optispark
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,493
Likes: 94
From: Westfield MA
I am in the middle of doing this, the AC doesn't have to come off, the water pump does, the harmonic balancer comes off, the air inlet hose, that is probably all that has to come off. I also removed the ps pump pulley although some say you can just loosen up the pump. I will probably take the coil out as it looks like getting the water pump back in is going to be a bitch and a little extra room will help.
What opti are you going to replace it with? My water pump went and i wasn't going to replace the opti, but now that the wp is out and I can see the opti, just seems like i should replace that too.................
What opti are you going to replace it with? My water pump went and i wasn't going to replace the opti, but now that the wp is out and I can see the opti, just seems like i should replace that too.................
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 7,999
Likes: 14
From: Life is just one big track event. Everything before and after is prep and warm-up and cool-down laps
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
St. Jude Donor '12
Taking the AC off helps getting to the plugs and wires.
If you aren't doing plugs and wires you can leave it on.
Getting the damper off the hub is the hardest part! Use the tap a few times, rotate, tap a few times, rotate, tap a few times, etc. till it pops off. Once you get it off clean it up and use anti-sieze when you put it back on.
Did my 92 last winter.
If you aren't doing plugs and wires you can leave it on.
Getting the damper off the hub is the hardest part! Use the tap a few times, rotate, tap a few times, rotate, tap a few times, etc. till it pops off. Once you get it off clean it up and use anti-sieze when you put it back on.
Did my 92 last winter.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 327
Likes: 1
From: Trenton Ga
i am using a opti from advance auto parts it has a life time warranty and if i have to replace it more then twice in the next 4 years i will get my money back and buy a msd. from what all i can tell no matter where you buy one or what brand it is there is a semi crap shoot involved. thank you for all of the help
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio TX
Plan on changing a few more things and spending a little more money. Here's the experience I had. Changed water pump and oil was leaking from seal at timing chain. Water pump driveshaft ($90) needed to be replaced because there was a grove in it. Which meant my oil pan had to come off (new gaskets, oil and oil filter). Then I pulled my hub off and found that that had a nice grove in it also ($90) to replace. My 93 has 103,000 miles on it. Hopefully if yours has low miles the parts mentioned won't have groves in them. Almost forgot, my timing chain was very loose so I replaced that also, but left the cam gear alone because of the cost.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 403
Likes: 1
From: Merritt Island Florida
Here is what I did...
There was evidence my waterpump was leaking, which is why my optispark died at 63K miles. I went ahead and got a MSD and Meziere HD Electric WP. Both are very well made parts. While apart, I replaced belts and hoses, plug wires and plugs. Getting the optispark off and on was easy but I had trouble with the WP. It was a tight fit and resisted easy re-install. The bulb from the added motor barely fit in front of my a/c dryer but it did fit.
Once my new optispark was installed, I started the engine for a second to see if it would start, which it did nicely. That gave me the confidence to proceed with the rest of the operation.
When it was done, the car started up like a brand new car and since has run like a new car. Since I've done this to my car, I've changed out opti's on 3 other Corvettes for friends in need. I can do it now in only a couple of hours. It's really not very hard, just a little scarey taking the parts off such a beautiful machine......
Billy
Once my new optispark was installed, I started the engine for a second to see if it would start, which it did nicely. That gave me the confidence to proceed with the rest of the operation.
When it was done, the car started up like a brand new car and since has run like a new car. Since I've done this to my car, I've changed out opti's on 3 other Corvettes for friends in need. I can do it now in only a couple of hours. It's really not very hard, just a little scarey taking the parts off such a beautiful machine......
Billy
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Instructor
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 226
Likes: 8
From: Hiram GA
OptiSpark Died?
At the risk of sounding stupid, what exactly happened to your car when you say the optispark died? Did you begin having trouble with it starting some times, and not starting other times? Did it crank but not turn over? Just trying to figure out if my recent coolant leak has damaged my optispark in any way? Thanks
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,430
Likes: 2
i am using a opti from advance auto parts it has a life time warranty and if i have to replace it more then twice in the next 4 years i will get my money back and buy a msd. from what all i can tell no matter where you buy one or what brand it is there is a semi crap shoot involved. thank you for all of the help
Racer
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 449
Likes: 0
From: Warren, Michigan
At the risk of sounding stupid, what exactly happened to your car when you say the optispark died? Did you begin having trouble with it starting some times, and not starting other times? Did it crank but not turn over? Just trying to figure out if my recent coolant leak has damaged my optispark in any way? Thanks
usually it will have a hard time starting, misfires,uneven idle, and sometimes backfires. this happens when the opti gets wet. ask me how I know
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,116
Likes: 3
I didn't take off the damper pulley. I just took the three bolts out that hold it to the hub, took out the bolt that holds the hub to the crank, and used a puller to pull the whole affair out as far as it would go, until it hit the frame or whatever is in front of the engine. This afforded enough clearance to change out the opti.
I didn't like the idea of banging on something to get the balancer off.
I didn't like the idea of banging on something to get the balancer off.
