I'm wondering if there's a replacement for the opti that doesn't use it at all or very little. I keep getting a DTC 16 (low res pulse circuit failure) and I can tell the car runs better sometimes than others. I would hate to spend $600 on a delteq or dynaspark just to find out that the optical portion of the opti died and I'd need another one anyway. Any thoughts, recommendations?

 

Electromotive made a system back in the late 90's that completely eliminated the Opti. It was called the Opti-Eliminator/Super Direct Ignition. Problem was it used a crank wheel to generate a pulse signal that a small chip synthesized into the low and high res Opti pulses to send to the PCM. But since it was only a crank wheel, it was possible for the chip to synthesize the signal one crank rev out of phase, putting the sequential injectors out of phase. Worked OK on the batch fire 93's, worked pretty good on the OBD-I 94/95's, and wouldn't work on the OBD-II cars because the out of phase injection screwed up the misfire detection.

They pulled it off the market to make improvments, and never brought it back out. I had one of the 20 or so units they sold, and used it for about 2 years. The guy who did the E'motive design is also involved in the Delteq unit, and they have been promising a total Opti replacement for about 2 years now, but so far it hasn't appeared.

 

That sucks. I need to get something soon before my opti craps out.

I'm leaning toward the dynaspark. But it's $600!

 

If your getting a low or high resolution failure code. The problem is with the optical pickup it's self. This is actually highly unusual. About 95% of Opti failures are cap/rotor related. Problem is, the interior of the OPti is so small carbon tracks get everywhere and basically destroy the entire unit.

As for an alternative. I run a Delteq and would do it agian. I'm still using the optical part of the Opti, but that part is extremely reliable (except in your case).

 

Drill the back of the intake and remove the oil pump drive, then you can install a regular HEI. Opti eliminated.

 

Along with the stock pcm :< I believe that at the moment there is no way to delete the opti and keep the stock computer. If there was, you couldn't get it anyways because it'd be sold out for about 5 years.

 

Yeah, everybody that knew anthing about these cars would be buying one. Can we say more reliability and easier engine bay cleaning?

 

That's why I'm leaning toward the dynaspark, since I have to replace it anyway. But I have a used but good 100k opti that I can put in there if I need to. I would buy a dynaspark right now if it didn't cost so much. I'd hate to get another new opti for it to crap out again. It only has like 20k miles on it.

 

Once I have the rest of my car modded to death, I definitely plan on going for a Delteq system.

What exactly is the problem with running an HEI distributor with the stock computer? Couldn't you try to tune it out so that spark is adjusted manually via the cap/rotor under the hood?

 

The computer could still control the spark advance. The problem is getting a cam position signal to tell the computer when to fire the injectors, unless you want to run it in batch fire mode.

 

Naw, not for me. It would be too much of a PITA if I needed to work on the distributor the way the body is shaped around there. I guess I just got ahold of a crappy opti. How come everyone likes the delteq over the dynaspark? Not many people run those...

 

Did you see the thread about the announced MSD upgraded opti? Not the cap and rotor, but a complete opti. Not out yet, but it sounds like you might not make it until it comes out.

 

I have Delteq
I love it
the guy even sells really good custom wires just tell him how long you want them
Screw the opti LS1's use a coil pack system and LS's are better designed
so take some technology from them

do some searches
you can rig up your own delteq system for about 300 i think
you have to buy the plate from the guy and the opti box

get your coils off of some caddilac....not sure which

and you have to wire you own pinouts

i dont reccommend doing this since its very time consuming and difficult if you arent good with sodering wires and such,,but.......can be done

 

And no one seems to be looking at the LTCC system, using the Opti optical sensor, and firing 8 LS1-style coils. I would definitely be looking at the LTCC if I ws in the market for a good LT1 ignition system.

http://www.geocities.com/reilym/LTCC/

I've been running on only the optical sensor, through an aftermarket ECU and 8 LS1-style coils for 5 years now. Same setup in a friend's car helped him net 1,125 flywheelHP and an 8,000rpm redline on a blown 383.

Once you take the high voltage function out of the Opti, it seems to eliminate a lot of the problems.

 

i will let you know how well the Delteq system works without the opti!

i am stoked! to think ...no mo' opti!