where do you get a torque spit socket small enough to remove the stupid torque spit screws that hold on the the actual opti and rotor part of the optispark? Anyone know? I hate whoever designed this damn setup. Its impossible to do anything. I had 3 people tell me how to remove the damn thing. Everyone of them neglected to tell me all the **** you have to removed just to get to the freaking opti. it seems like i ended up removing half the motor. Whoever says they can remove an opti in under two hours is full of ****. I spent 6 hours on just getting everything out of the damn car. Thats including all the trips i had to do to buy stuff and rent stuff. I will vent some more when I have completed the damn thing and have run into even more problems. -Michael

 

Not to be a ****, but I have removed optis in ~ 1 hour and an hour-and-one-half to reinstall. It really isn't too difficult...granted I've done it many more times than I wish I have.

 

I had a Tawian set of T bits and I ground down the neck of one so it would be a narrow enough diameter to reach. If I were you I'd replace the entire unit and not just the cap/rotor parts.

 

I was able to get the tools I needed at O,really here in this po dunk town I live in.
First time that ever happened.
You just need to calm down a bit, your getting POed cause its harder than it looked and thats not helping your cause.
It took 2 hours to disassemble and 2 hours to put it back together for me. Just take your time and it will run great when you get it all done.
It made a world of difference on my car.

 

Heres a simple solution . Remove one of the screws from the top of the throttle body. Use a visegrip to hold it and it will remove the screw(they are the same size)

 

Beter yet 'double nut ' it so you don't mess the threads up with vice grips..
But yes that fits..

 

You can buy a tool from matco tools or snap on that will remove those screws.Take your time,it will be worth it

 

I wouldn't replace just the cap and rotor. I learned from it (after it died 3 months later), and purchased a new optispark.

 

Replace the whole Opti, even if you are not getting a Code 16, low res sig. Otherwise, GM engineering will come back to haunt you.

 

You can buy reverse Torque sockets for removing Opti Cap at Kragen or any other parts house like Autozone

 

When i store my car this winter, i am planning on just replacing everything that is stock on my car (84,000 miles). Waterpump, plugs, opti, wires. When you guys talk about replacing the opti, do u mean just the cap and rotor, or the whole distributor assembly. Also, what else do u think i should do while i am in there. By the way, the tranny is gettin rebuilt(it pops out of reverse). The oil pan gasket leaks about a drip per day, i might do that, i have 4 months to get the project done.

trav

 

sorry, i meant to put that as a new thread, sorry man

trav

 

They usually mean entire opti not cap and rotor
Due to the labor involved it's better to do the whole thing
Jason Cromer has good prices for complete GM opti's [200 for vented, 280 for unvented]

 

THIS is the best Opti instal guide I found. If you follow it step-by-step, it'll be a breeze. The only problem I found were just a couple of socket sizes were off.

 

thanks for all the help. I am going to replace the cap and rotor, and opti. cuz for 90 extra bucks id rather not have to do it again. The screws i was talking about are the ones that are exposed. I didnt have a torque spit that would work on those. I got the other two using the aforementioned throttle body screw. It all goes back together today. I am gonna use that guide. Thanks, Michael