Opti-spark

[GreenTA/GT]

Allright so this is a follow up to my last thread with the misfire. Through ignition wires, coil, and coil wire. The fact that it starts hard and jumps timing like hell before it's even warmed up, then misfires after heat soak screams opti-spark to me. So now the question becomes..lets hear tips from who has done it. It doesn't look like alot of fun. I priced an MSD cap and rotor kit from f-bodymotorsports for 149...and entire optispark unit off ebay for around 350...and from GM 671. Whats recomemded? also who has changed one and vented a drain plug in? I think I'm going to go ahead and put on an underdrive pulley as well while I have it off. Should I do an electric/new waterpump as well? Fire this thread up like you did the last one. Also, my repair manual is pretty broad under distributor removal/install, anyone know of a good online source?

[94 formula]

Its not that bad to do just make sure you have everything dried up very well before putting in the new opti. I'd recommend buying an entire opti from Sam Taylor ( www.samtaylor.com ) I think I paid like $330 with shipping and its brand new. You need to remove wp, coil, AIR pump, harmonic balancer, and opti. I'd put on a new wp while your in there and if you have the money an electric one is a good mod. Make sure when installing it you can slide the opti the whole way in don't draw it down with the bolts its keyed. You'll need coolant and wp gaskets. I'd also recommend replacing the timing cover seals if any are leaking while your in there. Its not that hard of a job just take your time and have a case of beer handy .

[97LT1Z28]

To remove the optispark distributor, you'll need some very small torx-bit drivers. It's not the standard T15 that everyone typically has. I think it's T5 - T10? When I did mine for the first time, lack of this tool stopped me in my tracks until I got it at Sears.

[pete]

Yes, you will need a real small torx driver to open the cap, but if you don't get them, you can use a torx screw off the throttle body held in vice grips as a driver to get them out.

I would replace the water pump. I've used the lifetime warranty ones from Autozone, the first one was around $65. I've also drilled out the weep hole to 3/16", glued in a 90 deg plastic hose elbow, added a couple of feet of 3/16" vacum hose and secured it to the steering rack with wire ties. That way when the pump fails again, it will route the coolant to a noticable spot, and not on the opti.

I added the two vacum hoses to vent the opti, you will need to get the opti cap for the '96 -'97 which has a vacum port. Then drill out the center weep hole in the opti base to 3/16" and glue in a 90 deg hose elbow. Plug the other two weep holes (I used pop rivets). You can get the official GM vacum hoses with the filter and check valve for a real pro job there (see the Shoebox site for the part number, he has all the part numbers if you want to update everything to the '96-'97 opti and timing cover).

I get my GM stuff from Dal Salbaugh at 877-448-5451, same deal as Sam Taylor Buick, but he's an old fart like me.

There ja go, a 2 six pack job

[Dan95ta]

If you decide to go with GM parts call Dal Slabaugh. I got my optispark (complete unit), water pump, vacuum harness for the opti, and some gaskets and seals all for under $450 shipped.