optispark
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,143
Likes: 7
From: San Diego CA
Re: optispark (bald1eagle)
Yes, the 95 is an updated design. The seals are better and it is flushed with air via vacuum lines to keep moisture out. The 95/6 seems to report substantially fewer problems.
That said, the 95 & 96 still have occasional problems. I still wouldn't use a high pressure hose on the front of the engine.
That said, the 95 & 96 still have occasional problems. I still wouldn't use a high pressure hose on the front of the engine.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 1,161
Likes: 0
From: Texas
Re: optispark (John Row)
My wife's '96 opti just died at 82K. I put in a new cap and rotor at 50K. I wouldn't exactly call the vented design a fix. If I decide to keep this car long term (it's trying my patience right now) I will investigate a distributorless ignition eventually.
As long as the distributor is mounted in a spot where a failed water pump will kill it it is a POS design IMHO. Not to mention it's complete lack of accessibility. I believe this opti is the biggest design faux pas in all of Chevrolet's history.
later
dr
As long as the distributor is mounted in a spot where a failed water pump will kill it it is a POS design IMHO. Not to mention it's complete lack of accessibility. I believe this opti is the biggest design faux pas in all of Chevrolet's history.
later
dr
Elite Torch Red Member
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 57,805
Likes: 23
From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
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Re: optispark (bald1eagle)
I like the optispark setup, just the location is not right, but where else could it go?
In my '95 I replaced the opti at 76,000 only because I was doing the water pump.
Mackey went well over 96000 miles on the original opti and he blew his water pump but didn't change the opti atthat time. He finally changed the opti when he pulled th emotor out for some other work.
But as much as I like the opti setup, I'm currently in the process of converting to the LS1 set up.
In my '95 I replaced the opti at 76,000 only because I was doing the water pump.
Mackey went well over 96000 miles on the original opti and he blew his water pump but didn't change the opti atthat time. He finally changed the opti when he pulled th emotor out for some other work.
But as much as I like the opti setup, I'm currently in the process of converting to the LS1 set up.
