What should I do with the optispark
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: Madison WI
What should I do with the optispark
I've had a long, on-going saga on my '93. Dropped a rod after buying it and putting about 3000 miles on the original engine. After pulling the engine, my tech said it was really not salvageable, or practical cost-wise to rebuild. Found a '93 LT1 engine with 52k miles that my tech inspected and listened to before buying for me and he's getting ready to drop it in.
He's asked me if I want to do anything with the optispark while he's in a position to do something. The 52k engine is running great with it's current stock opti; my old engine (103k) looks to have an optispark my tech thinks is a 2nd generation or model from the model number as my old engine has some serious mods and I bought it from a guy who was a gm tech.
So I'm wondering if I leave well enough alone keeping the opti that's on the 52k engine going in, and have him make sure the water pump on the 52k engine is sealed well, or to replace the seal. Or, I could swap and put on the opti from the old 102k engine. Or, I could go with that $500 aftermarket opti which seems to get mixed reviews. Or I could go GM replacement opti.
Thoughts?
He's asked me if I want to do anything with the optispark while he's in a position to do something. The 52k engine is running great with it's current stock opti; my old engine (103k) looks to have an optispark my tech thinks is a 2nd generation or model from the model number as my old engine has some serious mods and I bought it from a guy who was a gm tech.
So I'm wondering if I leave well enough alone keeping the opti that's on the 52k engine going in, and have him make sure the water pump on the 52k engine is sealed well, or to replace the seal. Or, I could swap and put on the opti from the old 102k engine. Or, I could go with that $500 aftermarket opti which seems to get mixed reviews. Or I could go GM replacement opti.
Thoughts?
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
Which opti is on the original engine?
Driven by a pin or a gear?
Gen II is a pin drive.
If it was me I'd probably break down and talk to petris and get a modified GM gen 1 opti with vent hoses for the 52K engine. Good news is its probably a 100k opti after you do that. Or take your chances with what is on it.
Driven by a pin or a gear?
Gen II is a pin drive.
If it was me I'd probably break down and talk to petris and get a modified GM gen 1 opti with vent hoses for the 52K engine. Good news is its probably a 100k opti after you do that. Or take your chances with what is on it.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
From: Harrisburg North Carolina
You are also looking at an original part that is over 15 year old, so regardless of the brand you choose I would replace the opti while you are doing the swap. I my experience some electrical parts do not like being moved or messed with. The part may work forever left in the original car, but with moving the motor you don't know what is going to get bumped or unpluged. Plus, it would be considerably cheaper to do now vs. later when the front of the motor has to torn down to replace.
I replaced the opti on my 93 in 2005 and I have only drove 17,000 miles and am now looking at replaing it again, I have heard good things about the aftermarket opti and I think I will go that route rather then the GM version.
I replaced the opti on my 93 in 2005 and I have only drove 17,000 miles and am now looking at replaing it again, I have heard good things about the aftermarket opti and I think I will go that route rather then the GM version.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
If they were easier to change and it worked, hey run it
In your situation maybe new/piece of mind would be worth something.
Can always ebay the old one if need be. Not a fan of putting used stuff in a new motor
In your situation maybe new/piece of mind would be worth something.
Can always ebay the old one if need be. Not a fan of putting used stuff in a new motor
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 12,261
Likes: 85
From: O'Fallon Missouri
He's asked me if I want to do anything with the optispark while he's in a position to do something. The 52k engine is running great with it's current stock opti; my old engine (103k) looks to have an optispark my tech thinks is a 2nd generation or model from the model number as my old engine has some serious mods and I bought it from a guy who was a gm tech.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: Madison WI
OK, got some additional information. Seems as though when I had the water pump replaced some 600 miles ago, a new optispark unit was installed while they were in there (at a Chevy dealership) as we learned by looking at the receipt from the dealership. They had never said anything to me about the new optispark, but there you have it.
So it's a no-brainer - the new-old optispark is going into the 52K engine.
Thanks for the help guys.
So it's a no-brainer - the new-old optispark is going into the 52K engine.
Thanks for the help guys.
