what exactly is the opti and where is it located . i just bought a 1996 camaro z28 with lt1 . i want to get a tuneup on it . i ask yesterday and everyone said to replace opti . but , the place i called about tuneup . doesnt know what i am talking about . also , called part store with no luck . is this correct name .

 

It is the distributor on the LT1. The full name is Optispark (the "opti" part comes from the fact that it has an optical sensor for timing / cam position sensing). It does not sit at the top, rear of the engine like a traditional distributor. Rather, it sits at the front of the engine (behind/below the waterpump) and is driven by the front of the camshaft.

How many miles on the car?

Mine is also a '96 and has 100k miles on it; '96s have the newer "vented" style opti, which are a little more robust. I'm getting a misfire everynow and then, but I'm still on the original, stock Platinum Delco spark plugs, so I'm sure they are a big part of the culprit.

Do a search, there are a zillion threads about the optispark. It has a bad rap, but I don't think it is really as bad as its legend has become...

 

Here's a drawing from Shoebox's site:

http://shbox.com/ci/opti_mounting.jpg