Car died on me and I had it towed to the local Chevy Dealer. They checked the car and told me that the engine wasn't firing because the cap and rotor were bad. They then tell me that it will be $604 to replace these two parts.


Well that it WAY to much. For that price, they could at least replace the whole Opti. I called a mechanic that i know and he told me that he would install an opti for $150. Since I have seen some people say it takes between 6 to 8 hours to swap an Opti out your first time, I am more than happy to pay someone $150 for approximately 7 hours of work.

I have seen some of you mention a guy in Florida, who works at a dealership, who sells a new Opti for $230. I asked my local dealer what the price for a new Opti, and they told me $495. There is no way the $230 Opti is brand new. It has to be a rebuild right?

And what about buying an opti through AutoZone? i think this is the part:


Is this the Opti for a 97 LT1? And is the part any good?

Thanks in advance guys...

 

Do not buy the one from autozone!!! I bought the cap and rotor from them, 3 months later the optical part went out. I bought mine from Dal for $198.00, and since I have the vented opti he suggested I buy new vaccum lines. The vaccum lines where $12.00 if I remember correctly. I have had no problems what so ever out of the new ( BRAND NEW!!) opti so far. Also, If I'm not mistaking a new GM opti has a 1 year warranty.........I KNOW autozone does not. You'll be alot better off buying a new one. About putting one on, it's really not that hard to do. If you have to take it to a mechanic $150.00 is not that bad.

 

I get a wholesale discount at my local Chevrolet dealership, but I still got a brand new Opti from Jason Cromer, at Sam Taylor Buick, for over $100 less. This is the dealership in Florida that you're referring to, I believe.

My cousin works at a Chevrolet dealership, and can change an opti in 20 minutes.

Frank

 

I agree after a couple of adventures with them....they are No problem to change....Fairly straight forward....especially with a lift....

 

Twenty minutes??? I'd like to know how. You have to drain the radiator, remove the water pump, pull the crank pulley, then pull the opti. Not to mention putting it back on. Little exaggeration there Frank???

Jason Cromer @ Sam Taylor Buick Cadillac sells BRAND NEW GM Opti's for about $220 for a vented and about $240-260 for a non-vented. NEVER change just the cap and rotor on these things, they're very finiky.

You can easily change one yourself with just basic hand tools in a matter of about 4-5 hours. At least that's how long it took me to do my first one.

 

I agree with everyone else get one from Jason, here is his number:

Jason Cromer: 877-726-8295 or 850-243-8826 (direct parts dept ph #)

He is located in Ft. Walton Beach, FL.


Tyler

 

Unvented from Jason is 319+ actual shipping.. still a good price tho..

 

Glad I did the conversion. I didn't realize they went up in price like that.

 

Wait a minute... how much for a vented one? I can get a vented one from gmpartsdirect.com for about 250.00 Brand new, complete and delivered.


That's a big price for a non-vented one. Jason never returned my e-mail and I could not get him on the phone yesterday.


Marvin

 

I checked both numbers and there is no voice mail/answering machine left on for the Holiday. I guess I will call again on Monday.


Marvin

 

Last Non-Vented one I bought from Jason was $219 shipped.

 

You can do the opti swap yourself in an afternoon. I did mine in a bout a full day with no help, in the rain, on dirt/gravel the first time (didnt have a pully remover either, had to spend an hour to go out and pick one up). If your doing it on a driveway it's going to be faster, if you have a pulley remover itll be quicker too and if you have a helper itll be way way quicker

Yes you can get a new vented opti for $230 BRAND NEW from jason cromer. I just ordered one a few months ago. Do not just get a cap and rotor!

Sadly the dealership price is about right with what i've heard they charge for em. I recommend you do it yourself There are some good sights on how to do it, if you have any questions the board will galdy help.

 

Nope. He does everything from the bottom. Remember, dealership mechanics get paid flat rate. He's actually changed the timing cover gasket on one in a little over an hour.

Frank

 

get one from disc auto parts....

there is a full lifetime warranty of'em... if it breaks, they'll replace it for free...

 

Sorry, I still don't believe it.