I dunno what ground strap you are talking about but ALL grounds are important.

The way to check for spark is to pull a plug wire and look for it while you crank the motor if thats possible. Helps to have 2 guys when working with the stock wires so 1 guy can look while the other turns the key.

 

As "turbo_Z" stated, grounds are dang important. They definitely have to be straighten out for the car to functioned at all. I can't tell you were they are running to and from as I have never had to disturb the ground straps.

As to the general engine firing... the LT1 is robust enough to start even with a couple of plugs not sparking. You will have a rough idle and a blinking SES. But to get it to that point, you can make sure the coil wire plug is solidly connected. Easy way to get to it is by removing the air intake. Some photos. Just another humble suggestion.

 

alright i hooked up all the grounds. the plugs arent getting spark. i have a new coil but does it have to be mounted to work or can i take it out of the box and plug the connectors in and plug the wire from the opti in and try. because i tried that and it didnt work. if you grab the wire from the distributer and have someone crank it will it jolt you because its not. i figured it would. chances of the opti being bad are very slim. so what can it be

 

i have put the coil in and im still not getting spark. i will be getting an icm. im starting to come to the realization of that i may have a junk opti on my hands. what else can it be?

 

Do you have spark at the coil?