I have a really big problem. my car started to have performance problems a few months ago and i've been tring to figure it out. this last week i thought i had figured it out and replaced my opti (not cool ) . i came to this conclusion my friends opti went completely with the same symptoms. we replaced his no problem. now my turn . after installing my opti the car didn't want to start, when we finally got it to start for a few seconds it died with a burst a flame out of the throttle body. now a mechanic friend of mine tells me the timing chain needs to be changed??? If anyone can give any other thoughts that would be great

 

That's all timing.

Is the timing chain broken?

 

You could have installe dit 180 degrees off I did this and it ran horrible problem is you willl have to remove it again turn the motor by hand one full revolution and then reinstall the opti. Try cranking it before you put the water pump on it so you can see if that fixed it JMHO Matt

 

i thought the opti on a 96 could only go on one way because of the little dowel pin that drives the opti

 

It can go in the opti only one way and also only go into the cover one way. The pin will go in but not in completly it takes patients. Tare it back down and sorry i kno its a pain. I did mine last w/e to replace seals.

 

I would agree with that, I had the timing 180 degrees off when I rebuilt my 84 Firebird and it shot flames from the carb. But I guess with the opti it's alot harded to just go ahead and change it, and if you go that far you could go ahead and check the timing chain. But don't listen to me, my Formula is my first LT1 car and I havn't had to work on it yet.

 

if its not the opti and actually turns out to be the timing chain how hard is it to do?? would i be better off bringing it to a shop and how much would that be??

 

definitely a timing issue. flame because the intake valve is open at the wrong time. pray for no valve damage, with it 180 degrees it is probably OK anyways. while the opti and water pump are off, unbolt the timing cover and look for any obvious issues there. It is probably just a 180degree off opti. I would do this myself if I were you. Not a huge job but a p.i.t.a. nontheless.

 

Reinstall the opti.
I am willing to bet you got it installed wrong.
Don,t feel bad its easy to do and alot of people on here have done it.
I still think the old style of opti was better than the newer one, should have left the splined drive and just vented it.