I am new to the forum, so please bear with me if this is a well discussed topic from the past, but I wondered if anyone has tried this Optispark alternative....and if it is an answer to the Optispark problem?

http://www.delteq.com/

 

I haven't tried the Delteq, but I do have the LTCC which is based on the same principle. Don't know about the Delteq, but the LTCC still uses the opti for the signal.

My current opti crapped out and I'm still using it with the LTCC.

 

i have the LTCC too and think it's great.

 

i use the delteq for 2 years now, works great never had a problem.
regards

 

i have had the deteq now for @6 months and love it. i like to wash my engine alot and went thru 2 optis in @8 months and now i never have to again. highly recommend the delteq.

 

The Delteq does not replace the entire Opti. What it does replace is the distributor section of the Opti (cap & rotor). The ECM will still require the optical inputs from the Opti in order to fire the Delteq. This is why I shied away from the Delteq when my Opti went south. I just didn't have confidence that the optical section of the Opti would continue to function for very long.

The Delteq also adds a non-stock appearance, and some clutter to the driver's side of the engine bay, if you care about that. On some C4s, you'll also need to either bypass the tach filter, or add an MSD tach amplifier in order to keep your factory tach functional (unless Delteq had made a change since I investigated all of this around two years ago).

I went with the DynaSpark, which is an aftermarket, direct bolt-on replacement for the entire Opti unit. I feel it's the best solution to Opti woes on cars equipped with the first-generation (passively-vented) Opti. It's completely sealed against moisture intrusion (which is one of the main killers of Optis), and provides active venting like the second-generation Optis have. For second-generation Optis, I'd probably just go with a replacement OEM unit, with a lot of RTV slathered all over all of the housing seams.

If you plan to rev the engine well north of 6k RPM, the Delteq may be a wise choice, because you can remove the rotor (and the OEM rotors tend to grenade when revved too high).

Be well,

SJW

 

Not sure what you mean by "the Optispark problem". If you mean the fact that its prone to failure from moisture then either an upgrade to a GenII (95-96 version) or the Dynaspark (http://www.dynaspark.net/) is your answer. If you're talking about its failure at high RPM's then Delteq or LTCC is what you want.

Fill in your profile so we know what you've got.

 

what year vette did the second generation Opti's come out?

 

1995 & 1996

 

SJW, Thanks for your response (and all others who responded) to my Optispark question. My main concern was not the 6K+ revving of the engine, but about not being able to safely wash the engine bay of a C4. I checked out the Dynaspark link and it looks like the answer.as well as an improvement on the stock Optispark in other ways.
I'm amazed that GM hadn't successfully addressed this issue after such a long production run!!

And, in answer to jrzvette, I do not own a Corvette yet, I am still looking. I ran across a nice 94, but learned from this forum of the Optispark problems and was checking out possible alternatives. (have updated my profile)

Thanks again.

 

Don't forget to update it again when you've bought your toy.

 

GM did address the Opti problem, with the revised (second-gen) unit that debuted in '95 Corvettes. The second-gen units were MUCH better than the first-gen units -- and they are much less expensive to buy -- so I think they're a decent choice for a failed Opti in a '95 or '96 Corvette (with some additional RTV applied to the seams, etc).

The cost of the DynaSpark, and the smaller difference in quality/reliability relative to the OEM second-gen units, makes the Dyna a less attractive choice for second-gen unit replacement, IMHO. It's still a better unit, but the cost/benefit is nowhere near as good as when the Dyna is compared to the first-gen OEM Opti.

The first-gen Opti from GM was and remains a very bad design. Great concept, but lousy execution. For these cars, I favor the DynaSpark as the best overall solution, unless the engine will be revved well north of 6k RPM, at which point the rotor will become vulnerable to catastrophic stress failure. The Dyna is a very well-engineered, and well-manufactured unit, and it seems to have successfully addressed every deficiency that existed with the first-gen Optis, except for the weak rotor and, of course, the unit's placement/accessibility. The weak rotor issue only surfaces if the engine is revved far above the factory redline, so it's not an issue on a stock engine with stock programming, as the rev limiter will prevent this from occurring (unless you screw up and hit the wrong gear). If you're planning to high-rev the engine, the best bet is probably the Dyna in the optional high-rev configuration (rotor removed) in combination with the Delteq.

I would never, unless truly desperate, buy and install an OEM first-gen Opti. It makes zero sense to me to remove one POS, only to replace it with another identical POS, in a location where accessibility is a serious issue.

I installed a DynaSpark in my '94 back in '04 (16k miles ago), and I'm very pleased with it. I was very impressed with the Dyna when I opened the package and inspected it carefully, and I'm not easily impressed. It's a quality item, and with the very minor exception of hooking up the additional vacuum lines to support the active-venting, it's a direct bolt-on swap.

Be well,

SJW

 

MSD has a new Optispark alternative for the LT1 called the MSD Pro Billet. I have seen it at Jegs or Summit Autoparts

 

Also consider buying a Gen II optispark. You will also have to replace your timing-chain cover with a 1995 version.

 

Hi, guys. I have a question about the Opti as well, or at least the replacement models you're talking about.

When you say "hi revs" are bad, how high are those revs? Past redline? I'm new to Vettes (saving for my own) so I'm still a little clueless on the ins-and-outs. Thanks.

 

Stock LT1's have the rev limiter set at 5800. So overevving shouldn't be an issue. Sustained redline driving may pose a problem, but if you're talking drag racing or going to redline through the gears, I've not had a problem with that.

 

I had a close call with the Opti today... I had a shop flush the radiator and then the car wouldn't start. They blew it out with a compressor and it seems OK right now. Should I be worried about my trip to Bowling Green this week?

 

If the Opti got wet, it would have me nervous. I'd suggest you log as many miles locally as possible, or replace the Opti before making that trip.

Be well,

SJW

 

Ihave a Delteq unit on mt 1994 which performed well until my opti exploded,I still had to replace the opti,it seems to be fine now.I bought the delteq to end my fear of a opti problem,no dice.

 

This is exactly why I finally decided on the DynaSpark, rather than the Delteq. I just had zero confidence that the optical section of my original Opti would continue to function well in the future.

The Delteq system converts the LTx engine from one with an ignition distributor to one with a Distributorless Ignition System. It allows you to delete the distributor rotor from the Opti, and, of course, it eliminates issues associated with carbon-tracking, etc in the high-voltage side of the Opti, as it gets the high-voltage action entirely out of the Opti. But, the Delteq system's coilpacks are still triggered by the stock ECM, which examines inputs from many sensors (including the high- and low-resolution photosensors in the Opti) to calculate the optimum ignition timing for each spark generated.

I can't knock the Delteq. It does what it does quite well. But it is not the ultimate solution to all Opti-related problems.

Be well,

SJW