If so, what did you do to modify the bolts and cam button ecentric to allow the opti-spark to fit?

I substituted the supplied allen headed cam bolts with "other" bolts with small heads and some ground down. That looks ok to me but any engine builders on here with cautions about doing that or experience with some other method? (I test fit the opti spark and it fits like a glove).

Here are a few photo links to one of 2 that I have installed on LT1's right now. The engines are on engine stands and are not in running vehicles yet. This would be my 1st attempt at using the Hex-A-Just on the LT1 so maybe I'm missing something?

photo links:
http://www.ellweinengines.com/ERE6/hexadjust3.jpg
http://www.ellweinengines.com/ERE6/hexadjust.jpg
http://www.ellweinengines.com/ERE6/hexadjust2.jpg

Show what you have for mods to the Hex-A-Just also please.

Karl Ellwein

 

I tried it before and one other guy I know also tried it...but before final assembly I pulled it out. I just had a bad feeling about it. The other guy did the same thing

 

I'm running one. I ground down the allen head bolts that it came supplied with and used them, I also had to grind down the offset bushing for the adjustment and clearance the timing cover a little. My opti seated with no problem.

 

I only ground down the offset bushing. I used everything else and haven't had any problems

 

OK, that's cool. I may try grinding the heads of the supplied bolts. Just thought that maybe they had to be ground so far as to take away the hole for the alen wrench.

Did you look at my link photos? How's that method look?

Karl

 

Yeah I looked at you pics, everything looks fine. The one thing that I noticed though...and maybe I just can't see it in you pics....but the little dot that was in the bushing I drilled it deeper before I ground it down so that I could still see where my timing mark is. I guess you can still figure it out when you degree you cam, but it just seemed easier to me to drill it deeper.

 

interesting. I'm wondering though if your opti is riding the cam bolts and not the cam pin? When I test fit my opti, (without the timing cover on), that is what I find.

I've run an LT1 opti on the cam bolts before, (cam pin too short). It work but timing needed to be compensated.

you know what though....I looked again at the supplied bolts and put one on just now and it does look like the opti will fit fine with those bolts. So just grind down the cam bushing may be the only mod needed. cool


Karl

 

Yea, good idea on that too. I scribed a mark where the dot "was".

Karl

 

I was worried about the bushing coming out... Is the opti the only thing holding it in?

 

I'm not worried at all about it coming out. Mine fit in there pretty darn tight, plus I doubt the opti would let it move.

 

It's got a lip or a shoulder on the bushing. It cannot come forward and it cannot move back because it's up against the cam. The cam gear holds it in place. (I just looked).
But it's important to grind the bushing from the front, (the side with the dot). If you grind from the rear it won't sit flush with that shoulder and then is a bit more 'loose' in the gear set. still won't fall out though.

Karl

 

Yep. I did that too.

 

It can't come out, it has a lip on the back side so that it can't move forward. It obviously can go back b/c of the cam sprocket.

My bad, Karl already adressed this.