Ain't that the truth...

 

is VATS turned off?

 

I checked the computer a few weeks back. My brother has a 95 LT1 and I took his computer out and plugged it up to my car, and the same thing happened.

I did bypass the VATS using the Baker Electronics bypass module and it appears to be working right.

I think I need to bite the bullet and go pull the opti. Should I buy an opti that is completely assembled or should I just go trade it in for a new opti, and put my MSD cap and rotor on it? I dont know if the opti is bad or if I just assembled it wrong. The opti I bought is a refurbished one with a lifetime warranty.

 

If you assembled the Opti worng (splines aligned incorrectly), all you need to do is realign the splines correctly. You don't have to buy a new Opti just because of that.

 

So you're saying that I may have just misaligned the key on the back of the opti? Which splines specifically. I know about this spline http://shbox.com/1/93-94_opti.jpg and I dont think I put it in wrong, but If you guys say it is possible then I'll be sure to double check that. But I cant remember exactly what I did in assembling it, it was a while back maybe I messed something up in putting it together. Has anyone had problems with the MSD cap and rotor kit for the early opti's? Also, what about the harmonic balancer? I remember it would definately only go on one way. But maybe I did something wrong there. I dont know. Any suggestions are much appreciated. Thanks guys.

 

Are you serious.... at least three people have been telling you from the very first response that misalignment of the Opti could be the cause. Did you really not understand what we were telling you?

 

if you still have it throw the one that came with the engine back on.

 

Yeah, it's easy to make a new set of splines in the cylinder that connects the opti to the cam.

 

I'm sorry but I find it hard to install the opti incorrectly. It is keyed to go on only one possible way....unless you are some type of butcher and pound it on wrong! Verify how you have the wires hooked up to the opti and make sure that they are correct. I used a factory manual that showed the correct routing. It's easy to mix them up....Let me know if you need a drawing for the wire routing. I'd be happy to send one to you.

 

Might want to spend a bit of time reading posts, which document numerous cases of people who have managed to assemble it incorrectly. My memory tells me that maybe 10% of the installs go bad for this reason. I guess everyone who admits to doing it incorrectly is just telling us lies

 

I do understand what you are saying, and I understand that people may have done it wrong in the past. But if someone has any type of mechanical knowledge, it's common knowledge to know that components that deal with timing are usually keyed so as not to throw timing off. Im 99.9% sure that it is keyed right. Im more concerned with the assembly of the cap and rotor to the opti. Although it was fairly straight forward, I was just asking if something is commonly done wrong during assembly. Im not trying to get cocky with you or say that you're wrong. Im not trying to be a punk.

That being said, on a regular distributor, I believe you can intstall it 180* off. Being on the intake or exhaust stroke. Is this also possible with the opti? I may be way off on this, just let me know.

 

everything inside the opti is located as to be installed 1 way only

it is quite possible that slight wear on the drive shaft has allowed the opti to be off, to be sure, pull the cap off, put the engine at TDC and see if the rotor is pointing at the #1 contact(inside the cap)

 

OK.... I get the message. I'll leave you alone.

 

have you noticed alot of these guys that replace their opti, and post that it won't start, or runs like crap, swear that it can't be the opti, yet a week or 2 later they post that they pulled the opti and it was off, and it runs great when it was reinstalled correctly?

 

I will say my peace and then let this post die as it should have long ago. I have just installed this LT1 in a third gen. You know what this kind of swap includes (the K5 in your sig, unless thats an old-school LT1, in which case ignore this) and there could be tons of things that are wrong with it. I bought the engine from a guy who said it ran before it was pulled. I never heard it run, so I'm trying to explore the possibilities. I could have installed this opti wrong. Yes. And as I stated I will pull it and check it.

Injuneer, you know your stuff and you have helped me many a time whether you know it or not, just by reading through some of the tech articles on this board. I did not mean for this thread to go into the Opti install discussion as my last one did. I was just trying to see if there was a way I could check the timing. Im sorry if I came off as a punk to you.