after about 3 more weeks my spring break starts at OSU. rather than waisting my money and going to Daytona or Cancun, I plan on hangin out with my car givin it a little TLC! it's in need of a new waterpump. i have 67000mi on the car so i figure it's time to replace the opti too even though the current one seems to work perfectly. i already have plug wires ready to be installed when i do my waterpump/opti.
so when replacing the opti and the waterpump, what else should be checked out and/or replaced? what all parts do i need to have?
i appreciate any help as i am just trying to get prepared so i don't screw it up.
thanks,
Michael.

Personally if your opti is still working fine then I would leave it alone. If you decide to switch out the opti for a newer one you might want to get new plug wires.

I agree if the opti is functioning fine than leave it alone. To replace the h2o pump you need gaskets (which usually come with a new pump) coolant and water. Make sure you drain the radiatior completly and if you can get to the block drain plugs pull them also. That will let the remainder of the coolant out and reduce the chance of it spilling all over your opti when you pull the h20 pump. HTH

Joe

also remember to bleed the cooling system when you have it all back togethar. this is very important and often over looked

michael

My 97's got 57k on it and I just installed a CSI even though the stock wp was still working fine, just needed to for the new timing chain. I had the opti out during my cam install and I reinstalled the original opti, I wasn't spending another $200 if it was still working fine. Some people get well over 100K on the original opti, especially with the later vented style you have. If it ain't broke don't fix it.

it seems that everyone thinks the opti will be ok then? anyone disagree with leaving the original opti on?...FYI it has had antifreeze leaked onto it from my leaking water pump...but then again, it does still seem to function properly.
so no one thinks i should replace the opti?...if that's the case, i'll leave it be! that saves money! ...
...but if my opti goes bad soon after i've got everything assembled i'm coming after all of you!
thanks for the replies
michael.