opti question w/pictures
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: AH Illinois
opti question w/pictures
I took the OptiSpark off tonight, and I bought a new cap and rotor. Is there supposed to be oil inside the Opti? haven't put the new cap on yet, just wondering if anyone has any tips. My car is a 93, but my opti is a 95-96. thanks for the guidance.
Jack
Jack
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: San Pedro CA
this means that the opti seal is bad. You have to remove the timing cover and replace it... sad to say.
I think you can replace it on the car, but I am not sure how good an idea that is. I have never investigated that.
I think you can replace it on the car, but I am not sure how good an idea that is. I have never investigated that.
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 49
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Timing Cover
I just replaced the timing cover gaskets and seals on my '92 when I installed the MSD opti. Auto Zone sells a kit that includes all except the bottom seal because it will not come off. I had to trim off the top tabs of the bottom seal and seal those areas with RTV in order to get the cover back on. The bottom seal is installed when the oil pan is installed and the timing cover is not actually intended to be taken off without also taking off the oil pan.
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
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From: Indianapolis Indiana
I did a heads and cam package about six years ago and did it without pulling the engine. Sealing up the timing chain cover is difficult. I have a small leak down near the oil pan. The leak is very small but annoying. Be very careful in that area.
Team Owner
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From: Fort Knox, KY
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Riddle me this. Is your coil-to-Opti wire wrapped in some sort of plastic insulation or not? I'm trying to determine if I mine is missing or not on my '92.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Northeast FL
FWIW, when I did mine last year I put a new water pump and a new power steering pump on while I was in there. Cheap insurance since they were already off.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,510
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From: Austin Texas
I posted a pic of the oil inside my Opti in this old thread(near bottom of first page). This is exactly how it looked when I disassmbled it. Remarkably, there was no oil on the optical wheel, and this Optispark was still running when I removed it:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...light=opti+oil
Last edited by MikeC4; Jun 1, 2007 at 11:54 AM.
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Mine was! I think its just there to help incase the wire gets too close to moving parts. When I put new wires in I didn'nt put the black cover back on my coil wire.
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From: Fort Knox, KY
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I just replaced my coil wire with NAPA Belden Premium Ignition Wires and didn't add any insulation but I might go back and do so to keep the heat off the wire and reduce the likelihood of electrical interference.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 12,263
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From: O'Fallon Missouri
I just replaced the timing cover gaskets and seals on my '92 when I installed the MSD opti. Auto Zone sells a kit that includes all except the bottom seal because it will not come off. I had to trim off the top tabs of the bottom seal and seal those areas with RTV in order to get the cover back on. The bottom seal is installed when the oil pan is installed and the timing cover is not actually intended to be taken off without also taking off the oil pan.
Also, the timing cover seals can be changed without pulling the timing cover.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 208
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From: AH Illinois
So, I am unsure which seal needs to be changed. I think everyone is talking about this one as seen in the picture.
I bought a new cap for my optispark, do you think I can clean the oil out of the old one and just replace the cap?
Thanks for all the help
oh and STL94LT1 I'm in Edwardsville, IL if your board and feel like comming by!
I bought a new cap for my optispark, do you think I can clean the oil out of the old one and just replace the cap?
Thanks for all the help
oh and STL94LT1 I'm in Edwardsville, IL if your board and feel like comming by!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,510
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
Yup, that is the one.
A new cap and rotor may do the trick, but are you sure that no oil got on the optical sensor? This optical sensor emmits 2 continous beams of light which passes over the wheel slots as the wheel spins. This is what would make me nervous about the sensor(the oil would distort the light source)....
A new cap and rotor may do the trick, but are you sure that no oil got on the optical sensor? This optical sensor emmits 2 continous beams of light which passes over the wheel slots as the wheel spins. This is what would make me nervous about the sensor(the oil would distort the light source)....
Last edited by MikeC4; Jun 2, 2007 at 03:48 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: AH Illinois
I replaced the seal, it was difficult to get out without taking the timing chain cover off, but possible.
I took the entire optispark unit apart and cleaned the entire thing, replaced the cap and rotor. Have to go to dinner with the old lady, so I should have it running tommorrow hopefully.
Thanks again for the wealth of information, support, and scaring the crap out of me (thinking I was going to have to pull the engine).
Jack
I took the entire optispark unit apart and cleaned the entire thing, replaced the cap and rotor. Have to go to dinner with the old lady, so I should have it running tommorrow hopefully.
Thanks again for the wealth of information, support, and scaring the crap out of me (thinking I was going to have to pull the engine).
Jack
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,510
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From: Austin Texas
I replaced the seal, it was difficult to get out without taking the timing chain cover off, but possible.
I took the entire optispark unit apart and cleaned the entire thing, replaced the cap and rotor. Have to go to dinner with the old lady, so I should have it running tommorrow hopefully.
Thanks again for the wealth of information, support, and scaring the crap out of me (thinking I was going to have to pull the engine).
Jack
I took the entire optispark unit apart and cleaned the entire thing, replaced the cap and rotor. Have to go to dinner with the old lady, so I should have it running tommorrow hopefully.
Thanks again for the wealth of information, support, and scaring the crap out of me (thinking I was going to have to pull the engine).
Jack
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 208
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From: AH Illinois
I took about 45 minutes to get the old one out, and a lot of elbow grease. Pretty much used a pair of vice grips, a long screw driver and a hammer.
Putting the new one in was much easier. I cut a piece of 2x4 to fit over the seal, and tapped it in. It seated very nicely.
Today, I changed the cap and rotor on my oil filled opti. I cleaned all the oil out and put it back together. Put it on the car, and she fired right up. Then I reassembled the rest of the car, added coolent, and fired it up. She ran for about 10 seconds, threw a code, and died. So, I pulled it all apart again, returned the cap and rotor to autozone, and I guess I am going to buy an MSD.
Anyone know the best price and place to buy an MSD Opti?
Here are some pics of the seal:
Putting the new one in was much easier. I cut a piece of 2x4 to fit over the seal, and tapped it in. It seated very nicely.
Today, I changed the cap and rotor on my oil filled opti. I cleaned all the oil out and put it back together. Put it on the car, and she fired right up. Then I reassembled the rest of the car, added coolent, and fired it up. She ran for about 10 seconds, threw a code, and died. So, I pulled it all apart again, returned the cap and rotor to autozone, and I guess I am going to buy an MSD.
Anyone know the best price and place to buy an MSD Opti?
Here are some pics of the seal:
Pro
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 747
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From: Marietta, GA
Driftmonster...
Sorry to hear about all of the work you did only to have to pull it all apart again. What a pain in the rump!
I am also in the market for an MSD optispark so I will be checking in to see where folks suggest. The research I have done so far has a very popular price point of $515 at a variety of eBay folks and onliine auto parts stores like Jegs. I certainly wouldn't mind finding one for less!
By the way, is it common to have to replace the timing seal, or just something you had to (or decided to) do?
Sorry to hear about all of the work you did only to have to pull it all apart again. What a pain in the rump!
I am also in the market for an MSD optispark so I will be checking in to see where folks suggest. The research I have done so far has a very popular price point of $515 at a variety of eBay folks and onliine auto parts stores like Jegs. I certainly wouldn't mind finding one for less!
By the way, is it common to have to replace the timing seal, or just something you had to (or decided to) do?
Pro
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From: Bardstown Kentucky
Team Owner
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From: Fort Knox, KY
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Thanks for the response.
I bought NAPA Belden Premium Ignition wires Friday and wrapped the coil wire in a new section of 8" corrugated, black, plastic, flexible tubing I got from a local auto parts store per O.E.M. specs.
I bought NAPA Belden Premium Ignition wires Friday and wrapped the coil wire in a new section of 8" corrugated, black, plastic, flexible tubing I got from a local auto parts store per O.E.M. specs.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Dale City VA
For a good price on the MSD opti - PM forum member "RacerX70CC" or member Tom Wong(don't remeber his exact screen name but I think its "tjwong") either/both have cut other forum members (including me) a great deal on MSD optis in the past.
Will
Will
Last edited by rklessdriver; Jun 4, 2007 at 02:50 PM.