Opti for my '93
Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 430
Likes: 1
From: Austin Texas
I'm new to this myself, having just bought my 1992 Corvette a month ago, but at least one book I read on LT1 engines said that the best replacement solution was the one originally offered by a Corvette shop in Florida that has since moved to another state, and now does business under the owner's personal name: "Petris".
The Petris solution includes a proepr venting system simialr to the one that GM itself implemented on the 1994 through 1996 LT1 engines after the magnitude of the non-vented problem became evident.
Others in this forum have both praised and maligned the Petris product, depending on their own experiences with it or what they have only heard and are passing on without verification.
Some others on the forum have said you should only buy a Delco "new old stock" ("NOS") replacement (NOT a Delco "rebuild"), but I presume that really only applies to the 1994 through 1996 engines, since the 1992 or 1993 NOS Optsparks would clearly NOT have the vent system which is apparently a major and needed improvement!
Also, just on the remote possibility that you have not yet heard, you need to keep water away from the Opti. since that is generally (but not always) what causes it to fail. That means:
1. Replace right away any water pump that starts to leak, since it is right over the Opti!
2. Do NOT wash your engine or stuff near the engine, as water can get into the Opti form that, and kill it
The most recommended solutions, whether Delphi NOS or Petris all cost $700 order of magnitude (comes as TWO assemblies: $500 unit plus separate $200 rotor cap).
A more costly solution that works well but costs a LOT more (over $1000 I think) involves repalcing most of the Opti with LS engine series ignition components (google: "Deltec"). This however makes your car non-standard and therefor harder for a shop to diagnose, and MAY require use of an LS series computer as well (Not sure on that msyelf since I currently don't have much interest in this specific solution depsite its tehcnical perofrmance merits).
The above is all that I ahve learned so far . . .
Jim G
The Petris solution includes a proepr venting system simialr to the one that GM itself implemented on the 1994 through 1996 LT1 engines after the magnitude of the non-vented problem became evident.
Others in this forum have both praised and maligned the Petris product, depending on their own experiences with it or what they have only heard and are passing on without verification.
Some others on the forum have said you should only buy a Delco "new old stock" ("NOS") replacement (NOT a Delco "rebuild"), but I presume that really only applies to the 1994 through 1996 engines, since the 1992 or 1993 NOS Optsparks would clearly NOT have the vent system which is apparently a major and needed improvement!
Also, just on the remote possibility that you have not yet heard, you need to keep water away from the Opti. since that is generally (but not always) what causes it to fail. That means:
1. Replace right away any water pump that starts to leak, since it is right over the Opti!
2. Do NOT wash your engine or stuff near the engine, as water can get into the Opti form that, and kill it
The most recommended solutions, whether Delphi NOS or Petris all cost $700 order of magnitude (comes as TWO assemblies: $500 unit plus separate $200 rotor cap).
A more costly solution that works well but costs a LOT more (over $1000 I think) involves repalcing most of the Opti with LS engine series ignition components (google: "Deltec"). This however makes your car non-standard and therefor harder for a shop to diagnose, and MAY require use of an LS series computer as well (Not sure on that msyelf since I currently don't have much interest in this specific solution depsite its tehcnical perofrmance merits).
The above is all that I ahve learned so far . . .
Jim G
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 16,091
Likes: 819
From: Dallas Texas
2025 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Thanks for the info Jim. I will probably end up buying the Petris. So, even though my opti isn't ventilated, the the petris will work on my '93?
Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 430
Likes: 1
From: Austin Texas
The distinction here is that a truly NOS Delphi replacement for the 92 and 93 cars will NOT ahve the vent since the vent did not exist when those Delphi NOS replacement kits were built. To my knowledge, no one here on the forum or elsewhere has said that any vented Delphi versions exist for the '92 and '93 cars, and the 94 - 96 kits will NOT work without also changing other parts, since the 94-96 versions fo the LT1 changed the drive system for the Opti!
Jim G
Last edited by JimGnitecki; Jun 28, 2013 at 12:38 PM.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 700
Likes: 1
From: Florida
and replaced the cap with a 96 which contains the vent.
I retro fitted the vented system a few years ago. It's not difficult at all.
Just search this forum for instructions.
Hank
Pro
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 663
Likes: 1
From: Nashville TN
