There is an article in GM high tech where someone has modified the LT1/LT4 intake to accept a MSD distributor. I desperatly needd to get ride of my opti spark, but i cant find out which way to go. Does anyone know this car, or how it was done???? What other options do i have (using the FAST ECU), i do know about the LS1 coils but that seems so complicated and troublesome.


thanks, james007

 

Try www.lt1intake.com
they do this mod to use the LT1 intake on TPI type motors for a reasonable price.

 

That is my car that is in the mag. I f you have a F.A.S.T ecm or other aftermarket ecm you will have to have it converted to IPU .No biggie Fast is 40$ to do it , I had to machine the egr stuff off the back of the manifold and machined up an aluminium collar then located it properly on the manifold and welded in place.I used an MSD smalll base 8570 distributor with a slip collar to get the proper oilpump drive dimension. Really a very simple job.

 

Yeah, for a machinist!

 

LOL...

Chris..have you considered doing these manifold conversions for others for payment??

just curious....It will be a while before I could afford the conversion.

 

The machining and parts is no problem to me. Does F.A.S.T. service PCMs other than their own? Could I send my reflashed OEM to them and have this operation done? I guess, it's probably better to ask them...but hypothetically speaking, could I?

I MUST ditch the optispark!!! So, this MSD 8570 and IPU conversion will read everything properly and provide the proper fuel and spark for an LT1 car?

Thanks

DJ

 

Am I crazy or wouldn't this actually be cheaper or roughly the same price as replacing an opti? Sounds like a good idea, Do you need an aftermarket PCM or could the stock one be reprogramed?

 

Well, the MSD dristributor is less than GM's list on the optispark (MSD 8750 $229 from Summit). Pay $40 to FAST (I just got an email from them confirming that price) to have your ECM (and it seems the OEM will work fine, they'll just flash it for IPU) converted from opti-driven to inductive pickup. And, you could probably find a used Aftermarket Ignition system ALL for less than GM's list on an optispark.

AND...when you splash thru a puddle, or take your car thru the brushless car wash...you won't have to worry "Will this fry my opti!?"

For me, it'd be a piece of mind, a much EASIER to maintain system (ever swapped an opti before?) and all for about the same price or less if you want.

NOW, my only question...what drives the distributor? Will the cam have to be upgraded? I don't mind, because I'm looking into doing a whole valvetrain upgrade.

DJ

 

Are we talking about an obd2 ecm?

 

Well...MINE is OBDI

DJ

 

No you wouldn't need to upgrade the cam. LT1's actually have a gear at the rear of the cam to drive the distributor just like any other small block cam.

 

F.A.S.T. quoted $40 for thier pcm,AFIK the LT1 pcm cannot be converted to a normal style setup.

Most guys that dont run the opti run standaone dfi and toss the stocker away,or like Fred and Mr Baxter,they piggy back the stock system with Aftermarket DFI and still use the Hi-Lo res signals from the opti.


Im sure someone will correct me if im wrong,but im 99% sure the ob1/2 pcm's wont work without the opti signals.

 

How much room is there to pull the distributor in and out?