I'm trying to rig up a cam sensor on my LT1 to run full sequential with a BS3. I could use the vortec cam distrib but, trying to look up a simple (a.k.a cheaper and easier) way of getting a cam signal. I have heard of using a 8.1 cam sensor that screws in the timing cover of an 8.1. This sensor is cheap... only $35 but, trying to figure out how this works. Does the 8.1 have a magnet or piece of metal in the cam gear that this sensor picks up? Or, is the cam gear a reluctor with many teeth? Anyone done this?

 

Can't the BS3 utilize the Opti signals? A couple of the other aftermarket ECU's can.

 

I was trying to get rid of the opti although it does fine just using the optical part. It hasn't given me any problems the last few years with the LTCC setup. I was wanting to just purchase the LS1 BS3 setup to still run the 8 coilpacks and ditch the extra box of the LTCC.

 

I'm doing the same thing with my car with the LS1 BS3 running sequential injection and coil per cylinder.

Basically what's being done is I'm using the opti to act as a housing to mount the cam sensor. I'm ditching everything about the opti except the housing shaft and bushing/bearing portion of it.

It will look something like this:



It was either do that or punch a hole in the back of the intake for a distributor stub (at least that's how I thought it would work) The part number for the 8.1 distributor stub is 1104068 (I think?), and it's like ~$175 for the good guy price.

What's the part number you listed that's $35?

 

But you've actually confirmed with BS3 that it can't work with the Opti signals??? I run the Opti pulse signals directly to my MoTeC, and use there 8-channel ignition driver for 8 LS1-style coils.... works fine, been doing it for 6 years. I think the FAST has an option to accept the Opti signals. Its an EXTREMELY precise cam position signal.

 

I've seen people using the opti to feed the BS3 but, I was trying to get rid of the opti. If I could use the opti to feed the BS3, and the BS3 could fire the 8 LS1 coils I might pursue that. Too many options right now.

 

The '02 vortec sensor is part #12575183 (list $71... $38 or so at discount places). Looks like you could just have a magnet rotating based on the timing gear and have this sensor pick it up. Very similiar to what you have done.

 

I chose to completely eliminate all the opti components.

Here's a pic of the near finished product.

 

This is a very nice peice indeed... i am wondering what it would take to make a 24x crank signal... or a 48x cam signal to act as a crank signal.