I just noticed something - Did you put the splined shaft back in when you installed the opti?

 

Sure DID!!! Todd. Got it from NAPA AUTO brand spanking new. Tell me this. If I were to have put that opti on wrong. Would I know right away? I mean if I were to put it on incorrectly is it obvious? Or could it be normal to someone like me that built an LT1 for the first time in his life LOL
Chris

 

try a good old timing light to see if it's sending spark to the plugs. my car did something similar one time i tried starting it and it just kinda sputtered and died then it wouldn't start. turned out that it was just flooded idk how or why it flooded but it didn't start until i floored it while cranking ran great once it was cleared out. maybe since you smell a lot of gas when cranking it's just flooded???

 

Ill try that too. Thats what todd thinks. That its Flooded. We pulled out some plugs and there was evidence of Fuel on the plugs. And remember we put some gas in the intake area and it acted like it wanted to start. But I dont understand why Todd and I performed a spark test by pulling a spark plug wire out and placing a plug in there. Placing it on the intake and no spark. I even tried Shoebox no spark test of the ICM. (NO SPARK) so im just thinking maybe I put the OPTI on wrong. I guess this is what happens to first time LT1 engine builders
Chris

 

Todd you asked me if I put the splined shaft back in when I put in the OPTI? IS that something that gets attacted to the end of the opti kinda of like that go between peice were the water pump hooks up to that gear? If you have a picture of the splined shaft that would be helpful.
Chris

 

Chris,
You can't put this style opti on wrong unless you really force it - it only goes on one way. If you had to us the bolts to pull the opti on, then it would be on incorrectly (if you could get it on at all). Trust me you have known something was wrong.

However, did you replace the timing gears?

Check out this picture: www.shbox.com/1/93-94_opti.jpg
The timing gear shown in the lower right corner has the splines required. I don't think the LT4 timing set has the splines.

This is the only part that attached to the opti. The one to the waterpump is a coupler with the splines inside.
I never even thought about using a timing light. It would give you the same answer as a spark test.
One more thing, did you unhook your computer at some point? I remeber the bracket being unbolted. If so, you might want to double check the computer connections. Uplug and reseat them just to make sure.
Todd

 

Well with that said TODD I guess I didnt put the OPti on wrong. Becuase it went on with ease. Timing Chain? Straight from NAPA brand new. I just have a funny feeling that I didn't. Maybe the opti is bad. Yes I did pull the PCM out a couple of time. BUt never stretched any wires or disconnected anything.
chris

 

Chris,

You said you replaced the timing chain. Did you also replace the timing gears? (In other words, did you buy a complete timing set: gears and chain or just the chain?) A standard Gen I small block Chevy timing set will fit, I believe, but will not have the splines required to drive the opti. If the opti is not turning = no signal to the computer = no spark. However, I would think it would show a failure code at that point - which we did not get.
Todd

 

Todd when I bought the Timing Chian set. I Compared it to the old one. As far as I saw everything matched up perfectly. However, I didnt check to see if the splines where the same. I think If I pull the hub and go on ahead and take the opti off I can be sure of those things.
Chris

 

Update???

 

I'll let Chris provide the update

 

HAAALAAAALUUYAAAA......HAALAAAALUUUYAAA...HALALUYA . HALALUYA,,HALUUUUUYAAAAAAAA.
Too all my Fbod brothers and sisters. The moment of truth came true at 7:31pm PST when I turned the key to my first time ever built LT1 stroker and guess what folks. SHE FIRED RIGHT UP. AND SHE DID IT WITH ADDITUDE.
Heres what happened:
IN regards to my LAST post about the OPti spark PLacement. Well for some reason I just thought that there was something going on with the opti spark. Like I didnt put it on right. And I was questioning the fact of the spline gear that goes on the end of the opti. Well with that information I went on ahead and tore down the front of the motor, right down to the opti spark and timing cover. When I pulled the opti off my theory came to life. The spline was sitting in between the opti housing and the gear housing. And it was loose. Folks what im trying to say is that there were NO grooves for the OPti Spark shaft to MATE to. Meaning that lady at NAPA Auto parts gave me the WRONG DAMN TIMING CHAIN. I could not believe my eyes. So I swaped out that gear with my old one. And kept the new chain. I buttoned up the tmiing cover and the opti first and hooked up all the plugs wires to it to see if this car would fire(at this point no hub) sure enough. IT barked At this point I finished buttoned everything back up. Tightened down the rockers. And startered her up. And she rose from the DEAD.. After a year and a half of just sitting shes ALIVEEEEE ALIVEE LOL. Im sorry people im just so stoked right now. SO theres the story folks.
Want to give thanks to the following people:
NovaTodd
crazydavez28
95Blackhawk
Injuneer
Shoebox
GetazforgetGt

Thanks to all the people mentioned that helped me out on this challange. Nova Thanks for coming out to help. But were not down yet im still gonna steal your expertise on tuning. Thanks guys
Chris

 

Good to hear.
I remember that feeling very well. Nothing like hearing all that time and effort come to life.

 

oh yeah