterpump to take the cover back off.

either way- I am just STOKED that it fixed the miss! Man my 383 loves it up high in the rpm range...I was esentially losing 50+ hp by having to shift the car at 5000.

 

good luck there...i hope it stays together...its a great unit...my good news is i just called msd...and one is coming my way who knows maybe i had one from early production...either way i'm pleased that they took care of me.

 

Sorry to bump this thread, but I searched and had a question about the MSD. I have it installed in my car and I was wondering about the timing screw thing. I know it's better to adjust it in a tune, but that's not an option. The instructions call for 2 turns out, which I did, but is that exact for everyone? I've heard some people adjust it differently. If so, I'd like to know how and what the effects are.

 

yes me too as im going to be getting one shortly...Thanks

 

So Leedog hows that MSD holding up?

 

[edit]....when I get home from work I'm going to play around with the timing from the MSD piece and post up results lol

 

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...ADME:B:EF:CA:1

 

Oh sure. Some guy in Canada who probably blew the thing sky-high, then decides to sell it. Go ahead and lose your money.

Play it safe and buy new.