Ever since i have put my motor together I have nothing but troubles with my opti spark. First problem was with one the prongs up top that the connector plugs into. It some how got bent and was causing irratic idle issues and eventually it got to the point where my car would no longer crank. Bent the prong back and made sure the connector was snug. Fixed that problem.

Two days later I was turning it pretty hard, the car backfired and turned off. When i cranked it back up it was idling too high and way too much timing in it. Took the opti out the next day and one of the screws on the rotor button had came off causing it to miss.

Got a new rotor button and put locktite on the screws and put the opti backtogether. Cranked up the car and she was running very good at idle. Backed the car out of my buddies shop, drove it down the road, went into 2nd gear good, and at about 3k RPMs, it backfired loud as hell and the car died and wouldn't crank back up. AS soon as it cut off I knew what it was.

The opti im using, was the rebuild insides from NAPA (165$) I do believe. I am never going to a rebuilt opti again. I plan on ordering a brand new GM sealed one next week from Summit or Dal. Figured i'd share my opti nightmares.

 

Situations like yours is EXACTLY why I will not do anything but order a brand new GM Opti. As finicky as those things are it makes no sense to take a chance like that.

 

I really don't see how a 355 can destroy an opti, but seems like its the parts that you are using is the cause. Seems like you are heading in the right direction, you can always move over to the LTCC or the Delteq DynoSpark but still you have to use the opti for the timing. Than there is the $500 dollar opti that I heard that might be the fix DynaSpark for it as well.

 

That sounds horrible. You should be able to get a new Opti for around $215 or so, right? That was my price last time. That sucks, I am sorry you had to go through all that crap.

But what I have heard in the past, is that rebuilt Optis for those cars are trash. A rebuilt Alt., sure...but not a rebuilt Opti.

Good luck with the new one!

 

I would never use rebuilt opti, a new one isnt that much more. Like mentioned rebuilt alternators and starters etc are one thing, they take 20 minutes to change if they dont work. Getting back to the opti is a much bigger headache, I'd just go with a brand new one.

 

Your topic is grossly misleading. Your 355 LT1 did not appear to contribute an any way to the failures you describe. "Beware rebuilt Optis" would have been a more accurate topic.

 

I've never had any problems with my non-vented or vented opti from autozone. Lifetime warranty aint bad either.

Sorry you've had problems, but I've heard of people having problems with brand new GM optis, as well. What kind of warranty comes with the Napa units?

 

use the LTCC & take the rotor part off & replace it with a shim/washer, or just cut the legs off the rotor & use the middle part just to hold everything together, this will take off lots of the weight/load off the opti at high rpms cuz you won't have a big rotor turning around inside, the centrifugal force on the legs of that thing at 7krpm will cause enough weight to load the bearing a bit much, plus when its firiing its more load cuz the spark tries to hold the rotor in that position like glueing the rotor to the cap, kinda like electricity wont' let you go when you touch it, thats even more load so they can fall apart.

LTCC!

 

that doesnt suprise me. the opti design is by far the biggest problem on the LT1. i got tired of replacing them and decided to go with a delteq coil conversion kit. worked great b4 my car got totalled. just something to think about. it is only $300 more than a new opti and u will never have to worry about it again.

 

My 2nd GM opti exploded. It ran about 2 months. Brand new from Summit. The rotors cannot take the rev acceleration and I think the contact flys off due to it being poorly welded to the plastic rotor. Don't know what to do since I like my MSD+coil. I have a 383 with a 13 # fly wheel and D1 blower. What is LTCC??

 

Do you have an aftermarket cam?

If so, when you replace the opti, check the dowel pin length. I destroyed 2 before I found the problem. It will destroy bearings.

If you have a stock cam, well, good luck finding it. Call Jason Cromer. He'll hook you up.

D Moss

 

I have an aftermarket Comp Cam. It says its for LT1/LT4.

I just put a whole new opti unit on the car and its running a lot better. I'll see how long it lasts... in the mean time i'll just save up for a Dynaspark.

 

You need to check the dowel pin length. I've heard of Comp cams coming with pins that are too long.

-Tony

 

I dont know whats up with all these optis going bad. I have over 180k on my car with the stock opti!

 

you better go knock on wood!