Stupid is as stupid does (Opti install)
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 2,024
Likes: 363
From: Central Alabama
Stupid is as stupid does (Opti install)
Well if you've read any of my recent posts you know I've been swapping out the cooling system and opti.
It's been slow going, mostly because the family has been really busy and time to work has been scarce.
And as you get into this you find more things that need to be replaced as you go. And that usually means order and wait.
Any way today I got to the point where I could finally start the car to test the opti. Still waiting on one coolant hose (ironically the one that started the whole thing) but I wanted to at least test it for a minute before adding coolant.
This is did not go well. It initially fired but started miss-firing out the exhaust, shut it off and was ready to just walk away. I could tell the miss came from the left side.
I knew I was going to have to go back and check everything. Luckily you can access the wires by removing the belt tensioner.
If your still reading here comes the STUPID.
I installed wire markers to keep thing right. Well I double checked and found the 5 marker on the 7 wire and the 7 marker on the 5 wire. Thus the 5 and 7 wires were swapped. Fixed that, and the markers.
Fired back up and the misfire is gone.
Just need one radiator hose to finish up. Parts store is promising it will be here tomorrow morning.
It's been slow going, mostly because the family has been really busy and time to work has been scarce.
And as you get into this you find more things that need to be replaced as you go. And that usually means order and wait.
Any way today I got to the point where I could finally start the car to test the opti. Still waiting on one coolant hose (ironically the one that started the whole thing) but I wanted to at least test it for a minute before adding coolant.
This is did not go well. It initially fired but started miss-firing out the exhaust, shut it off and was ready to just walk away. I could tell the miss came from the left side.
I knew I was going to have to go back and check everything. Luckily you can access the wires by removing the belt tensioner.
If your still reading here comes the STUPID.
I installed wire markers to keep thing right. Well I double checked and found the 5 marker on the 7 wire and the 7 marker on the 5 wire. Thus the 5 and 7 wires were swapped. Fixed that, and the markers.
Fired back up and the misfire is gone.
Just need one radiator hose to finish up. Parts store is promising it will be here tomorrow morning.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 30,427
Likes: 1,609
From: Outside the Quick Stop N.J.
We have all BTDT, sometimes it is something very simple. Sometimes you also have to know when to close the garage door and come back tomorrow. Not to go way OT, but I do think the Opti gets a bad rap in the C4 mainly because it is such a PITA to change. I was able to do mine in my Impala SS in under an hour.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 2,024
Likes: 363
From: Central Alabama
I've been approaching it like Parts guy mentioned.
After work I'd pick one thing to do. Say reinstall a valve cover.
Next day tear down throttle body for cleaning.
Kind of like the old saying about How do you eat an elephant?
Got 7 or 8 tasks left before I'm done.
After work I'd pick one thing to do. Say reinstall a valve cover.
Next day tear down throttle body for cleaning.
Kind of like the old saying about How do you eat an elephant?
Got 7 or 8 tasks left before I'm done.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,581
Likes: 966
From: Communist Colorado
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,362
Likes: 2,281
From: Central Maryland
Well if you've read any of my recent posts you know I've been swapping out the cooling system and opti.
It's been slow going, mostly because the family has been really busy and time to work has been scarce.
And as you get into this you find more things that need to be replaced as you go. And that usually means order and wait.
Any way today I got to the point where I could finally start the car to test the opti. Still waiting on one coolant hose (ironically the one that started the whole thing) but I wanted to at least test it for a minute before adding coolant.
This is did not go well. It initially fired but started miss-firing out the exhaust, shut it off and was ready to just walk away. I could tell the miss came from the left side.
I knew I was going to have to go back and check everything. Luckily you can access the wires by removing the belt tensioner.
If your still reading here comes the STUPID.
I installed wire markers to keep thing right. Well I double checked and found the 5 marker on the 7 wire and the 7 marker on the 5 wire. Thus the 5 and 7 wires were swapped. Fixed that, and the markers.
Fired back up and the misfire is gone.
Just need one radiator hose to finish up. Parts store is promising it will be here tomorrow morning.
It's been slow going, mostly because the family has been really busy and time to work has been scarce.
And as you get into this you find more things that need to be replaced as you go. And that usually means order and wait.
Any way today I got to the point where I could finally start the car to test the opti. Still waiting on one coolant hose (ironically the one that started the whole thing) but I wanted to at least test it for a minute before adding coolant.
This is did not go well. It initially fired but started miss-firing out the exhaust, shut it off and was ready to just walk away. I could tell the miss came from the left side.
I knew I was going to have to go back and check everything. Luckily you can access the wires by removing the belt tensioner.
If your still reading here comes the STUPID.
I installed wire markers to keep thing right. Well I double checked and found the 5 marker on the 7 wire and the 7 marker on the 5 wire. Thus the 5 and 7 wires were swapped. Fixed that, and the markers.
Fired back up and the misfire is gone.
Just need one radiator hose to finish up. Parts store is promising it will be here tomorrow morning.
Pat yourself on the back for having the good sense to test-fire the engine before you reassembled everything, and remaining calm enough to quickly identify the cause of the trouble.
Live well,
SJW
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,362
Likes: 2,281
From: Central Maryland
Sadly, adding to the bad rap on the Opti these days is the difficulty in finding reliable replacements. Being forced to re-do an annoying task seldom sits well with anybody.
Live well,
SJW
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,362
Likes: 2,281
From: Central Maryland
Here, I think, is the key to successful DIY tasks. If you can figure out how to turn them into a Zen kinda thing, negativity fades away, and the satisfaction of working with your mind and your hands leads to a sense of accomplishment.
Live well,
SJW
Live well,
SJW
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
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 30,427
Likes: 1,609
From: Outside the Quick Stop N.J.
As I said in another thread, enjoy the journey, not just the destination.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 422
Likes: 53
From: PA
Boy you sure got that right, doing the same thing. Have to replace opti, seal leaking for opti, crank seal leaking too. have o replace those. Once I get this thing running, I'll clean it up and sell it, no more C4's for me. I'll never buy an LT1 car again. Stick with C3's, their easy to work on.