Electric water pump/timming gears?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,014
Likes: 7
From: Ft Wayne IN
Electric water pump/timming gears?
Ok I thought I could run a double row timming set with converting to a EWP. So I bought a Speed Pro 220-3150 set and I got to thinking how will my Optispark unit be run, I have a 92 and it is run from a splined shaft to the center of the big gear. I know I dont need the water pump drive but how do I drive the Opti? HELP IM CORNFUSED!
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,672
Likes: 20
From: Lake Wylie SC
Your opti is run directly off the cam. The water pump is also run off the cam using a gear. These things are not connected. Just remove the gear drive to the manual water pump and plug the hole in the timing cover. This would be a great time to swap out your cam. Also, take a good look at your opti-spark.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,014
Likes: 7
From: Ft Wayne IN
That is what everyone told me this is why I decided to go with the double row. Once I got it apart I found the OPTI is driven by the cam gear on my 92. I can do away with the water pump drive gear and plu the hole but there is no way to drive the distributer without the factory cam gear.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,014
Likes: 7
From: Ft Wayne IN
The OPTI on a 92 is not driven by the cam pin! It is driven by a small splined shaft from the back of the OPTI to the center of cam gear which is a splined hole.I realise the older OPTI's are driven by the cam but the first gen. isn't.
Anybody out there every do this on a early OPTI setup???????
Anybody out there every do this on a early OPTI setup???????
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,218
Likes: 117
From: San Antonio Texas
Man, I hope you get an answer to this. I've been watching this for a couple of days now. I already did the electric WP and took out the drive for the old one. But I'd like to put in a different cam later down the road and double roller sprocket too. Same question; how do you drive the opti and will the double roller sprockets fit where the single row chain came off? The only pictures I've seen are of the little drive sticking out through the cover but no pictures of what it looks like behind the cover after a cam & Sprocket change.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,616
Likes: 5
From: Sandhills of North Carolina
I believe the only way to do it is to change the cam to a '95/'96 camshaft. You'd also have to change to a pin driven vented opti. Plus, I think you'll have clearance issues with the timing cover. Not hardly worth the trouble. Just put a good single roller on it and be done with it.
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
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10,641
Likes: 13
From: Slidell Louisiana
If you want to use a double roller buy a 94-95 B body cover or 95 Y-F body timing cover and you get to convert to a better opti too.
I've seen them reasonably priced recently either on one of the for sale sections or on the bay.
Back in 2005 Scranage's (92?) was converted to a vented OPTI and it was not difficult.
His (92") and my 95 did not have clearance issues with the double roller.. I used a CC dbl roller timing set and I believe Steve used a cloyes.
Its been a long time but I beleve conversion will require the following part changes
Vented Optispark 1104032
Opti harness 12130319
Opti vacuum harness 12555323
Opti vacuum fitting 14082470
Timing cover 10214196 found on 95 Y or F bodies and 94-95 B body
95 or later style cam (some folks say all you need is longer dowel pin but I've seen threads where cats had trouble fitting OPTI into hole in the end of the cam)
If I'm incorrect or missed something I'm sure others will chime in.
Mike
I've seen them reasonably priced recently either on one of the for sale sections or on the bay.
Back in 2005 Scranage's (92?) was converted to a vented OPTI and it was not difficult.
His (92") and my 95 did not have clearance issues with the double roller.. I used a CC dbl roller timing set and I believe Steve used a cloyes.
Its been a long time but I beleve conversion will require the following part changes
Vented Optispark 1104032
Opti harness 12130319
Opti vacuum harness 12555323
Opti vacuum fitting 14082470
Timing cover 10214196 found on 95 Y or F bodies and 94-95 B body
95 or later style cam (some folks say all you need is longer dowel pin but I've seen threads where cats had trouble fitting OPTI into hole in the end of the cam)
If I'm incorrect or missed something I'm sure others will chime in.
Mike
Last edited by aboatguy; Jan 23, 2010 at 09:23 AM.
You're right Mike. 
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,014
Likes: 7
From: Ft Wayne IN
Ok!
I figured that's what it would require. The problem is I allready bought my cam. I will probably just sell my double roller and go with a stock setup and a vented MSD. Next question is there a stronger than stock timming chain that will handle 450hp? If so please send me in the right direction i.e. part number and vendor. Don't all MSD OPTI's come vented, even the was for a 92? THANKS for all your replies. I will probably have a double row timming chain for sale if anyone is looking.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,482
Likes: 196
From: folsom california
lt1 used a link and pin type timing chain; lt4 used a single roller chain; an lt4 extreme duty timining chain is also a single roller chain but is much more robust (think something out of a saw mill) and confidence inspiring than the base lt4 chain. I installed an extreme duty chain in my 1996 lt4 and had no problems with the installation (beyond the pita inherint in working on any lt based engine). good luck; let us know what you choose and how it works oiut for you.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 189
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey
I figured that's what it would require. The problem is I allready bought my cam. I will probably just sell my double roller and go with a stock setup and a vented MSD. Next question is there a stronger than stock timming chain that will handle 450hp? If so please send me in the right direction i.e. part number and vendor. Don't all MSD OPTI's come vented, even the was for a 92? THANKS for all your replies. I will probably have a double row timming chain for sale if anyone is looking.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,482
Likes: 196
From: folsom california
summit sells extreme duty timing chain sets, GM Performance pn 12370835; summit number NAL- 12370835
now here's the part you may not want to hear: price: $275.95; and:
"Timing chain has a 1/2 inch pitch. Can be installed on Generation 1 LTI, if the Optispark 1 is updated to the new, OptiSpark II ignition. This will require a new distributor, new front cover, and cam change to second design cam, the nose is different."; however, take some solace:
"they are agreat performance upgrade".
now here's the part you may not want to hear: price: $275.95; and:
"Timing chain has a 1/2 inch pitch. Can be installed on Generation 1 LTI, if the Optispark 1 is updated to the new, OptiSpark II ignition. This will require a new distributor, new front cover, and cam change to second design cam, the nose is different."; however, take some solace:
"they are agreat performance upgrade".
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 12,263
Likes: 86
From: O'Fallon Missouri
I'm going with the LE2 set up from Lloyd Elliot on my car and Lloyd recommended a Pro Gear single roller chain to me, part #PG4145, costs $130 shipped, its a nice set up and real thick for a single roller. Lloyd said it will fit right under the stock cover but it MUST be used with an EWP it won't fit with the stock pump. My car is a 94 so it also has the unvented opti, I haven't gotten to tearing the car down yet so I have no 1st hand experience with how it fits but from what Lloyd said and what I read on other forums it should work great.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,014
Likes: 7
From: Ft Wayne IN
No gear set without the splined center on the big gear will work for me. And I already have a cam so I am stuck with this setup. So basicly I need a gen-1 performance gear set if there is such a thing. 
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,616
Likes: 5
From: Sandhills of North Carolina
There's this one
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...d=380175080891
And this one
http://www.eautoworks.com/product-Co...T-Corvette.htm
Or read post #8 and #9 again.
Last edited by Weav's Vet; Jan 31, 2010 at 02:55 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,014
Likes: 7
From: Ft Wayne IN
Wow at that price Ill just by a spair alsob
I found this on Summit . It is the only one for a 92. If you look at the big gear it has a GM part number? at a fraction of the GM price! Or I can reuse my gears and by a new chain, the only diff is the Lunati is adjustable. What you guys think? I don't know if it will handle 450hp or not? What is the diff between a roller and a link chain as far as performance?
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/LUN-93094/
I found this on Summit . It is the only one for a 92. If you look at the big gear it has a GM part number? at a fraction of the GM price! Or I can reuse my gears and by a new chain, the only diff is the Lunati is adjustable. What you guys think? I don't know if it will handle 450hp or not? What is the diff between a roller and a link chain as far as performance?
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/LUN-93094/