Opti decisions, decisions
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 800
Likes: 3
From: Port Orange FL
Opti decisions, decisions
I have my water pump and opti off of my 94 right now doing some other work and and trying to decide if I want to do anything with the opti. The car has 70K on it. The opti was running perfectly, there is no evidence any water has ever been inside it, and there is very little play in the shaft. I was thinking of replacing it while it was apart but am now thinking of just putting a vented style cap and rotor in it. I see them on ebay for less than $100. I always hear to put a new opti on while you have it apart because its such a big job but I really didnt think it took that long to get to it. Not enough to spend $350 for nothing anyhow.
So put on a new Cap and rotor? or....
Just put it back on and wait for it to die dont waste the money on the cap and rotor? or....
Stop being so tight and buy a new one you idiot?
Input anyone?
Thanks
Roy
So put on a new Cap and rotor? or....
Just put it back on and wait for it to die dont waste the money on the cap and rotor? or....
Stop being so tight and buy a new one you idiot?
Input anyone?
Thanks
Roy
4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
I also have a 1994 and several years ago I was in the same situation. Water pump and opti off. I elected to seal the opti with red RTV starting from the top and down the sides leaving the bottom vent holes open. That way if the water pump started to leak it would not enter the distributor. It has been six years now and the car still runs top notch. The tube of RTV cost me $2.99. One last piece the removal of the H2O pump and Opti is not as intimidating as advertised.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,655
Likes: 24
From: Charleston SC
I read in another post you can get a new bearing for $20. I normaly am on the band wagon of just replacing the Opti but am starting to think that it is a waist of money. If as in another post you can get a replacmet bearing then I would go with a new bearing and replace the cap and Rotor.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10,641
Likes: 13
From: Slidell Louisiana
Originally Posted by Fastmax32168
I have my water pump and opti off of my 94 right now doing some other work and and trying to decide if I want to do anything with the opti. The car has 70K on it. The opti was running perfectly, there is no evidence any water has ever been inside it, and there is very little play in the shaft. I was thinking of replacing it while it was apart but am now thinking of just putting a vented style cap and rotor in it. I see them on ebay for less than $100. I always hear to put a new opti on while you have it apart because its such a big job but I really didnt think it took that long to get to it. Not enough to spend $350 for nothing anyhow.
So put on a new Cap and rotor? or....
Just put it back on and wait for it to die dont waste the money on the cap and rotor? or....
Stop being so tight and buy a new one you idiot?
Input anyone?
Thanks
Roy
So put on a new Cap and rotor? or....
Just put it back on and wait for it to die dont waste the money on the cap and rotor? or....
Stop being so tight and buy a new one you idiot?
Input anyone?
Thanks
Roy
I am ordering parts for a ,head/cam swap, and an opti is not on my list.
Mike
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,471
Likes: 2
From: 1993 Quasar Blue 'vert Scottsdale AZ
At 70,000 miles, you MAY be living on borrowed time. At 60,000 miles, my '93 opti was working fine, but when having a heads/cam package done, the opti was full of iron oxide. Went ahead and replaced it with a '96 opti and '95 timing chain cover. If the engine is torn down, might as well do it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 2,875
Likes: 0
From: Olive Branch (Memphis suburb) MS
Cruise-In II Veteran
Originally Posted by Lichen
'96 opti and '95 timing chain cover.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,030
Likes: 6
From: Maryland
Originally Posted by Lichen
At 70,000 miles, you MAY be living on borrowed time. At 60,000 miles, my '93 opti was working fine, but when having a heads/cam package done, the opti was full of iron oxide. Went ahead and replaced it with a '96 opti and '95 timing chain cover. If the engine is torn down, might as well do it.
Here's what I did in 2003: '93 6spd, 75000 mi, replaced opti (no crude or anything wrong with it) with a new opti, 1995 style vented, new waterpump, and GM extreme duty chain set.
Well--the brand new opti was bad from day 1 and it took 1500 mi to realize it. So I had to pay the labor for replacement anyway.
Fast forward another 13500mi from that and the waterpump also went bad--it locked up and ruined the ___itty ED gear and trashed the whole motor by flushing pieces of gear thru it.
Take my advice.
Don't mess with it.
GM is not keeping up its quality. Look at the clutch slave /master cylinder issues.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,871
Likes: 15
From: Detroit's West Side MI
You obviously know what you're doing in there, so it's a very simple question you have to ask yourself:
Is the time it will take me to replace it later worth $350?
My suggestion would be to save your money. I can change an optispark in about 5 hours nowadays, I've done a few. My car sits around idle most of the time so I can do the work at my liesure, and I don't mind messing around with it.
If you drive your car often, don't have garage space to leave it sit, or just don't want to have to go through the hassle again, then pay the money and do it now. If yours worked fine then that route is equivelant to buying insurance. Nobody here can tell you how long it's going to last - could be 1,000 miles or 30,000. It's just gambling.
In the immortal words of Clint Eastwood, "Do you feel lucky? Well? Do ya...punk?"
Is the time it will take me to replace it later worth $350?
My suggestion would be to save your money. I can change an optispark in about 5 hours nowadays, I've done a few. My car sits around idle most of the time so I can do the work at my liesure, and I don't mind messing around with it.
If you drive your car often, don't have garage space to leave it sit, or just don't want to have to go through the hassle again, then pay the money and do it now. If yours worked fine then that route is equivelant to buying insurance. Nobody here can tell you how long it's going to last - could be 1,000 miles or 30,000. It's just gambling.
In the immortal words of Clint Eastwood, "Do you feel lucky? Well? Do ya...punk?"
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,510
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
Originally Posted by aboatguy
If it is running fine ,at most I would change the cap, rotor, and wires.
I am ordering parts for a ,head/cam swap, and an opti is not on my list.
Mike
I am ordering parts for a ,head/cam swap, and an opti is not on my list.
Mike
the high voltage compnents(ie cap and rotor, are the weakest link in the Optispark assembly. 70K miles is a good time to replace these 2 items, and they are not too expensive.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 342
Likes: 0
From: Kalamazoo MI
Originally Posted by PLRX787
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,363
Likes: 7
From: 1994 LT1 Coupe 6-speed with FX3 & 2000 LS1 Vert 6-Speed with F45 Hunterdon County, NJ
Do it now, but consider upgrading it or using a Dynaspark
Originally Posted by Fastmax32168
I have my water pump and opti off of my 94 right now doing some other work and and trying to decide if I want to do anything with the opti. The car has 70K on it. The opti was running perfectly, there is no evidence any water has ever been inside it, and there is very little play in the shaft. I was thinking of replacing it while it was apart
So ours failed only 8.5K more than you have on yours, maybe due to oil leak from intake/seals, but not sure.
Whereas I figure our Opti has a few miles/years(?) left in it before it will need replacement again (with pump this time and Dynaspark), yours might OR might NOT.
Consider not only that when it goes (not if), whereas you might have the time/energy, where might it be and the possibility of needing to tow the car, bad weather, winter weather, inconvenience, etc.
If you only drive around town to get milk and only in the summer, never in the rain and have personal free access to a flat-bed tow truck, then wait, otherwise, "don't put off till tomorrow, what you can do today"...
Hope this helps...
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 800
Likes: 3
From: Port Orange FL
Thanks
OK guys thanks, your combined input has convinced me I am going to cap and rotor it and put it back together. My garage is well equipped and I have done quite a bit of work so I really didnt view getting to it as a difficult project.
Admiral you are gonna love this. I live in Florida, I only drive my car when its nice out, never in the rain, and I have my own flatbed trailer.
Roy
Admiral you are gonna love this. I live in Florida, I only drive my car when its nice out, never in the rain, and I have my own flatbed trailer.
Roy
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,363
Likes: 7
From: 1994 LT1 Coupe 6-speed with FX3 & 2000 LS1 Vert 6-Speed with F45 Hunterdon County, NJ
wana adopt me?
Originally Posted by Fastmax32168
Admiral you are gonna love this. I live in Florida, I only drive my car when its nice out, never in the rain, and I have my own flatbed trailer.
Roy
Roy
wana adopt me? anyway, best of luck...