Poor idle (500 instead of 1000rpm).

Car sometimes stalls and puffs fuel from exhaust at idle.

Sometimes rattles on death....death rattle

Timing chain looked a little slack but nothing major. It was a new timing chain.

Is it possible the opti was installed wrong? Can you force it on flush with the dowel pin not lined up?

 

I don't think you can get the opti all the way on in the wrong location. I have seen one that had a non vented opti installed on a cam that had the long dowel pin for a vented opti, they used washers to space the opti further out . How does the car run in situations other than idle, does it clean up a little with rpm or is it just as bad? IAC maybe?

 

one of my books suggests installing it with the dowel at 9 o'clock and the opti at -1.
Check it out, good luck grip! keep us updated!

 

Its fine at rpm above 2000rpm.

I'm thinking maybe the rattle is possibly the waterpump gear or a loose timing chain. I have an electric water pump now.

The rattle is coming right from the front of the motor under the throttlebody.

I'll pull the timing cover off.

 

this sounds dumb, but check the wires. ive been burned on those before (pun intended )
extensive replacement work on the ign sys and it was the wires all long.

 

You might be onto something, but double check your timing gear alignment when you have the cover off.

People put the opti on wrong all the time. It can happen with the vented or non-vented.

 

Not to hijack the thread or anything... how can the opti be installed wrong? I have my new opti in the garage awaiting install.

 

...by not lining it up correctly and forcing it on. Most of the time, it's not even going to run.

 

Seems like that would be a little hard to do... I hope, anyway

 

...only if you don't pay proper attention. I have seen lots of threads over the years of improper installation. It's more common than you'd think.

 

Can you permanently damage the threads by forcing it on and have problems later lining it up?

I have an extra driveshaft for the opti as well.

 

That, I don't know. I would just compare the two stub shafts you have. Remember that it indexes into the opti as well as the cam gear. So make sure both ends are correct.

 

Shoebox is right, it happens a lot. I have read numerous posts on this also (before I did my replacement). Just a quick tip: If you have everything aligned, the opti should slide on real easy, no force required whatsoever. The screws just hold it on. If it doesn't slide right on, you have something misaligned.

HTH

Sam

 

This thread has made me a little hesitant to just leave my opti how it is. Can it be installed properly if it goes on pretty much all the way? The bottom is flush.. but the top has about 1/10 of an inch space without any pressure on it. I'll get a pic up tomorrow...

 

Just like others have said, the Opti will slide on with ease if lined up correctly. That is the problem. People get frustrated and probably get the bolts started and force it on. Just speculation on my part. It's pretty easy to know if its on correctly as it mats up against the timng cover. By seeing Gripenfelters car on his webpage, I don't think he would try to force it on.

ZMAN speculating