I always see when people are talking prices on here that the non-vented optis cost more? Why is that? I thought the vented opti was supposed to be much better? If you can get a better vented opti for less why would anyone buy a non-vented. Sorry in advance if Im not undertstanding something here, im still learning all this =). And i apologize for another opti discussion as im sure its pretty played out. Thanks

 

93 and 94 cars came from the factory with a non-vented opti. Yes, the vented opti introduced in 95 is a better design, holds up longer on average than the unvented. The problem is, you can't just take a vented opti and put it on a car that didn't originally have it without some conversion work.

I'm not sure about the price, but I assume it has to do with supply/demand.

 

cams are different, at least the dowel pin length is. The timing sets and covers are different .

 

It's more than the pin.. don't forget that the vented opti cams are drilled in the nose for the opti, [93-4 cams aren't drilled..]
That's the hardest thing about doing the opti upgrade.. changing the cam..

 

I think you can get by with out swapping cams and only changing the dowel pin. The dowel pin drives the opti on 95 and newer(cept impala guys 94-up). Not sure how the pin would come out but it is pressed in.It may be possible.

 

if you have already dug far enough to have the timming chain cover off.. mine as well throw a new cam in there.

 

No, you cannot. If you have a cam (like stock) that is not drilled in the nose for the vented opti, it will absolutely not fit.

 

So if I have a lt4 hot cam should I gotten the vented opti.? I have had a lot of opti problems!!

 

You could have, as long as you changed the timing cover and added/changed some other related items.

 

ok i get it. guess from some of the threads i thought ppl were swapping the more exspensive non-vented optis onto 95+ cars and couldnt figure out why, but i just wasnt looking at the specific vehicle they were talking about. after looking through all of the threads about optis is whenever one gets posted, there are always 2 or 3 people who join in with questions because everyone so many ppl are dealing with them at all times, haha.

 

The opti lid is interchangeable, right? So one doesn't actually have to change over the optical part, just the cap half to go to a vented setup, correct?

 

I thought i read before someone switched the caps and he said they fit. The only thing was his car wouldn't fire. I don't remember if he ever got it fixed. The vented part of the opti is nice but i've also heard the Vented opti's got a much better bearing that helps them last longer too.

 

Here's what's needed to change over.

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

 

Not really. There is also an air supply nipple on the back half of the Opti as well. The system needs the two connections, and putting them on opposite ends allows the incoming vent air to sweep the ozone out of the casing.

Courtesy of Shoebox:

http://shbox.com/1/opti_vacuum_harness.jpg

 

Yeah, I guess I was thinking of this type of cobble job:
http://www.fierolt1.com/lt1_9394OptiRepair.htm
http://www.corvettefever.com/howto/16758/

I should have been more specific.