I finally installed a Delteq on my '92.

But, I did make a few changes.
I didn't install the Opti-box on the cylinder head -- I put it behind the alternator on a home made bracket -- hoping it is much cooler there. There isn't a lot of hood clearance behind the alternator, so I had to make sure there was no interference. With the Opti-box in this location, it is easy to see the diagnostic LED from the driver's seat with the hood open.

Pete, at Delteq, sold me the connectors so I could make an ignition module electrical extension harness to allow the relocation of the Opti-box.

In addition, for the '92, Delteq supplies 1 inch spacers to raise the Northstar module high enough to clear the AIR pipe by the driver's side valve cover. Since I didn't have a problem with interference, I lowered the Northstar module by using 1/4 inch spacers. This allowed for more clearance of my TV cable to the A4.

And, since I have AFR heads, the valve cover bolts have to be 1/4 inch shorter than for stock heads. So, 1/4 inch for AFR heads and 3/4 inch shorter for the 1/4-vs-1 inch spacers = 1 inch shorter valve cover bolts than comes in the kit.

I checked hood clearance by taking the wheel covers, bolted to the under side of the hood, off and looking into the engine compartment through the wheel well with the hood closed.

I don't have a camera for pics though.

My OEM ignition system is still in place -- I could be running it by plugging in the old spark plug wires, stock ignition module, and stock coil.

Tom Piper

 

Pretty interesting... Wish you had a camera for that setup

 

glad to hear it Tom. my friend with a LT1 trans-am is ready to purchase the Deltec package and install soon. this sounds like a good converson for an opti vehicle. his opti isnt' giving him problems what so ever but he wants to eliminate the common problems that most of em' have. i've never seen an article on one yet in a magazine or even a picture. i'd like to see one if someone can supply a pic.

 

For pictures:
http://www.delteq.com/

Tom Piper

 

Glad to know someone else in Florida (Jax here) has installed this kit on a 92. Did you buy the Delteq to correct an existing opti problem or were you just upgrading before your opti died of "natural" causes? Mine got an antifreeze bath during a high speed radiator hose blow-out this week. Still running and not throwing codes, but running really rough after the hose replacement and showing all the signs of a smoked high-voltage side. I ordered a Delteq kit from James Maldonado at Elitesparkplug.com yesterday afternoon and should have it tomorrow. Hopefully the optical side is still good to go and the Delteq kit will get me back on the road this weekend...I'm tired of driving my tired old truck in the meantime. :-)

 

Actually, I wasn't having any problems (I had to replace the Opti-Spark 10K miles ago), just looking ahead.
My last Opti-Spark lasted 20K miles before the cap got carbon tracks on it.

Tom Piper

 

Tom, no ore mods for you until you get a camera.

 

Tom,

I am in the process of installing a Delteq on my 96. Did you mount the unit vertically or horizontally behind the alternator?

Is there a concern in mounting the unit close to the coils?

Thanks

Ron
colvinrlcolvin@cs.com

 

Tom
Seems like many 92 and early 93 vettes has misfire problems. Your is a 92, do you notice if any misfire? I wonder if it has to do with where the delteq box being mounted? Please email a pic of the bracket you use to mount the Delteq box. Thank you
Bruce383@rochester.rr.com

 

I mounted it horizontally with a home-made bracket.
If you do it this way, make sure you check the hood clearance in that area -- it is tight. I took the upper wheel-well panel off the bottom of the hood so I could look into the engine compartment through the wheel-well with the hood closed to check clearance.
I have plenty of distance to the coils. I had to make an extension harness.




I had no misfires before or after the Delteq install.

Like I said above, no camera -- so no pics available.


Tom Piper

 

I spliced into and extended the existing wiring fron the opti becuase I didn't want to wait for the special PED 25 connector. It was a PIA but I got it done--shink sleeved etc. Now I am building a bracket that mounts off the edge of the alternator/AC bracket. I also though about mounting it on the inside of the wheel well just to the front of the ASR unit. Seems to me that the coil mounting bracket could be made longer and that would be best.

Regards,
Ron

 

Interesting. I installed the Delteq system on my '93. I was impressed with how easy and professional looking the system was. Why make any changes to such a good thing?

By the way, the system performs like a dream. The car never ran better (I am the original owner).

 

I don't like installing the electronics on the head that can normally reach 230 degrees.

But, even more important to me was the change I made in the wiring and fuse to supply power to the NorthStar coil pack.
Instead of using the original wiring and 10 amp fuse, I have a 15 amp fuse and 12 gauge wiring feeding the coils -- I'm told the Cadillac uses a 20 amp fuse.
Why? Because the coils are current limited at 9 amps ** each**.
And, at high rpms more than one coil can be drawing current at the same time. So, two coils drawing 9 amps peak each = 18 amps peak through the LT1 10 amp fuse. The fuse doesn't blow because it responds to RMS (Root Means Square) current not peak current. But, the voltage to the unit will drop across the resistance of the fuse and wiring. I eliminated that voltage drop.

Tom Piper

 

Tom,
You have to get some pics of your location and mounting. I would love to somthing similar to what you have done and a point of refrence would be great. You are right to be concerned about the heat, it actualy caused my first box to seperate because the epoxy was so heated it let go, Delteq did correct this problem and sent me a new box free of charge. I tossed the stock delteq coil mounts and kept the GM mount and drilled and tapped the VC for 10/32 screws. The nice thing about this mod is I pull two screws and the bracket with the coils comes off so there is no need to pull the coils to get to the VC bolts that hold the Delteq mounting bracket in place. When I want to pull a VC I just remove the two 10/32 screws and set the entire coil pack on the intake. Another Mod you may be interested in is I also upgraded my power lead simmilar to what you did but I shortened the ground and relocated it to the intake about 6" from the coil pack. I didn't like the idea of the ground having to run all the way around the engine.

almost forgot to mention, I do have billit VC's and that is why I was able to drill and tap them

 

Cool idea for mounting that. I just used washers as a spacer and mounted it on the head. At least air can circulate around it. I still find it odd that GM designed the igintion module to bolt flat against the head. There is probably not a hotter place to mount that thing except the exhuast manifolds.