92 optispark replacement
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
92 optispark replacement
I have just purchased a 92 vette with a 6 speed manual trans. Love the car, can't wait till spring.
I need to replace the optispark. I have found a wealth of information online on how to replace it but have one big issue. What to replace it with??? Is there a modified vented model? Do i use the gm repalcement? I do not want to replace it every 60,000 miles. I have the article that explains how to vent the standard optispark. Does that work or do i go with the MSD?
Has there been a general, overall consensious on what to replace it with?
I need to replace the optispark. I have found a wealth of information online on how to replace it but have one big issue. What to replace it with??? Is there a modified vented model? Do i use the gm repalcement? I do not want to replace it every 60,000 miles. I have the article that explains how to vent the standard optispark. Does that work or do i go with the MSD?
Has there been a general, overall consensious on what to replace it with?
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,971
Likes: 9
From: The reason time exists is so everything doesn't happen at once
Do you know the opti has to be replaced or are you just assuming that it needs replacement because of the mileage? BTW, if you're going to replace the opti you might as well replace the water pump and the plugs and wires at the same time.
I installed a Dynaspark in my 93 about 5 years ago, no problems.
I installed a Dynaspark in my 93 about 5 years ago, no problems.
Last edited by jrzvette; Jan 10, 2011 at 10:14 PM.
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3
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you are not being rude. my point is that i have done many searches and have come up with a variety of fixes. I am trying to see if there is an overall agreement as to which will last to avoid replacement again. I don't expect it to last forever but does venting help or hurt. saw one article that said you can silicone the vents closed?? I would think with this being such a common problem that there would be a general agreement as to what the best fix is.
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Do you know the opti has to be replaced or are you just assuming that it needs replacement because of the mileage? BTW, if you're going to replace the opti you might as well replace the water pump and the plugs and wires at the same time.
I installed a Dynaspark in my 93 about 5 years ago, no problems.
I installed a Dynaspark in my 93 about 5 years ago, no problems.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,492
Likes: 94
From: Westfield MA
The only thing that is for sure is that there is no consensus. Well perhaps that vented is better, but beyond that, you will have people using the MSD unit with good luck and others saying that the MSD had failed right out of the box. You don't hear as much about the Dynaspark one way or the other. I have a 95 and when my water pump went, I changed the opti as a preventative measure and went with an OEM unit. If I had an earlier model, I would probably go with an MSD or more likely a Dynaspark. This is just based on my impressions from reading all of the posts that I could find on this forum and others.
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 46
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From: Boynton Beach Fl
I have a 92 with a 6 speed and I have 130,000 miles on it. My waterpump started leaking so I bought a original gm waterpump and opti from ebay and had my mechanic replace the parts, he said it was difficult job, but I wouldn't have any problems with it for many years to come. I plan on keeping my 92 for a long time.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Life is just one big track event. Everything before and after is prep and warm-up and cool-down laps
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When my opti on the 92 went I purchased a DynaSpark to replace it.
At the time it was THE brand to replace the opti. Its vented and a well built unit.
The company was sold around that time and service and support became horrible.
A few months ago I started hearing good things about the service.
My $0.02 would be if you can afford it check out the Dynaspark. If not Chandler Motorsports seems to have a good priced unit - if you can stand using eBay. Their web ordering is not available at this time.
At the time it was THE brand to replace the opti. Its vented and a well built unit.
The company was sold around that time and service and support became horrible.
A few months ago I started hearing good things about the service.
My $0.02 would be if you can afford it check out the Dynaspark. If not Chandler Motorsports seems to have a good priced unit - if you can stand using eBay. Their web ordering is not available at this time.
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Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 429
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From: Virginia Beach VA
Do you know the opti has to be replaced or are you just assuming that it needs replacement because of the mileage? BTW, if you're going to replace the opti you might as well replace the water pump and the plugs and wires at the same time.
I installed a Dynaspark in my 93 about 5 years ago, no problems.
I installed a Dynaspark in my 93 about 5 years ago, no problems.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,971
Likes: 9
From: The reason time exists is so everything doesn't happen at once
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,615
Likes: 3
From: Tampa Fl
If the water pump is not leaking just drill out the weep hole and install a drain tube.
Replace the opti(good luck with the crankshaft pulley)
BTW put anti-seize on the pulley for next time.
replace the w/p and opti seal while your there.
Do the plug wires.
I had to make a pulley puller,you can buy them for about 60 bucks.
not much room but you can do it.
below is pics of the hardest part,geting the pulley off
Replace the opti(good luck with the crankshaft pulley)
BTW put anti-seize on the pulley for next time.
replace the w/p and opti seal while your there.
Do the plug wires.
I had to make a pulley puller,you can buy them for about 60 bucks.
not much room but you can do it.
below is pics of the hardest part,geting the pulley off
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From: Delta B.C. Canada
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Drifting
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,615
Likes: 3
From: Tampa Fl
I would guess it was leaking oil many years before I got it.
I should have took after pics after cleaning it up.I think the w/p and opti seal were both leaking
BTW you should have seen how dirty I was after working on it.
I should have took after pics after cleaning it up.I think the w/p and opti seal were both leaking
BTW you should have seen how dirty I was after working on it.
Drifting
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,990
Likes: 2
From: Gaithersburg MD A member since 2007 but then the computer crashed and then the car crash loss of memory X 2
When my opti on the 92 went I purchased a DynaSpark to replace it.
At the time it was THE brand to replace the opti. Its vented and a well built unit.
The company was sold around that time and service and support became horrible.
A few months ago I started hearing good things about the service.
My $0.02 would be if you can afford it check out the Dynaspark. If not Chandler Motorsports seems to have a good priced unit - if you can stand using eBay. Their web ordering is not available at this time.
At the time it was THE brand to replace the opti. Its vented and a well built unit.
The company was sold around that time and service and support became horrible.
A few months ago I started hearing good things about the service.
My $0.02 would be if you can afford it check out the Dynaspark. If not Chandler Motorsports seems to have a good priced unit - if you can stand using eBay. Their web ordering is not available at this time.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 393
Likes: 0
From: Bartonville Illinois
I have bought two optisparks on e-bay, from 2 different places. One did not work at all, (car would not start) the other one will start the car but the high resolution pulses aren't good. This causes an alarm 36. Because of that alarm the primary cooling fan will never shut off because the car has the alarm at start-up.
I guess the best advice I can give you is to buy one that comes with a warranty, change it, and hurry like hell to get your money back if it don't work.
By the way the two optisparks I bought that didn't work were made in different places. Different color caps and the drive spline was fixed into one of them and the other one had a removable spline.
Good luck
I guess the best advice I can give you is to buy one that comes with a warranty, change it, and hurry like hell to get your money back if it don't work.
By the way the two optisparks I bought that didn't work were made in different places. Different color caps and the drive spline was fixed into one of them and the other one had a removable spline.
Good luck
