Ok so I got the opti off and checked the screws. Nothing loose or coming loose looks clean like a new opti. I haven't put it back together yet, just been busy, but once I get it figured out I'll post up what I find. Again much thanks people.

 

Ok. I pulled the opti. It looked fine, no loose screws or any corrosion. Contacts on the cap a little black. I cleaned them up, made sure screw were all tight. I just put it all back together, still cranks no start. Right then it hit me...the thing did this once before and I could swear it ended up being vats. IIRC, we had to put a vats bypass module in it somewhere, but I can't seem to find it. I'm going to have to ask my brother IF he remembers where it is.

 

If it was VATS, there would be a trouble code for the fuel enable signal not being present. Obviously, the part of the VATS that allows cranking is ok (or has been also bypassed).

 

I'm racking my brain trying to recall what we finally did to get it fired up. It was quite a few years ago, when I gave this to my brother. It had a blown head gasket, and after we fixed that it was doing exactly as it is now, and it wasn't the opti. I remember because, I could swear I had Jims turn vats off, and yet we had to do something with it, just can't remember what...?

 

You can do a resistor bypass for the key or a bypass of the TDR to enabe it to crank (clearly not your problem) and you can defeat the fuel enable signal by programming or a bypass module. Those are the two things the VATS does. Sorry, can't help with your memory.

 

Your help is much appreciated, Thank you very much. I asked my brother, he can't remember either...lol!! Kinda gave it to him, because he needed a something to drive, and I had my hands full keeping one LT1going. That one runs great, but so did this one! I need a few more things b4 I button up the bottom end on my other one for the 2nd gen, but no opti, no computer. Just an edelbrock carb and hei distributor. As for the truck, I'm going keep pluggin away till I get it....these dam computers have just gotten to be a pita for me.

 

so with all this talk about opti sparks I need to know if the optis on sale at eBay are any good .They range from sixty dollars all the way up to the sky.What can be the big difference. I will probably wind up replacing mine since I let coolant drain down the front before I ever knew what it was thanks

 

The ebay cheapies are cheap Chinese ripoffs. Expected life is directly proportional to the cost. Even the more expensive non-OEM units have a surprisingly high failure rate. AC Delco or Delphi seem to be the most reliable, but you have to search hard to find a decent price. MSD unit costs even more and has a few problems of its own.

There is a way to use only the optical cam position function in the Opti, and move the high voltage function outboard to a module accepting the optical signal and driving 8 LS1 coils in direct fire. Look for the Bailey Engineering LTCC system. I've been running a similar setup, using different hardware, for 14 years, on an engine with a 7,200 rpm redline, and no problems.

Then there's the EFIConnection, 24X system that totally eliminates the Opti, and runs an LS1 PCM and the 8 coil direct fire ignition. Gets a bit pricey though.

 

Once again it was the msd coil, throwing spark, but apparentgreust not enough spark. I wasn't even working on it when it hit me like a ton of bricks, I was cooking steak fajitas going through the issue with the truck in my head. I'm broke, so I actually went digging through my massive collection of parts when I found the stock coil that was on this motor when it was in the 94z I had. (Ol' Patriot). I put that old coil on it, that had been sitting on a shelf for years. She fired right up. After all this, I still love LT1's. When they work, they work very well. Thanks again for all your help folks, it's much appreciated!!! And btw The Green Monster ( my 94 z) is currently running one of those el cheapo ebay optis. Been on the car probably about 3 or 4 years now...seems to be hit or miss, cuz my brother put one on this truck, and it didn't last. That's actually what made him want to try the msd opti.