Which brand opti?
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Instructor
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 219
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From: Long Island NY
Which brand opti?
OK, my water pump **** the bed and puked up a bit on the opti. My 95 is stock and has 53k miles on it. I guess it makes sense to replace the opti since I'm doing the water pump. What brand is recommended? Thanks
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Have you picked out a pump yet? I found several options out there. There were two GM pumps one quite high the other more affordable. I bought the ACDELCO PRO 252-699 which is probably better than what you will get at Oreilly's but not as good as the AC DELCO 251-554. The second pump I mentioned is more than double the price of the first. It is supposed to be a better pump but it wasn't worth it to me. You're probably better served spending the extra cash on new hoses, a belt and thermostat.
Last edited by Iexpedite; Sep 15, 2017 at 11:58 PM.
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I have the factory service manual for my car and it suggested putting some type of sealant in the system each time maintenance is performed. I guess at some point that guidance changed and it was only done if there was a leak that warranted a sealant being added. Once I did my swap my cooling system was unable to pull coolant from the overflow and back into the upper reservoir. I had a small leak somewhere that I was unable to find. The manual said something about using the sealant to seal casting flaws. The tablets were to be put in the upper radiator hose. I had to go back and buy some Bar's Leaks tablets which are supposed to be the same as the GM offering. I crushed two of them as per the manual and put them in my upper radiator hose. They fixed my problem and didn't cause any new ones.
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I would have gone that route if I had run across that deal. I paid 107. for the cheaper pump so you did alright for yourself. Being open box you may need to order a gasket set. I ordered the Fel-Pro Timing Cover Gasket Set TCS45956 for 10 or 12 bucks. I didn't need it but when I start on a project I hate stopping to make a parts run. Plus this kit has all the timing cover seals you might find yourself in need of.
Last edited by Iexpedite; Sep 16, 2017 at 12:19 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 1,674
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From: Shit Creek, USA
When the water pump died in my '96 (95k mi) it was running fine. But when I took the Optispark out to inspect, it had a loose screw from the rotor, and the bearing didn't feel quite right.
So the coolant didn't affect it and it might have gone another 5-15K miles, but it was not well.
Since mine is a DD, she got a new Petris Optispark.
So the coolant didn't affect it and it might have gone another 5-15K miles, but it was not well.
Since mine is a DD, she got a new Petris Optispark.
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Safety Car
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From: N.E. Ohio OH
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There is a guy on eBay, that lives here in Ohio and sells reconditioned OEM units that he tests. He has been mentioned before. I just bought one of his.
I just did my radiator a couple weeks ago. The return line into the plastic overflow bottle was plugged in the part that sticks down into the bottle. I had to clean it out. It was so plugged, air wouldn't blow it out, I had to poke it out. This is on a 16,000 mile car.
I just did my radiator a couple weeks ago. The return line into the plastic overflow bottle was plugged in the part that sticks down into the bottle. I had to clean it out. It was so plugged, air wouldn't blow it out, I had to poke it out. This is on a 16,000 mile car.
Safety Car
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Le Mans Master
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From: near the thumb in the mitten
At 53k it may go along time with out failing. I would take a look at the cap and rotor and see what kind of condition the internals are in. Brand IMO is controlled by your wallet. One with a Mitsubishi sensor is preferred. If so change it, definitely keep old one as a spare. Cap and rotor are available use blue loc-tite to secure rotor screws.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2012
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From: Gilbert AZ
2018 C1 of Year Finalis4
At 53k, keep it.
Maybe do a cap and rotor change (But find a GM cap and rotor). Clean it and keep it in service.
There are NO aftermarket OPTI's that will ever run as long as the factory one will.
Maybe do a cap and rotor change (But find a GM cap and rotor). Clean it and keep it in service.
There are NO aftermarket OPTI's that will ever run as long as the factory one will.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2017
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From: Newark Delaware
While this really shows what a quality part the OEM Opti was it seems like the after market completely dropped the ball on these. Usually there are a host of better-than-original parts available for just about everything on a performance car so why not the Opti-spark ignition?!?!
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2015
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From: Shit Creek, USA
While this really shows what a quality part the OEM Opti was it seems like the after market completely dropped the ball on these. Usually there are a host of better-than-original parts available for just about everything on a performance car so why not the Opti-spark ignition?!?!
The OPTI part is what tends to fail on the aftermarket units. Great news is, you can take the original Mitsu Opti-sensor out and repurpose it in the new unit. That gets you a new bearing, case, wire harness and rotor.
Blue locktite the hell out of it. Those rotor screws want to exit. And waterproof the new wiring connector where it faces up under the water pump.
Another option is to buy a new one and check the solder joints in the sensor. A forum member here took his apart and found lousy solder work.
By all means, do not toss the original. It has value.
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I appreciate the link. I might have to get me one of those new opti's for future use. I also think this thread will be useful to people in the future. When I was using "search" to find out about the process I got bits and pieces here and there. This thread sums up the arguments nicely.
Last edited by Iexpedite; Sep 16, 2017 at 08:20 PM.
Safety Car
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From: N.E. Ohio OH
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
If you go through and read each one, only a brand new sensor pushes up the price. All the other options use reconditioned units with OEM Mitsubishi sensors.
Go out to Summit and price a cap and rotor. $158.95 or $161.95 depending on OptiSpark 1 or 2. Take that away from the price and it doesn't actually look so bad. From what I have been reading, the MSD cap and rotor are pretty good.
As far as the reconditioning, $280.00, take away the price of the rotor and cap, consider that
and that doesn't seem too bad either when you look at the rest that he does.
All in all, not bad prices when/if you can't get a good one that lasts for more than it takes to put the engine back together, start it, and find the unit is bad or it lasts a day after the 1 yr warranty and you have to buy another one.
Seeing as the Opti is the heart -vs- the cpu being the brain, compared to the price of the car and the ability to keep it running it is not bad.
Have you priced the cost of a 24x conversion lately ?
Go out to Summit and price a cap and rotor. $158.95 or $161.95 depending on OptiSpark 1 or 2. Take that away from the price and it doesn't actually look so bad. From what I have been reading, the MSD cap and rotor are pretty good.
As far as the reconditioning, $280.00, take away the price of the rotor and cap, consider that
The bearing will be replaced.
All in all, not bad prices when/if you can't get a good one that lasts for more than it takes to put the engine back together, start it, and find the unit is bad or it lasts a day after the 1 yr warranty and you have to buy another one.
Seeing as the Opti is the heart -vs- the cpu being the brain, compared to the price of the car and the ability to keep it running it is not bad.
Have you priced the cost of a 24x conversion lately ?
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 91
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If you go through and read each one, only a brand new sensor pushes up the price. All the other options use reconditioned units with OEM Mitsubishi sensors.
Go out to Summit and price a cap and rotor. $158.95 or $161.95 depending on OptiSpark 1 or 2. Take that away from the price and it doesn't actually look so bad. From what I have been reading, the MSD cap and rotor are pretty good.
As far as the reconditioning, $280.00, take away the price of the rotor and cap, consider that and that doesn't seem too bad either when you look at the rest that he does.
All in all, not bad prices when/if you can't get a good one that lasts for more than it takes to put the engine back together, start it, and find the unit is bad or it lasts a day after the 1 yr warranty and you have to buy another one.
Seeing as the Opti is the heart -vs- the cpu being the brain, compared to the price of the car and the ability to keep it running it is not bad.
Have you priced the cost of a 24x conversion lately ?
Go out to Summit and price a cap and rotor. $158.95 or $161.95 depending on OptiSpark 1 or 2. Take that away from the price and it doesn't actually look so bad. From what I have been reading, the MSD cap and rotor are pretty good.
As far as the reconditioning, $280.00, take away the price of the rotor and cap, consider that and that doesn't seem too bad either when you look at the rest that he does.
All in all, not bad prices when/if you can't get a good one that lasts for more than it takes to put the engine back together, start it, and find the unit is bad or it lasts a day after the 1 yr warranty and you have to buy another one.
Seeing as the Opti is the heart -vs- the cpu being the brain, compared to the price of the car and the ability to keep it running it is not bad.
Have you priced the cost of a 24x conversion lately ?
I will probably pick up one with a new sensor while they are available. Having a new Mitsubishi opti that someone has spent time fixing the weak links on is worth a lot. I may throw it on this winter. Working in my shop is one of the few things that gets me out of the house when the cold hits.
Safety Car
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From: N.E. Ohio OH
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My car just turned over 16,000 miles. I purchased one of the reconditioned Opti-2's so I can stick my original on the shelf. I plan on keeping the car for a long time.
Right now there is/was a shortage of all kinds of parts for these cars. Getting while the getting is good is a prudent move. The LT1/4 engine platform is just not like the dime a dozen first gen SBC with its mega-part availability.
In my mind, it is just like buying car insurance. You hope you never need it, but it is better than the alternative.
Right now there is/was a shortage of all kinds of parts for these cars. Getting while the getting is good is a prudent move. The LT1/4 engine platform is just not like the dime a dozen first gen SBC with its mega-part availability.
In my mind, it is just like buying car insurance. You hope you never need it, but it is better than the alternative.