time to push the idiot button

[hotshotzny]

ok i give up....... i feel like a total moron......but what the hell is the Opti-spark...do i even have one.... sounds like something the autobots are trying to protect from the deceptacons

feel free to slap me

 

[twiget]

Your '84 does not have an opti-spark. The Opti-spark is the ignition on LT1/4 motors.

Jason

 

[jrzvette]

The optispark is the distributor in the LT1 and LT4 engines. It provides very accurate timing, but it sits on the front of the engine on the timing chain cover, right below the water pump. Unfortunately, despite its location, it is not waterproof. A leaking waterpump or an overzealous engine washing will destroy it leading to a very costly and time consuming repair.

 

[hotshotzny]

im glad i dont have one!

 

[CorvetteArchives]

Thank god we dont ! :W

 

[twiget]

The optispark is the distributor in the LT1 and LT4 engines. It provides very accurate timing, but it sits on the front of the engine on the timing chain cover, right below the water pump. Unfortunately, despite its location, it is not waterproof. A leaking waterpump or an overzealous engine washing will destroy it leading to a very costly and time consuming repair.

Add to that the early LT1 water pumps had a tendency to leak...

Jason

 

[gmjunkie]

The optispark is the distributor in the LT1 and LT4 engines. It provides very accurate timing, but it sits on the front of the engine on the timing chain cover, right below the water pump. Unfortunately, despite its location, it is not waterproof.

Actually they are water proof when there new,but I think they could have used a better gasket material than compressed foam that becomes Dried up,Brittle,Cracks and falls out over time!!

 

[G Winter]

Actually they are water proof when there new,but I think they could have used a better gasket material than compressed foam that becomes Dried up,Brittle,Cracks and falls out over time!!

The gasket failure must be heat related. When getting a speeding ticket a few yrs ago had a little conversation with the patrolman. He said when they had the early LT1 in the patrol car they had a lot of problem when bucking snowbanks. The distributor would get wet and would have to be towed in for repairs. The highway patrol here puts on about 50,000 per yr and replace every two yrs so age didn't have much to do with it.
Sounds to me like if you buy a car with an optispark and you can do the work yourself that a little preventive maintenance by cleaning and replacing gasket might be time well spent.

Glenn

 

[hotshotzny]

The gasket failure must be heat related. When getting a speeding ticket a few yrs ago had a little conversation with the patrolman. He said when they had the early LT1 in the patrol car they had a lot of problem when bucking snowbanks. The distributor would get wet and would have to be towed in for repairs. The highway patrol here puts on about 50,000 per yr and replace every two yrs so age didn't have much to do with it.
Sounds to me like if you buy a car with an optispark and you can do the work yourself that a little preventive maintenance by cleaning and replacing gasket might be time well spent.

Glenn

we never had that problem with our LT1s and i was always the guy to go and see if i could get stuck