optispark

[o2bnkc]

I replacedmy optispark with a C5.

 

[Edmond]

I replacedmy optispark with a C5.

:L:L:L:L

Congratulations!

 

[92conv]

That's one way to go about it Us Navy guys, always thinking.

 

[92conv]

I will be replacing my optispark this weekend. Very nervous about it, 2 days away. Till then though...

 

[Edmond]

I will be replacing my optispark this weekend. Very nervous about it, 2 days away. Till then though...

Good luck and let us know how it goes. I'm curious to know because I want to jump into an LT4 this year and something like this would be bound to come up.

 

[92conv]

Will most definitely keep all you good people informed of my progress, just recieved my opti tonight. It's amazing how the expensive things can come in small packages... :L

 

[gratuities]

It took about 8 hours,a case of beer to feed the many spectators.And alot of cursing. #8 plug is a *****.

 

['04 Torch Red]

I know probably every optspark issue has been covered already but I have an opinion type question. A little over a month ago my optispark started acting up, it wouldnt idle and would stumble backfire and die so I had it towed over to the dealership where they found it had moisture in the optispark and spryed some sort of drier/cleaner in it and it ran fine for a couple of weeks, I dont drive it everday so actually it ran fine a few times, then about two weeks ago I got it out and it started fine then would hesitate and backfire when I tried to accelerate over about 30mph so I got it home and let it sit for about four hours and then its ran fine the few times Ive driven it but its hard to think its back to being reliable and I feel the optispark is going out, I can smell a slight hint of radiator fluid after about forty minutes of driving but it seems to go away after a little. Anyway I found this optispark from dynotech engineering in FortWayne,In.
http://www.dynotech-eng.com/dynaspark.htm and was wondering if anyone on here has used one of them? They are about 599.00 but they are billet alluminum instead of plastic and they have addressed alot of the orginal problems with the old one, this one already has vents (vacuum lines) and they claim it to be bullet proof and by the time I buy the vent kit and the original optispark Im probably looking at close to the same money, any opinions on this one?
One more question, I was going to change the coil, plugs, wires,filters, etc until I saw the quote for labor, now Im rethinking what all needs to be done? The car has 27k miles on it and it doesnt get driven but about 5k miles a year since Ive had it. Any opinions on what all needs to be done? The estimate for just the waterpump and optispark wasnt bad but the plugs and wires really made it jump. Thanks for any advice or information.

I had the optispark and water pump (GM parts)replaced at 62,000 miles under my extended warranty and it cost a little over $900 for parts and labor(optispark-$310...water pump-$287.24...coolant-$18.24...labor-$272.73 plus tax and shop materials))...I had to pay $100 deductible...nothing was wrong with the pump or optispark but I wanted it done...so........ presto:L ...otherwise...damn!

 

[o2bnkc]

That's one way to go about it Us Navy guys, always thinking.

Tell us how it goes. I assume by living in San Diego, you are still in?

 

[redc4corvette]

If you are replacing spark plugs it is not that bad.
Use a 5/8 plug wrench and a box wrench for #8 plug.
The pokes and scratches from the oil dipstick stud are free.:L

 

[Edmond]

I think the cursing is mandatory!:L

 

[WaveDoggie]

Yep, first post here. The fourth day I had my '95 it puked the water pump seal all over my garage. I have had the car two weeks now.
I replaced all the hoses($100), water pump ($175 new), Opti spark rebuild kit ($191) MSD wires ($90) Serp belt, T-stat, and hose clamps. The hardest thing was getting the two-jaw puller on the @%#%$# balancer! But after applying sufficient violence it saw things my way.

The car runs great, and I almost have it sorted out- I installed the missing bias springs on the front brake pads and that sure helped the caliper rattle. Now to get the radar detector wired in...

 

[Edmond]

Doggie,

Welcome to the Forum.

What does the Opti rebuild kit include?

 

[92conv]

Tell us how it goes. I assume by living in San Diego, you are still in?

Yep, still active duty and proud of it. Unfortunately I just finished replacing my opti lastnight but STILL wouldn't start up. It did make a difference, sounds like it is wanting to but won't. Dunno, just going nuts here at work.

 

[427zone]

Had antifreeze smell and idle symptoms with mine recently. From reading the threads on this site, thought it may be the water pump and opti. Brought it to the Chevy dealer where I take my car for service. Replaced the opti, water pump, 2-O2 sensors, plugs, wires and some other small emissions part. Just shy of $1,800 and 48K the car never has run this well. A side benefit is that the gas mileage has increased from around 20 mpg to 23 mpg.

 

[WaveDoggie]

Hey Edmund, the rebuild kit is a NAPA part, and it is basically the cap, rotor, and middle housing. I am pursuing new vacuum fittings and hoses for the opti unit. It has been recomended to replace those for good measure as well.
You will need a E-4 socket (a bassackwards torx) and a T-9 (a torx that is a weeeeee bit smaller than anything found in a normal tool botique).

 

[John Robinson]

Gas

How old is the gas? Has car been sitting with a low tank in humid conditions or rain?:confused The bad running sounds more like bad gas. The backfire may be when it gets a slug of water from the tank. The car sounds like it is going into limp home mode because the bad gas is causing the knock sensor to activate and retard the spark. Before going the Opti route you might try a fuel filter, a full tank of fresh gas and a couple of cans of dry gas in case you have water condensed in the tank.

 

[Edmond]

Hey Edmund, the rebuild kit is a NAPA part, and it is basically the cap, rotor, and middle housing. I am pursuing new vacuum fittings and hoses for the opti unit. It has been recomended to replace those for good measure as well.
You will need a E-4 socket (a bassackwards torx) and a T-9 (a torx that is a weeeeee bit smaller than anything found in a normal tool botique).

Let us know how the rebuild goes. Like how difficult it is... How much time it took...

Aren't new opti's more than $300?

 

[92conv]

I picked up my optispark from summit for around 400 bucks. It included free shipping and was at my door in three days.

 

[LT4man]

MSD is making a cap and rotor that I think is really cool! Check out their website and go to NEW products. It is red and matches the intake manifold on the LT4s.

I like it for reasons besides the color! They have designed some heavy duty fixes into it.

BTW, I have almost 80,000 on my original optispark. I have washed my engine numerous times. Without covering the opti. I drive my car in all sorts of weather. It has never missed a beat. I did replace my water pump once, several years ago. I noticed the drops on my garage floor and had the job done right away.

I am running the Accel 300+ ignition amplifier and just recently installed the Accel high output remote mounted ignition coil. I also have Magnecor Ignition Wires (which I love, but that would take another thread!) :L

With all that being said, I am now knocking on my head (wood!)

Save The Wave!

http://msdignition.com