Red Rose could you tell us more on what you did and what it accomplished
optispark electronics in a HEI distributor
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 30,856
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From: Boston, Dallas, Detroit, SoCal, back to Boston MA
optispark electronics in a HEI distributor
someone finally did it.
Let's you run an LT1 computer on an L98 BTW
http://www.corvettefever.com/techart...rk_system.html
http://www.weswoodperformance.com/
Let's you run an LT1 computer on an L98 BTW
http://www.corvettefever.com/techart...rk_system.html
http://www.weswoodperformance.com/
The biggest obstacle in the development of the Digispark system was creating a conventional distributor that would produce the signals that would keep the PCM happy. Burch accomplished this by installing an OptiSpark shutter wheel and optical sensor in a standard HEI distributor housing. Because the distributor is located in the traditional Gen I location, high and to the rear of the engine, it does not suffer from the reliability problems that plague OptiSpark distributors. The US Patent & Trademark Office has accepted a design Patent application for the Digispark distributor and has approved legal use of the term "Patent Pending."
Last edited by BrianCunningham; Dec 23, 2009 at 02:21 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
Bad assed. How does one get around the issue of the crank position sensor now? Is that what the 4 windows are for?
I'm keen on this topic. I have an LT1, but would rather have an L98 so I can start w/the 4.125" bore, 400 block. This dist. woudl allow that to happen, in this car.
I'm keen on this topic. I have an LT1, but would rather have an L98 so I can start w/the 4.125" bore, 400 block. This dist. woudl allow that to happen, in this car.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 30,856
Likes: 293
From: Boston, Dallas, Detroit, SoCal, back to Boston MA
no crank sensor on mine, pre-96
but you can get a wheel from these guys
http://www.eficonnection.com/24x/default.htm
but you can get a wheel from these guys
http://www.eficonnection.com/24x/default.htm
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 15
From: backwoods upstate ny
save ur $
fwiw, we put an opti trigger wheel/pickup in an hei dizzy years ago (so simple a cavewoman could do it) to try a delteq/coilpak and get sequential fuel...no change in 1/4 mi times.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
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From: Texas
Bad assed. How does one get around the issue of the crank position sensor now? Is that what the 4 windows are for?
I'm keen on this topic. I have an LT1, but would rather have an L98 so I can start w/the 4.125" bore, 400 block. This dist. woudl allow that to happen, in this car.
I'm keen on this topic. I have an LT1, but would rather have an L98 so I can start w/the 4.125" bore, 400 block. This dist. woudl allow that to happen, in this car.
As you summised, the four windows on the wheel are what the PCM utilizes to determine firing order.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
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From: Park City Utah
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Slidell Louisiana
I'm taking this to mean that aftermarket blocked BIG CUBIC inch SBC engines can go into LT1 cars and with the factory LT1 ECM keep all the electronics (ASR, speedo efi and such) and the car will think an LT1 is still in there. If this is true 
MIKE
MIKE
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Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10,641
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From: Slidell Louisiana
Mike
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,753
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From: backwoods upstate ny
j-y supply 94 caprice donor for opti/trigger wheel/ pic-up/opti wiring connector/individ injector wires...marked cyl #1 position on opti trig whl before disassembly ...made a 'donut' from 1/2'' alum plate that slid on the hei shaft, with set screws to hold position, drill/tap the donut for the opti trig whl oem screws...removed oem hei reluctor from hei shaft, donut slides on hei shaft from bottom-up...made alum spacer block to mount opti pick-up at correct height/distance from ctr...gnawed hole in side of hei cap for opti pick-up wiring exodus...used 94 caprice ecm/maf...vss signal taken from rear wheel abs sensor (abs brakes tossed previously)...second knock sensor added at drivers side block drain...second o2 sensor added to pass side head pipe...probly a couple more details, but it's been years, 'old age the memory is second to go'
accomplished; nothing beyond curiosity/challenge -- no change in 1/4 time/mph, no mpg change...ok, some amusement from bewildered facial expressions of casual observers of no plug wires on dizzy (coil-pak hidden below radiator shroud)...timing adjustability better than lt1 fixed but only equal to oem hei
accomplished; nothing beyond curiosity/challenge -- no change in 1/4 time/mph, no mpg change...ok, some amusement from bewildered facial expressions of casual observers of no plug wires on dizzy (coil-pak hidden below radiator shroud)...timing adjustability better than lt1 fixed but only equal to oem hei
Racer
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 346
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From: OKC OK
FYI. I emailed Wes Wood a few weeks ago asking if it was "plug & play" with my 94's factory computer & yes it is, just lengthen a couple of wires is all. This type of conversion is what we need to use a SHP block in the 92-96 cars & keep all the electronics happy. He did have a few options as far as different distributors used in the conversion.
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2009
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The new Holley EFI systems that are out have something close to that I thought. They will let you choose many options and coil packs as well reprogram on the fly and drive by wire. Doug F. at Holley who has been praising the new systems self tune options should get a victim/volunteer from the board to see what it could do on a stock L98.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Park City Utah
I personally don't care about the advantage of running "12:1" w/reverse cooling. I want the 4.125" bore, and 400 cubes for cheap. I can get that cheapest, fastest, starting w/a factory 400 engine.
What aboatguy said; with the Gen II engine gone, so sould be the reverse flow cooling. The ENGINE is what determines that. Not the car.
