Opti upgrade questions?

[redeasysport]

OK I have seen the parts of an optispark. I have a 93 and am planning on upgrading the cap and vent setup. I have a low milage 95 opti on the way that I am planning to use the cap from, I have the hose harness.
Now what sould I do about the rest?

If I get an opti without the module to fit my 93 will it take the 95 module plug and play?

Since mine still works fine should I just use it ( dont know how many miles on it)

Hate to spend the money to get a full optispark when I am gonna toss the cap and rotor anyway.

Could kick myself was watching one on Ebay from a 93 with 3000 miles on it when the car got totaled for Buy it Now@$100 it went for $175

 

[Dean Barker]

I have wondered if there was a way to maintain or check the opti-spark so that one would never have a failure. Any ideas out there?

 

[Ruby Fan]

From what I understand, there is no way of checking the opti. It either works or it doesn't. It may give you some signs of 'going', like poor starts or backfires. If you got to the point of visually checking the innards, it would pay to just replace it. The 95 cap will fit, but you have to modify it: you have to plug the 'vent' hole with an epoxy, and drill out another hole, insert a brass tube, bent at an angle, seal the area around the tube with epoxy. Then connect the hose/air bleed to now 2 'male' ports, then 'tee' one end to the EGR tube, the other that has a angle fitting, gets poked into you air intake. I don't remember the drilling part too well, I think the dist. has to be drilled and plugged, this way you have 'male' ports from cap, and one from dist. to connect the air bleed hose. When I did this and took my opti apart you wouldn't believe how corroded it was inside. Good Luck

 

[My Prozac]

There are some things you can do to help it run longer but nothing to make it 100% safe from failing.

1. Run extra RTV around the cap to help seal it
2. Run extra RTV around the water pump
3. Never :nono get it wet nobody tells you that until you have done it and the opti spark fries.:duh Chevrolet should have put that under the hood
4. Go ahead and do the plug wires while you are there, it is easier with all the stuff out of the way.

The water pump is what most of the time takes out the opti spark. It sits over the opti and when it starts to drip from the weep hole it drips on to the opti spark. When I had mine replaced it was done at a dealer and they ran the extra RTV around both. I say never get it wet because that is how I finished mine off, by washing the motor. The water pump started to leak and then I washed the motor. I was told by some people on this site to use a squirt bottle with warm water and soap and a rag to clean the motor. And it does work well.

I would not replace it if it is not giving you problems, and I am not a big fan of used parts most of all used electrical parts. I did see that Midamerica was having a sale on opti sparks I think right at $300 for a new one. I always go new and not used on my Corvette. I am sure others have had good luck with the type of up grade you are talking about but I never seem to have good luck with stuff like that. I always seam to open a can of worms I can not close.

 

[94conv.]

http://www.dynotech-eng.com/dynaspark.htm

 

[MrPbody]

Am I missing something here, or why couldn't a chunk of desicant be installed inside to absorb any moisture, and just seal up the units "vents" ??

Pbody

 

[94conv.]

well, first off, the water or moisture that the desicant would absorb would eventually dry or evaporate and it has to go somewhere and your talking about moving parts and a lens, I dont know for sure, six beers but it seems your theory is good but the varibles arent factored in. I'm probably going to sign off of this one and turn it over to someone else

 

[redeasysport]

Really looking for wether or not the emitter moddule inside is compatible between 95 and 93 opti's

 

[94conv.]

Im not sure about whether the emitter is compatible between the years, but if your thinking of just upgrading the cap, by the time you purchase the optispark and another cap from a 95 or 96 you could buy the upgraded dynspark unit with the upgraded vents and its a better built unit.As far as the insided go, I dont know if they are the same, I do know they are different on how the bolt up on the front of the engine, the timing chain covers are different. You may want to search other threads on here on optsparks and you can find just about all the answers.

 

[redeasysport]

Well I have a low mile 95 opti sittin here. My opti works fine right now.I can get an opti without the module for $150. I got 2 workin optis here and I want to put togther, the best I can, a vented system. I am a technical guy was into scale RC airplanes Big ones 7ft wing span remote controlled. I saw the teardown(and saved) of the opti. Read the corvette fever article and know about the hazzard of thier setup rubbing the balancer. Got a better way to get the vacuum fitting in I think. I want a standby on the shelf.I know with my luck either the water pump or opti is gonna go so that means both.
Guess my stepdad was right When I told him about gettin this car he said get one a couple of years older or newer than my 93. He neglected to tell me why but I am sure it is the opti issue.

Oh by the way I work for GM at the Cobalt assembly plant in Lordstown Oh watch out for that little SS surpercharged sneaking up from behind. It is going to EAT ricers for lunch.

 

[G Winter]

do a search , within the last week someone posted a link where they showed all the diff. in them including the timing chain cover.

 

[redeasysport]

I got it got all the info except for this one piece. Does anyone have a part number for the emitter to see if it is the same? I dont have my part book yet just the FSM. Am I the only nut in the world to consider this?

 

[MrPbody]

I'm probably going to sign off of this one and turn it over to someone else

good idea

 

[redc4corvette]

I love it when someone wants to reinvent the wheel.

http://corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33844

This is all the info you will ever need for info on an opti-puke :J

 

[Ruby Fan]

I don't believe you can change the '95 dist. with a '92-'94 models. The main reason is that the cam gear that fits into the opti is different. That's why you have to use the earlier dist. with a modified later model cap.

 

[redeasysport]

Yep I know only cap and rotor will fit but I give up after reading what I posted in my " Opti failing?" post. I guess I will bite the bullet and spend the money for a dynaspark when the time comes.