Well my LT1 is out for a freshening due to a blown head gasket, so I have a hotcam kit, headers and new clutch on the way.

What should I do w/ the optispark? the car has 54K on it, and no current problems with the optispark, but want to do any changes that are easy now that the motor is out.

Should I replace it? Are the rebuild kits sold on e-bay worth it or just get a new one? Should I put to original one back in and hope it lasts since I'm on a budget? Replacement of the optispark seems like a big job w/ the motor in the car, is this the case?

Finally, any other replacement recommendations while the motor is out?

Thanks,
SD

 

A few months ago I did the exact same thing you are planning to do. I had a blown head gasket and used that as an opportunity to completely overhaul the engine, including the Hotcam kit, headers, clutch, pistons, whatever adds up to $3500 in parts and balancing costs. Anyways, my car had 113,000 miles on it at the time, and I reused the Optispark. I didn't even change the cap and rotor, because at the time I didn't know you could even buy a cap and rotor and not a whole new unit. I now have 120,000 miles on the car and it runs flawlessly, though I'm sure my cap and rotor are trashed. From what I've seen on this board, you might as well replace the opti or at least cap and rotor while the engine is out. On the other hand, since you are mechanically inclined enough to fix your head gasket and add some speed parts I see no reason you would have any trouble replacing the opti in the future if it were to fail.

As far as what else you need to buy, that depends on how much you want to spend. Definately have the heads surfaced. Since the engine is out of the car, I would at least pull the oil pan and check the rod and main bearings. Put a new oil pump with the high pressure spring in it too. Don't forget gaskets either. I would recommend inspecting everything you can think of to make sure it is A-OK because you don't want to have problems later. Good Luck

 

Thx Izzy. Aye my motor is is getting completely refreshed: gaskets, rings and bearings, and valvetrain.

The optispark rebuild kit seems like a good deal at half the cost of complete replacement, and was hoping for some input from people that have used them.

 

If you are going to do a rebuild think of a new opti unit. $200 complete new GM part from one of a couple supporting vendors here. I did a rebuild and found myself 6 months tearing apart the car to do an opti. PITA in the car easy on stand. However @ 57k I would think you are in good shape. Wouldnt mess with cap and rotor unless it is 100% GM to many horror stories out there about "*** crap".

 

I should add $200 for the late style opti. Vented style.

 

$200 would be nice for a new vented opti, but couldn't find any from the vendor list, where should I look?

 

Here you go:

http://samtaylor.com/html/parts.html

I am also in the middle of a heads and cam swap. I went ahead and ordered the new AC Delco Opti and an LT4 knock module just for good measure.

Joe

 

Dal Slabaugh: 877-448-5451
email: lockitup@bright.net
VanDevere Buick/Pontiac/Olds Akron, OH

or

Jason Cromer: 877-726-8295 or 850-243-8826 (direct parts dept ph #)
email: parts@samtaylor.com
Sam Taylor Buick/Cadillac Ft. Walton Beach, FL

 

I would leave the opti, while its not the most fun thing to do when the motor is in, its only a 2-3 hour job if you know what your doing.

 

Do the Optisparks wear out and lose performance over time or do they just 'crap out' one day? It seems to be in good condition and never felt a lack of performance ignition-wise.

I also purchased an msd coil for some more spark, would that speed up the demise of my old optispark?

 

My thought was if you are going to replace the cap and rotor why not do the entire opti? With quality OEM parts. Then shelf your old one for a spare. At 57K it may be cap and rotor time at the very least. At the risk of repeating myself don't use the cheap replacment crap. If you do cap and rotor from say an e-bay source make sure it is 100% GM.

Just my thoughts

 

Don't waste your money on the Opti until it fails. I have done it 3 times now with the engine in the car and it is not a bad job. It will take a few hours.

Also, the rebuild kit is a joke since the parts that fail (in my experience) are not included in the kit and if you are going to the trouble to pull it out, replace the whole thing. It doesn;t cost that much more. The kit doesn't include the bearing/bushing or the optical sensor. Both have failed on me.

Just my 2 cents.