i have had 4 ls1 cars and know them pretty well. this is my first lt1. it will be shipped to me in a few weeks. its a really clean 97 30th anniversary z with only 60k miles. it runs great with no problems. i always hear people with lt1 cars complain about the optispark system. can someone explain to me what it is, how it works, and what common problems arise with it? it sounds really different than the ls1 system.

 

In basic terms it is a distributor with a camshaft position sensor in it.

the problems I have encountered derive from liquid damage and rpm damage.

Water in it is a big nono as is oil and such, the 95 up vented ones are less seceptible, but it still happens to them.

The RPM problem I have experienced with them is that the rotor doesnt like higher rpms (over 6500) , I never had a rotor problem with my LT1 cars until I started spinning them. Then the tips started coming off or apart. I have to change mine at least once a year (rotor that is the rest is fine)

 

Yea, a common change for LT1 owners is to go to a coil per cylinder set up as what the LS1's use. What you do is take the disk out and use the 2 sensors in the opti as a crank trigger system. I have had a issue with mine in the upper rpms, it could be due to a multitude of reasons.

1 that has been mentioned is the wire that goes from the harness to the opti, its a 4 pin wire and is the upper left hand corner of the opti if your looking right at it. Its been noted that it gets possibly corroded or gunked up and can effect operation.

I have a new opti shipping and when i can get at the wire, if its clean on both ends, i am replacing the unit (long story).

Just no oil or water on it

 

Like the previous two said, keep it clean and it will last for a while. I have almost 100k miles on mine and it is still going (the original). In my opinion the opti is much better than the old HEI units because you had to do those every 30k miles or so.

 

Oh before i forget, even a brand new unit can be faulty and defective. Rip it apart and it looks fine, but just doesnt work. That ****in sucks. And more times that not, that could be the case

 

The opti isn't half as bad as people say. Just don't do anything stupid and make it go for a swim and you'll be fine. My car has 150k on it. I put a new opti and water pump on at 100k. The original was still on the car but i didn't want to risk problems later on. I've been running the same opti for the last 50k. The only opti related problem i've ever had was when i put the opti on one hole off, and that was my fault.

 

This weekend I will be replacing mine, I also bought the harness that goes to the opti it was 88 bucks but it was worth it!

 

so how much is it to replace the whole optispark unit...including everything needed to go with it for a complete replacement??

 

I bought an UN-vented unit from Sam Taylor Buick for 320 bucks + shipping. Thats a steal considering my buddy who works at a Chevy dealership in Connecticut and the DEALERSHIP cost is around 350 bucks, then add the minor mark up for people who work there.

Yours will be a VENTED unit and it will be cheaper. So dont worry. BUt thats the best price going.

Unfortunately what you save in cost you pay for in shipping. I needed mine over nighted to get here for the weekend.....50 bucks uggghhhh.

Oh buy the whole unit too

 

I think the vented run around $200.

 

Make sure you never you a pressure washer under the hood. You may get a clean engine bay but your opti spark may be damaged.

 

is it ok to run water from a hose with no pressure under the hood? also, what is the difference between vented and unvented, and which one do i need for my 97??

 

NO RUNNING WATER!! At all!

If you want to clean. Use stuff in a spray bottle such as simple green, purple power, invisble glass..... etc etc and a towel. That should get the bay pretty good. Also under neath, Brake Cleen and a towel to get oil residue etc etc.

93-94 had the unvented unit, its not 100% sealed and moisture can get in and damaged the unit.

If i recall in 95+ LT1's got a vented opti which uses a line that comes from the manifold that sucks out moisture, it helps but again not 100% cure all.

here is a good link so you can see the difference.

http://para.noid.org/~muttvette/opti.html

 

The Opti I had originally in my cay ran well for 96,000 miles and never had to replace it. When I rebuilt the motor I went to a 95 vented style, and have replaced 2 in the last year.

Optis can hold up well but there are a few design flaws in addition to its intolerance water. The most recent Opti I lost only had about 2000 miles on it. The only problem I saw with it was that there appeared to be excessive corrosion on the electrical Harness and distributer cap contacts. Replacing the unit did correct my problems.

 

[QUOTE=BlackScreaminMachine]NO RUNNING WATER!! At all!

If you want to clean. Use stuff in a spray bottle such as simple green, purple power, invisble glass..... etc etc and a towel. That should get the bay pretty good. Also under neath, Brake Cleen and a towel to get oil residue etc etc.

what kind of oil residue would i have underneath my car?? i sure as hell better not have any oil underneath my car!!