No pics, digital camera is dead. But, halfway back on the drivers side intake manifold there is a vaccuum source for the EGR switch. I just T'd off this source.

 

Is this a small tube about as big as a pen's ink cartridge in a typical ink pen?

Did you have any issues with the check valve? Seems like mine doesn't allow much flow of air.

 

Yeah, that sounds like the hose.

Also, I'm running the stock 95/96 vaccuum harness, not the MSD. The stock harness does have a check valve.

 

This is an excellent subject, awesome info!


Good work on your car!

 

Here's a good how-to on the opti.
http://www.corvettefever.com/howto/16758/index.html

 

I think I could write a "how to" myself now on changing out the optispark. My biggest problem was fear! I looked at that small area and I was afraid I'd start something I couldn't finish. But once I finally did start, it really wasn't so bad. I kept anticipating the "deal stopper" problem but one never surfaced. It is a tight work area but it is workable and you get a lot of satisfaction by doing it yourself, versus paying the BIG BUCKS to have the dealership or some mechanic do it for you. I was quoted $975 on the low side and $1500 on the high side to do what took me about 4 hours to do.

I still have the waterpump to install but can't do that until I get a machine shop to press out the inner spline on the impeller. I'll do that this week sometime. I also have to figure out my vacuum source for the optispark to tie into.

Overall, I'd encourage anyone thinking about doing this to just jump in and do it. It's really not all that hard, just a bit scarey. Additionally, I highly recommend the MSD optispark. It is expensive but extremely well made. You can hold the OEM product and hold the MSD and the MSD is clearly better made. I'm glad I bought it ...

Billy

 

This sounds like the same place I plugged mine in as well.

 

Billy, Congrats on getting your MSD inatalled. Leave the check valve in,
it's supposed to be there and there isn't much flow required. You're just pulling a little clean air in and the moisture out. It's not like venting the crankcase with a PCV valve.
There's more than one vacuum connection you can use on the motor and it doesn't matter which one you use. I used the connection on the pass side inbetween the fuel injectors, it's easy to get to. And it's identical to figure 13 in the MSD instructions.

I'm curious, did your opti come with a square shaped o-ring. I heard they are coming that way now ( the traditional round o-ring on the early units was a pain.

 

I never thought to look on the passenger side, just the driver's side. Might explain why the hose is so long. I bought my MSD in June of 2007. It sat around for 6 months till I got up the nerve to attempt the installation. Mine came with a large O-Ring that fit nicely around the flange with no issues.

Would you have a picture of where you installed your vacuum line?

Billy

 

Billy, Sorry, no pics. My old computer dosen't like my camera.
Again, look at pic 13 in the instruction sheet, if I posted a pic of mine, it would look exactly like this.

 

I found the vacuum port on the passenger side. The "T fitting" worked great and that ends my optispark install.

The next part is getting that waterpump installed. I have it all worked out except for where to get the reference signal for the relay to power up the electric WP.

I'd like to change out the spark plug wires and plugs but man does that look difficult. Anyone have any advice on the best way to swap out the wires? Is it just something that one must CUSS their way through?

Billy

 

Wires are not to bad especially having full access to the front of the opti, but the plugs are a b*tch. I would definitely do it now while you are in there and before you put the water pump back on. I changed mine when I did the opti this past Saturday. I really think changing out the opti was easier than the spark plugs. On the passenger side obviously #8 and #6 are extremely hard to get to, but #4 and #2 are not to bad. I managed to get them replaced with just normal socket/swivel/extensions and ratchet, however I was not able to get my torque wrench on #8 so I had to guess at the 11 lb.ft. of torque.

On the driver side I found it easier to remove the side panel out of the front wheel well just above the shock assembly. This gives excellent accessibility to plugs #1 and #3 with a long extension. Plug #5 isn't 2 bad to get from the top, plug #7 I loosened the ASR assembly so that I could move it up slightly enough to stretch my arm through where I had removed the wheel well panel, however like plug #8 I was not able to use my torque wrench on it either.

It was not fun at all, I've still got scratches all over my arms and knuckles. But it felt good when I got that last one in.

Don't forget to use anti-seize on the new plug threads and boot grease for the new wires just before you slip them on.

Good luck