optispark
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 263
Likes: 3
From: Philadelphia Pa
optispark
So, how hard is it to replace an optispark on a 94 corvette. I don't need one yet. I have 76,000 miles on my car and I am not sure if it was ever replaced. I've had the car for a few months now and I was wondering how long do they last. Should I start saving money ? And which replacement should I be looking at ??
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 13,717
Likes: 5
From: RI
if your handy, usually you do the waterpump and opti at the same time, ~$1100 ish?....it takes around 12-14 hours from what most have said in the past with since your basically taking the whole front end of the motor off.
YMMV, others will chime in.
YMMV, others will chime in.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 275
Likes: 0
From: West Monroe La.
I replaced the one on my 95 at 86,000 miles because the water pump had leaked on it for about two months. It was still working fine, and I saved it for a spare just in case.
Mine is vented as opposed to yours, but I would imagine the procedure is similar. It was not too bad, an afternoon job. The optis on our police caprices back on the 90's would easily go 125 to 150 thousand miles with no trouble.
I have 28,000 on the one I put in. It's a delco unit. I spent about $450 on the water pump and opti. Now you can easily pay $400 for a good opti. But doing your own work it should be less than $650.
Mine is vented as opposed to yours, but I would imagine the procedure is similar. It was not too bad, an afternoon job. The optis on our police caprices back on the 90's would easily go 125 to 150 thousand miles with no trouble.
I have 28,000 on the one I put in. It's a delco unit. I spent about $450 on the water pump and opti. Now you can easily pay $400 for a good opti. But doing your own work it should be less than $650.
Last edited by etteroc27; Nov 17, 2012 at 09:03 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,620
Likes: 206
From: Orlando FL
The opti can last 100,000 miles. I would leave it alone till there is a problem. There is no definite number when it may fail. But if you don’t get it wet with a hose, and your water pump does not leak on it, it can last a long time.
It's a fair amount of work to replace the first time you do it. Getting the balancer off can be the hardest thing if it's rusted on. You need a good set of metric tools, jacks and other items that would be needed to work on cars.
It's a fair amount of work to replace the first time you do it. Getting the balancer off can be the hardest thing if it's rusted on. You need a good set of metric tools, jacks and other items that would be needed to work on cars.
6th Gear
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Let me say again, AVOID WATER!
I know it's been said, but ensure the opti stays dry! Two days after buying my 1992 C4, I was washing and cleaning the car... and (as I frequently do with my 2007 Titan) I decided the grimey looking engine needed washed. A little degreaser and a light rinse with the garden hose later, car wont fire. If you can avoid moisture, I'm sure there is no need to change short of failure!
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,477
Likes: 80
From: Hawaii
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 263
Likes: 3
From: Philadelphia Pa
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
Likes: 752
From: South Dakota
I have had opti's on several cars.
3 Impala's/Caprice's
1 Z28
2 Corvettes
and never had an optispark failure. Four of these cars were between 115k and 145k when I sold the car (1 was stolen). I even had the Z28 water pump fail and dump on the optispark and still the optispark didn't fail. I think these can be a pretty reliable distributor although if it fails it is more difficult to change than a conventional distributor.
Bottom line is it is just a part. If it fails, just fix it like any other part.
3 Impala's/Caprice's
1 Z28
2 Corvettes
and never had an optispark failure. Four of these cars were between 115k and 145k when I sold the car (1 was stolen). I even had the Z28 water pump fail and dump on the optispark and still the optispark didn't fail. I think these can be a pretty reliable distributor although if it fails it is more difficult to change than a conventional distributor.
Bottom line is it is just a part. If it fails, just fix it like any other part.
Last edited by QCVette; Nov 18, 2012 at 01:59 PM. Reason: spelling
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 263
Likes: 3
From: Philadelphia Pa
I have had opti's on several cars.
3 Imapala's/Caprice's
1 Z28
2 Corvettes
and never had an optispark failure. Four of these cars were between 115k and 145k when I sold the car (1 was stolen). I even had the Z28 water pump fail and dump on the optispark and still the optispark didn't fail. I think these can be a pretty reliable distributor although if it fails it is more difficult to change than a conventional distributor.
Bottom line is it is just a part. If it fails, just fix it like any other part.
3 Imapala's/Caprice's
1 Z28
2 Corvettes
and never had an optispark failure. Four of these cars were between 115k and 145k when I sold the car (1 was stolen). I even had the Z28 water pump fail and dump on the optispark and still the optispark didn't fail. I think these can be a pretty reliable distributor although if it fails it is more difficult to change than a conventional distributor.
Bottom line is it is just a part. If it fails, just fix it like any other part.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 263
Likes: 3
From: Philadelphia Pa
I have had opti's on several cars.
3 Imapala's/Caprice's
1 Z28
2 Corvettes
and never had an optispark failure. Four of these cars were between 115k and 145k when I sold the car (1 was stolen). I even had the Z28 water pump fail and dump on the optispark and still the optispark didn't fail. I think these can be a pretty reliable distributor although if it fails it is more difficult to change than a conventional distributor.
Bottom line is it is just a part. If it fails, just fix it like any other part.
3 Imapala's/Caprice's
1 Z28
2 Corvettes
and never had an optispark failure. Four of these cars were between 115k and 145k when I sold the car (1 was stolen). I even had the Z28 water pump fail and dump on the optispark and still the optispark didn't fail. I think these can be a pretty reliable distributor although if it fails it is more difficult to change than a conventional distributor.
Bottom line is it is just a part. If it fails, just fix it like any other part.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,769
Likes: 175
From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
I have had opti's on several cars.
3 Imapala's/Caprice's
1 Z28
2 Corvettes
and never had an optispark failure. Four of these cars were between 115k and 145k when I sold the car (1 was stolen). I even had the Z28 water pump fail and dump on the optispark and still the optispark didn't fail. I think these can be a pretty reliable distributor although if it fails it is more difficult to change than a conventional distributor.
Bottom line is it is just a part. If it fails, just fix it like any other part.
3 Imapala's/Caprice's
1 Z28
2 Corvettes
and never had an optispark failure. Four of these cars were between 115k and 145k when I sold the car (1 was stolen). I even had the Z28 water pump fail and dump on the optispark and still the optispark didn't fail. I think these can be a pretty reliable distributor although if it fails it is more difficult to change than a conventional distributor.
Bottom line is it is just a part. If it fails, just fix it like any other part.
Yes, some have failed. But they are much more durable than most want to believe.
The Opti gets blamed for every "no start" or "rough running" condition, even when it turns out to not be the cause.
129K miles on my original factory Opti without any issues.