Opti change
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 198
Likes: 45
From: Somerville, Texas
Opti change
Gonna do the Opti this weekend, running fine but it's the original with 105,000. Got a new GM opti and GM water pump. Will do hoses and plug wires while I'm there. What plug wires should I use, anything else I should change while I've got it apart?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,482
Likes: 196
From: folsom california
Seals: opti and waterpump drive; take a good hard look and see if the crankshaft seal around the balancer hub is leaking. If your opti has a vacumn vent system trace out and verify that the hoses are intact, not cut or deteriorated from heat and oil.
The 12 inch or so section of the wiring harness that plugs into the opti is rather delicate with small electrical contacts. It often collects moisture and corrodes; plus, it is subject to considerable heat. It sells for around $25 and is well worth replacing on a engine that has racked up some miles.
Installing the opti should include a drop of locktite on the screws that hold the rotor on and a bead of RTV between the opti case and the rotor cap.
New plug wires and plugs. Remember to use antiseize on the plug threads and dielectric grease on the spark plug boots.
Go slow and don't rush it. Once done, look forward to driving your car and enjoying it.
The 12 inch or so section of the wiring harness that plugs into the opti is rather delicate with small electrical contacts. It often collects moisture and corrodes; plus, it is subject to considerable heat. It sells for around $25 and is well worth replacing on a engine that has racked up some miles.
Installing the opti should include a drop of locktite on the screws that hold the rotor on and a bead of RTV between the opti case and the rotor cap.
New plug wires and plugs. Remember to use antiseize on the plug threads and dielectric grease on the spark plug boots.
Go slow and don't rush it. Once done, look forward to driving your car and enjoying it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,482
Likes: 196
From: folsom california
p.s. on the subject of plug wires, factory would probably be best if for no other reason than they fit the plastic wiring harness fixtures; most aftermarket are a size or two too large do not fit, and if forced, crack the plastic wire holders. Not a big deal, but the factory harness adds a touch of neatness sometimes lost with "one size fits all wire dividers" and zip ties.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,615
Likes: 3
From: Tampa Fl
good luck with the balancer.
If I had to do it over I would buy the correct pulley puller about 65 bucks if you can find it.
After you get it off sand the rust and put antiseize on the hub.
personally I wouldn't change any off that untill it goes.
I had mine off because of a oil leak at the opti seal.
do some reserch on installing the w/p seal before you do it.
good luck with what ever you do.
you will have to pull the p/s pump out about 1 inch to do the plug wires
If I had to do it over I would buy the correct pulley puller about 65 bucks if you can find it.
After you get it off sand the rust and put antiseize on the hub.
personally I wouldn't change any off that untill it goes.
I had mine off because of a oil leak at the opti seal.
do some reserch on installing the w/p seal before you do it.
good luck with what ever you do.
you will have to pull the p/s pump out about 1 inch to do the plug wires
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
From: Southwest Ohio
A forum post by LT1*C4 in Nov. 09 is great on waterpump and opti. I finished mine tonight. I used a/c wires the right size and length was nice. There is another post dealing with the hell hole by the steering pump that helps alot when doing the drivers side wires. Get it up on blocks I had to beat the balancer with a hammer and 2x4 to get it off. Dont get in a big hurry it takes a decent amount of time. It helped me to take some pictures of the engine compartment before I started. Everything you need to know is on this forum, if it wasnt I would still be working and not driving. You might think about radiator and heater hoses too, I put a total of seven new hoses on mine. Good Luck.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 198
Likes: 45
From: Somerville, Texas
Balancer
Got lucky with the balancer, came right off. Inside of old opti was corroded badly but dry. Not so lucky on the water pump as the new one didn't come in. Oh well, since I could not put it back together today the front of the motor is really clean now.
