Talk me into it, talk me out of it.

I just got my cc306 LE1 set up running great and have a MSD cap and rotor and I have NOT EVER replaced my opti since I have owned the car! 6 years and about 25k driven.
I read about the idle quality and the mpg.

only problem is I have traction control so its going to take some creativity

 

Isn't the optic still the trigger in the conversion?

 

No appreciable performance increase with an added degree of complexity. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, IMO.

 

You would only be using the optical cam position sensor in the back 1/2 of the Opti. Removing the high voltage function from the distributor eliminates the generation of ozone, which eliminates the problem of corrosion of the internals. Also eliminates issues with the coolant and water. I've been running my MoTeC ECU with the optical cam sensor and 8 LS1 coils for 12 years, with no problems.

I like the quality Bob Bailey puts into his products.

The real question is whether you really need it. If you haven't had a problem with the one you have, with the mod's you list, an OEM Optispark distributor will work just fine.

 

I would not spend the money until needed. So many other things to do.

 

like what?

 

Good heads and cam would be a MUCH better way to spend your money. You have entry level "budget" heads and a dinosaur cam, lot of power left on the table yet you want to spend hundreds on something that best case might make for a smoother idle?

The 306 is well known for low speed manners issues, just getting a modern but similar cam would likely smooth things out and improve drivability some.

 

I am not thinking about doing it for the better idle, but the fact it does smooth idle out tells me the is something on the table by adding it. not to mention the opti life span.

There is quite the CC306 hate club! Prejudice!

 

If I get to the point of Opti alternatives, I believe the thing to do is the 24X conversion and ditch all the issues with the opti and the limited tuning of the LT1 computer. The LS1 computer is far superior for tuning from what I understand and not having any of ignition buried behind the water pump/crank pulley would be my goal... I also believe it is not needed until you have major mods or problems with the Opti, I own two LT1's and have had pretty good luck with both so far... (only bolt-ons on both though) Just my .02

 

I decided on the LTCC route at the end of last year and so did a friend of mine. Mine is going on a forged 355 with nitrous. It does have a nice timing retard feature and also a built in 2 step. Plus starts are a lot smoother and idle is a lot smoother, not to mention you are getting a much hotter spark. I picked up LS2 coils and the LTCC unit all brand new (good deals) for $430. Considering I was having ignitions problems to begin with and needed to pull timing for nitrous and add an electronic rev limiter, this was the most cost effective solution that works every bit as good, if not better, than the opti.

 

To me the ltcc is more of a preventative measure. Yeah the 24x LS conversion would be the ultimate way to rid yourself of opti issues. I don't really agree the lsx PCM allows for far greater tuning abilities, lots more OBD2 controls rather than tuning for performance IMO. Not to mention much more expensive for tuning and the overall system cost. So it comes down to just how much you want to spend for preventative measures. Lots of high power motors have been built without a coil per cylinder.
Bob Bailey, the inventor of the LTCC has invented many awesome and reliable products for the old turbo Buick world, as well as a coil per cylinder setup for them also and many other ECM enhancements. I have several of his products on the Buick. For the Buick, original coils and ignition modules are becoming horrendously expensive, so his solution has an even bigger advantage for turbo buicks.

 

Nah, just mount the coils on the frame rails and no one will ever notice them.

 

Or:

http://www.injuneer.com/images/photos/Engine/CoilsL.jpg

http://www.injuneer.com/images/photos/Engine/CoilsR.jpg

 

Where at on the frame can they fit? It seems the header primaries would be to close?

 

I just installed my LTCC system last year and love it so far. The reason I did it was because I had a brand new GM opti sh*t the bed after only around 15,000 miles. At first I went with the Delteq but we all know how that turns out (I have 2 modules and 8 coils for that system for sale if anyone on here has a working delteq system, PM me) so I went with the LTCC. I also bought the dynaspark Gen 3 (dynaspark.net) to go with it, but that turned my ignition into almost a $1000 ignition system so it's not for everyone and wouldn't advise it unless you were having problem after problem with the stock system. Of course you could go with the dynaspark gen 2 system if you wanted to just get a new opti. I mounted my LTCC on my BMR sway bar with mounting plates I made out of aluminum (being a machinist has it's perks) and I just get taylor cut to fit spark plug wires and they just drop straight down to the plugs, makes doing tune-ups way easier which is nice and with one cut to fit kit I get about 3 sets of wires out of it because the wires are only about 8 inches long, I just buy more opti boot kits. So if you want to be done with the opti and don't like running the wires for an opti set-up and have the money I say go for it, otherwise stick with stock if it's working for you.