flusz28

replacing my opti, so what gaskets do i need

timing chain cover
water pump gasket where it bolts to the block.

what other gaskets do i need? i figure while i'm there i will replace the coolant sensor just for safety so i won't have to worry bout it later on.

shoebox

The only gaskets you must have are two water pump gaskets. You can also change the optispark driveshaft gasket in the timing cover (optional).
You might want to change the o-rings on the water pump drive ends also.

flusz28

okay thanks Rob, i don't need to replace the gasket for the timing chain cover?

shoebox

The timing cover does not need to be removed to swap the opti.

phinger23

if your gonna have all that stuff off, and you are capable of doing it, you may wanna go for a new timing chain and gears since you are already half way there, and replace all the hoses if they are older since most of them are gonna be taken off also. just my 2 cents tho. otherwise all you need are water pump gaskets.
timing chain and both gears from the chevy dealer were about 140 for all of it with tax, call dal they are probably cheaper than that.

flusz28

i don't know how to set up the timing chain, car only has 30,000 miles on it so i don't have to worry bout that any time soon. thanks guys

flusz28

well pulled everything off today, well almost. water pump removal was easy. only thing was i had to take my s-trim off to get to bolts. i need to rent a flywheel tool to keepthe crank pulley from moving while i remove the crank pulley bolt, and need to rent a pullier.

phinger23

yea the opti replacement is nowhere as bad as it looks.

took me 6 hours...but i also did it 2 nnights...and i mean late at night too...10pm i started and would stop around 1am or so.

flusz28

yep at first glance it looks like a nightmare

Mtrhds94Z

All that needs to come off is the balancer [3 bolts], not the hub[center bolt].. just making sure you know.. then you line up 2 of the 3 ears on the hub so that the opti will fit on and off..[it will]

flusz28

ah that saves me some oney and time renting tools then.. i thought the center bolt had to come off for the pulley to come out all the way. i have read where some guys have just taped off the pulley with a hammer.....

phinger23

i tried that...didnt work...i had to get a puller. buy one, 20 bucks

flusz28

i rented a puller from autozone and it won't work on my pulley. what does yours look like?

phinger23

it looks like a claw....the one that looks like a foot/steering wheel puller dont work

flusz28

the one they gave me is like what you said- like a birds foot print