Yes I am very ignorant. Yes I could use the search but I wanted a real elementary definition.

I am new to LT1's and have noticed a lot of talk about opti this and opti that and just wondering exactly what the opti is?

Is this the name of the distributor on an LT1? If so why?

And why does it seem that everyone seems to hate the opti?

Thank you.

Tim

 

The opti is the distibuter on the lt1 motors. it sits on the front of the motor right underneath the waterpump. "bad gm design" they have a bad tendency of wearing out real quick.

 

The "opti" or optispark was gm's attempt at a distributorless distributor the main problem with it is that it is located under the water pump and once moisture gets to it, it tends to malfunction. The vented opti helps with this alittle but is still a common prob for lt1 guys.

 

here is apic of what the opti looks like

http://shbox.com/1/93-94_opti.jpg

 

a distrubuterless distributer?

It's a normal distrubuter just changed a bit. Same basic idea but with new technology. It uses an optical pickup sensor and shutter wheel instead of the old magnetic type pickup. but other then that and the way it drives it's pretty much the same idea. Actualy the design is great. but the location is at fault for a lot of the problems. 1 because of it's harsh location from the waterpump, road debris and moisture. The other is that it falls under the "out of site out of mind" catagory. They don;t think about it so they never do maintinence. So instead of an easy cap and rotor change like ona SBC they most times never touch it till it goes poof.

 

So thats why I couldnt find my "distributor" or plug wires under the hood....

Thanks guys for the quick respones.

So what is the best solution to this problem? If they were out quick and get water in them, you dont wanna just keep replacing them over and over.

 

Some people are buying Opti eliminators..however I believe most optis last ~100K as do the waterpumps. Some people have bad luck more than otheres.. The Opti is sealed but there is a chance of it getting moisture inside.

My friend opti died at 97K and it wasnt from water damage. The cap broke, parts do wear out eventually. I rebuilt it with a new cap/rotor from Napa for 120 bucks I think and at 119K it was still running perfect (oil pump died, and I spun a bearing).. I am much more worried about other parts breaking than I am the opti going bad.

Police cars and taxi cabs have LT1 engines that go for over 200,000 miles... I think it the Opti was a huge issue they would have been bitching before any of the Fbody owners with 110k on their engine would.

 

Well rumor has it that it is either impossible or not worth it to rebuild it. Unfortunately there are few alternatives to replacing it again...and again...and again.

There are aftermarket systems such as Delteq that replace the opti, but work similarly so I don't know how advantagous it is.

At least this is what I have absorbed from various posts...

 

The best solution is to change/rebuild your opti if you are experiencing a misfire or other troubles. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. When you do replace it, if your car is 93-94 you should get an updated vented opti, this helps if they do get moisture inside it can evaporate. While you're in there you might want to get a Meziere electric water pump, just so your old stocker doesn't take a crap all over your new opti. Plus, the Meziere pump is good for a couple free HP.