Now I'm starting to wonder if I some how put the opti 180 off. Is there anyway to install the opti wrong on a 94 non vented? I have done 3 of these now and cant recall.... Would it even run?

The only way I can get the car started is to floor it and it will run terrible... It died on me while driving with low res code, I just figured the opti was dead.. It has new delco opti, delco icm and coil, new wires and plugs....Fuel pressure is good, spark is good..


Timing seems off by a mile...

 

You can put the opti on wrong. Many seem to somehow do it. It has one right way.

 

Arg thanks I must have done this, or I hope I did this is driving one nuts..

 

It can be forced on but if it was smooth you should be fine. I lined mine up and tried a dozen times before it went on with no resistance. I had the old one and the new one side by side and it was still hard to get it on the right way. I removing the old one and made a mark so i knew what direction it was pointing.

 

i beat my head against the wall when doing mine too.

i was told i was over thinkin it. i think by shoebox^

if it fit, flush then its done and dont mess w/ it. the coupler has a something similar to a key way and the cam/pin will turn 360* if you put it 180 out then the pin would not line up.

Check your plug wires at the opti make sure they are all the way in. Maybe time for some new ones anyway.

 

I am in the same boat. the only difference is I had a freind of mine, who's a service tech, do mine. I was wondering could he have installed it wrong. I have new ac delco plugs, wires, coil, and my ignition module has checked out ok.I have to floor it ot crank it but it still won't rev up all the way and i'm getting a code 300, but my car is 96 so different obd.

 

HEY 94slug, when you figure it out, post a reply and tell me cuz, i'm going to have to send mine to the dealer to go any further. i hate paying $100 an hour for labor.

 

With the 93/94 splined shaft drive unvented Optis, its very easy to assemble the shaft in the wrong position. It may appear that its difficult to align the missing tooth incorrectly, but way too many people have managed to do it. If its "off" by a tooth or two, its probably going to start, but run poorly.

With the 95-97 cam dowel pin driven vented Optis, its also very possible to put the pin in the wrong slot, often done when pulling the Opti in with the bolts. But in that case, because there are only 3 slots, each 120-camshaft degrees apart, it going to be way harder to start, if at all.

Assemble with care.

 

I tried and tried to put my opti on wrong just to see if I could... it would ONLY go on one way!

I don't see how so many people do it. They must beat it on with a hammer.

 

I was extra careful and if it had even a little resistance i pulled it off and retried. I could see how someone could think it might take more pressure to get it on. Theres a lot of things on these cars that take a little muscle. This is not one of them. I knew mine came off in the 9 o'clock position so i set the new one there. If they never checked when it was removed it could be real hard to do and i would probably start forcing it after awhile myself.

 

what would it have hurt for them to just put a regular key on the opti? i mean thats a really dumb design.

 

It does have a key (just not maybe the kind you would like). Yeah, it takes a little skill and attention to detail to work on cars.

 

I'm raising this thread from the dead, because I just installed an opti on a 94 LT1. I did a search, and LOTS of people seem to screw this up badly.

The cam sprocket gear and the crank sprocket gear are lined up so that the cam sprocket "DOT" is at 6 oclock, and the crank sprocket "DOT" is at 12 oclock. This should put the motor at #6TDC

THe "keyed" relief in the cam sprocket was facing 6 oclock. I lined up the keyed part of the dowel and inserted into the cam sprocket. It slid in very smoothly. I put an Oring over it. The keyed relief in the opti was also facing 6oclock, as was the protruding side of the opti dowell.

THe opti slid on smooth as glass with no wiggling or resistance required. It slid on so its mounting ears were flush with the timing cover. I torqued it to 100 in-lbs.

This installation method was correct, right? I don't wanna be yet another poor soul who has to troubleshoot an opti.

 

That sounds right. But, breifly start the car before you put the water pump and other parts back on. This could save alot of work tearing it back down.

 

I would love to do that, but I've got the whole top end off for a cam swap.