I did a search and couldn't find much.

So I've heard that there is no wrong way to install a 95-97 opti.

I recently swapped my 350 with a golen 383. When I got to the opti, I pushed it on to the engine and it had a little resistance but then I gave it a push and popped right on flush to the timming cover. Should it have resistance and 'pop' on or just easily slide? I didn't make sure #1 was on TDC or line anything up or anything.

Im asking this because now my new engine won't start; just turns over and sounds like it will start, but then backfires. I got good spark, the coil's good, the wires are not crossed. It definitely sounds like an opti misfireing problem. There just was a post on here where a guy had the 94 opti and put it on wrong http://web.camaross.com/forums/showt...t=opti+install -- his symptoms are exactly like mine. But everyone keeps saying that there is no wrong way to install my opti....

I was extremely careful to not get coolant on it when I swapped out my engine and I don't remember any getting on the opti. The opti is 2 months old with like 1000 miles on it and it ran fine 3 days ago (before I took it off).

any ideas?

 

I am not entirely sure, because my car is nonvented. But I am fairly sure that it will only work one way, and that is that the cam dowel must be aligned with the cam dowel hole in the back of the opti. Also if it ran fine 3 days ago, I would have to say that you installed it properly.

 

yes it can go on wrong. you can force the cam dowel into the wrong slot seen it done many times. also if youve been adjusting the rockers as well i had the same problem when i over tightend my rockers one time.

 

I mean 3 days ago, before I took it off.

alright so how will i know it goes in the right way? Should it just slide in effortlessly?

 

You can install one wrong... Ive seen it done. But its also possible your opti seal is real tight. I was installing an opti on a local guys call and the opti seal was extremely tight but some extra effort the opti popped into place. That could be your resistance.

 

make sure all small wire connections ae tight, in the right spots, and no small wires are split. This happened to me when I reinstalled everthing and I split a wire. After I fixed it it was fine.

At first! I thought I installed the opti wrong because it felt like I had it on the cam dowel and then it sligthly popped on, with a tiny bit of pressure, but not alot. It didnt just slide on like butter! Good luck

 

Any year opti can be installed wrong.

 

Look at the back of the opti and align the cam dowel with the cam dowel hole in the back of the opti.

 

There's three ways it will go on there, and only one of them is right. One of the slots on the back is different from the other two, line that one up with the dowel on the cam. Took me a good 30 minutes to get it on my 95.