Optispark & Waterpump question & comments for the gurus.

[89TTA/95 TA Vert]

Hey guys,

The other day I bought a MSD 6A unit, MSD Blaster coil, MSD wires and NGK plugs for my '95 Trans Am. I figured to complete the pakage a new Optispark cap and rotor are necassary. Which leads me to a couple qustions for the LT1 experts.

While I am under the car getting bathed in Antifreeze I was wondering what your thoughts are regarding the Water Pump. Do I put it back together with the old water pump (52k miles), a new one ( $200+ ??), or go with a Meizere electric unit? Your expirience with my three options?

Any suggestions on a specific gasket type or brand for the water pump?

I've never worked on an Optispark unit before, any DO's or DON'Ts when replacing the cap/rotor combo?

Re: the MSD 6A unit, it looks to be very simple to instsall are there any DO's or DON'Ts to this install as well?


Thanks in advance for your time for answering the questions.

[wolfdogs]

with 52k miles, i'd do the new pump for sure.....if you can afford it. heck, we did mine at 28k when the motor came out just for gp.

the electrics are wonderful if you want to go that mile.

[Kevin - Blown 95 TA]

The two big drawbacks of an electric pump is that if it goes out for any reason, you will overheat in about 15 seconds from the time it stops until the time it splooges your coolant all over the ground. And if the pump is dead and you are stranded because of it, you might have a fit trying to get a new one unless you can overnight it from a distributor - the dealer in BFE isn't going to have it. The Meziere is a good unit, but it requires you to cut some out of the fan shroud to make it fit. I have a CSI which also requires a little to be cut out, but it is quite a bit less than the Meziere. The CSI also required a little grinding of the water pump housing to make it fit. I also carry a spare in the trunk in case I need it - it was $139 for waterpump insurance

If you use the electric, it is advisable to remove the pump drive and plug the hole in the timing cover, and I can't remember if you can do that without pulling the intake manifold - it seems I drove it out from the lifter valley side, but I was doing the cam at the same time anyway - you might want to look into this. I know some have left the drive in there, but then the water pump drive gear will wobble against the cam gear drive and possibly cause problems.

Advantages are, besides saving a few ponies, constant cooling even at an idle, and at the track you can run it in the pits, especially if you have a fan switch. You can also then buy a true double roller timing chain for SBC without the hugely expensive LT1/LT4 water pump gears. you might want to consider this at the same time since you got a stretched chain at 50k miles.

Get GM gaskets - they are very cheap paper ones and you only need 2.

With the opti, just take your time, line it up correctly and don't force it on. It kind of goes on with a pop, but just make sure it is ligned up before installing it.

[89TTA/95 TA Vert]

Any Optispark experts here?

I finally got my Optispark and Water Pump off. Upon inspection of the Optispark unit I found one of the nylon/plastic rings that go on the shaft broken into pieces. The second ring is cracked but has yet to fall off.

My qustion is: How do I replace these? With the same material or rubber O-rings? Are they dealer items only? What did you guys do IF you had the same problem?

Lastly, Is it possible to have the Optispark unit on out of (timing) position or does the dowel in the came prevent this? (ie; can the Opti go on any other way but the correct way)?

Thanks guys!!

[IMG]Optispark with broken and mising nylon washer?[/IMG]

[89TTA/95 TA Vert]

Get GM gaskets - they are very cheap paper ones and you only need 2.

With the opti, just take your time, line it up correctly and don't force it on. It kind of goes on with a pop, but just make sure it is ligned up before installing it.[/QUOTE]

Thanks Kevin, I ended up buying a Re-man Water Pump. It was $100.00 less than a new one or electric and pretty much reliable if not more than a new OE unit.

Did you see my previous post about the broken seals/plastic ring on my Optispark shaft? I included a picture of it. Can you shed some light on what to do if anything from your perspective?

Thanks again.

[Kevin - Blown 95 TA]

Thanks Kevin, I ended up buying a Re-man Water Pump. It was $100.00 less than a new one or electric and pretty much reliable if not more than a new OE unit.

Did you see my previous post about the broken seals/plastic ring on my Optispark shaft? I included a picture of it. Can you shed some light on what to do if anything from your perspective?

Thanks again.

Sorry, I can't remember the details from when I had it off. One of the other guys will know. There's been a lot written about it and the water pump shaft also, because a lot of guys have had a hard time with the seals & couplings. If you can't get info here then try http://camaroz28.com/ or http://www.f-body.org/ for more info. Lots of links there.