opti swap in ~2 hours

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Jul 6, 2004 | 05:43 AM

#16

Nostang 96z

Registered User

Joined: Sep 1998

Posts: 458

From: Newark, DE.

I changed my opti at the track in 1.5 hours. Very easy. Just took off the acc belt, unbolted the rad support and pushed radiator out of the way, unbolted the hub, unbolted the water pump, and unbolted the opti. Reinstalled the opti and fired it up to make sure everything was correct then bolted everything else back up. So it can be done.

Matt

Jul 6, 2004 | 08:01 AM

#17

CrAkD X 95TA

Registered User

Joined: May 2002

Posts: 520

From: Boston, MA

it took me all day but i knew nothing going in so i can see how it would be looked at as easy now. altho a bad headgasket kept breaking my waterpump gasket so i ended up screwed anyway.

Jul 6, 2004 | 12:16 PM

#18

Pasky

Registered User

Joined: Jan 2003

Posts: 1,362

Re: opti swap in ~2 hours

Quote:

Originally posted by Jesse_Boyer
I'm mostly posting this to see if anyone else has pulled the opti without pulling the rad/fans, etc.

Just curious if anyone else has done it this fast. I was told this should take a TON of time, but I honestly can't see how.

Plan I took (electrical connections and small stuff not mentioned):
drain coolant via drain plug on rad, lower passengers side
remove intake piping
remove throttle body
unhook hoses from waterpump
remove six bolts from waterpump and pull WP (i run an electric pump)
remove harmonic balancer
remove wires/connectors from opti (no ignition wires here, I run the Delteq system)
remove 3 bolts from opti and pull

then, reverse for installation.

Honestly, I can't see how it can take anyone 6 hours... (or whatever the book says it'll take). Perhaps if you remove the rad/fans it would take you a little longer, but certainly not 6 hours.

Thoughts?

Did it myself leaving the radiator on, too, took 45 minutes to replace. People make it seem like a day long project...

Jul 6, 2004 | 12:31 PM

#19

LWillmann

Registered User

Joined: Nov 2002

Posts: 1,831

From: Middle Tennessee

I just did my first one this weekend.

I spent two hours working to get everything off the front of the engine (including the coil, seperating it from the stock bracket and mounting a new one to the bracket).

I removed the water pump, crank pulley, passenger side fan only, and then the opti.

I had help getting the seals replaced and getting it all back together. I had difficulty keeping the opti from turning while inserting it into the cam and cover though.

Jul 6, 2004 | 02:35 PM

#20

Javier97Z28

Moderator

Joined: Dec 1999

Posts: 3,853

From: Jupiter (NPB), Fl

Yah about 2 hours at the most usually. Only takes a bit longer if you have alot of trouble getting stuck water pump gasket off. I like to make sure it comes off nice and clean.