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Topic: Opti-spark

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Opti-spark (1/9)
9/30/11 1:50am

rxpip
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Vette(s):
1996 Corvette Collector's Edition LT4 6 speed Magnaflow exhaust Vortex cold air induction

Joined: 3/19/2011
Posts: 30

I'm planning on changing out my Opti-spark, I have a slight oil leak coming from the distributor. There are so many brands out there and prices vary all over the place. (OEM, ACCEL, etc..) Does anyone have experience with which brand Opti-spark replacement to buy?

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Re: Opti-spark (2/9)
9/30/11 7:32am

SAYWHEN
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Joined: 2/26/2011
Posts: 82

You'll find good and bad opinions on opti brands depending on who you talk to and their own personal experience with the many brands ( OEM, MSD, Dyna Spark and ACCEL) I had a bad personal experience with a ACCEL opti coming apart internally with less then 2K miles on it.

The opti (OEM) I'm currently running was condemed and in the scrap pile simply because of a bad cap. I repaced cap,rotor and seals and have had no problems for over 2 years Clap

for what it's worth. It's worth considering in your case IF you've had no opti issues. The earlier OEM opti decoders were much better IMO then most of the "junk" on the market today.

I've heard good things about a company called "Chandler Motorsports" optis but I have no personal experience w/them myself. If/when you replace the opti it's a good time to replace the water pump and plug wires also. That's my 2 cents Big smile

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Re: Opti-spark (3/9)
9/30/11 11:31am

sundew
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Eagan, MN - USA

Vette(s):
1994 Admiral Blue LT-1, Automatic, Black Interior; 1974 coupe, red, numbers matching L-48 4-speed; black interior

Joined: 1/25/2010
Posts: 41

I used the OEM replacement Opti-Spark in my '94 and have put 6,000 trouble free miles on the cars since the replacement.

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Re: Opti-spark (4/9)
10/2/11 1:20am

rxpip
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Vette(s):
1996 Corvette Collector's Edition LT4 6 speed Magnaflow exhaust Vortex cold air induction

Joined: 3/19/2011
Posts: 30

Thanks for your input. Chandler sells his stuff exclusively through E-bay. His prices are much cheaper than the OEM.
But, there's pro's and con's to Chandler as well on other forums. I'm leading towards the GM OEM. I have no
issues with mine except the slight oil coming from it. I do plan on doing the water pump, plugs etc...at the same time
though.

Thanks again!

Darryl

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Re: Opti-spark (5/9)
10/12/11 4:21pm

jarees
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Livonia, MI - USA

Vette(s):
1994 Admiral blue coupe, LT1, automatic, with light gray leather interior, chrome ZR-1 wheels, SLP exhaust and cold air induction. Member: Corvette Club of Michigan

Joined: 11/29/2009
Posts: 8

I had mine replaced with the GM OEM unit about 4 years and 10,000 miles ago - never had any issues. Until I lost an argument with a pick-up truck last week!

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Re: Opti-spark (6/9)
10/12/11 8:26pm

helphos
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Olney, MD - USA

Vette(s):
93 Polo Green Convertible with Bilstein Shocks, Autopower RollBar, Simpson 5 point harness, Grand Sport wheels, bald tires and dirty air filter! 2003 Anniversary Red 50th Anniversary Convertible

Joined: 10/20/2010
Posts: 49

I have personal experience with Chandler. Their product worked for me. I bought the one with a lifetime warranty. It fit great and when i fired it up after getting all the other pieces back on, it was like a new car!!

I've had my 93 Vette for 18 months, and my old Opti must have been going bad for a while, 'cause now it runs better than the day I got it!!

Whatever you do, don't forget to spring for a new water pump. Mine was working fine, but I sweated and cursed so much during the install, that I didn't want to do it again in a year or two due to a bad water pump.

______________

Rarely indicted, never convicted

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Re: Opti-spark (7/9)
12/12/11 9:40pm

396c4
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Joined: 12/7/2011
Posts: 219

I had a small leak at the coolant vent that found it's way into the Opti. I'd changed the ant-freeze and the manual vent screw came loose at the track. I closed the vent and didn't immediately associate with the problems that followed since there was a week or more in between. It would run for about 10 minutes then just quit altogether, fortunately not on main road. After thinking the worst, and waiting awhile, it would start and run for a little. Took a few time to get home. I put in an MSD (which hasbuilt in timing adjustment screw for quick changes) and is sealed up much better than the OEM. When I took the original apart you there was coolant rust splatter on the optical sensor. MSD has been flawless. Also good time to clean the reluctor sensor seal at the bottom of the timing chain cover (mine leaked just enough oil to make stuff dirty ) and change the spark plug wires.

______________

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Re: Opti-spark (8/9)
1/9/12 9:37pm

Judge Roy Bean
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Bandera, TX - USA

Vette(s):
one ea. 1996 LT1, red on gray interior, stroker 383 Dart heads w/ 2.02"int,1.60exeh 11.8:1, Comp Cam 230/236@50 .570/.576 113LSA , Crane 1.6:1`rocker arms, GM Delphi roller lifters HiFlo Cats, Xpipe and low restriction muffles, it sounds lumpy at idle!!!

Joined: 1/4/2012
Posts: 28

My two cents, where is the oil leak comming from? My 96 is different from the earlier models, but they all have the water pump and the Opti Spark drive seals. I had the advantage of having the front drive on the bench to install the seals and I remember that the pump drive is around 5/8 of an inch, the coupling can be a bugger to install through the seal. I think that if you were to make some sort of tapered fitting to pass ahead of the drive coupling the seal won't be damaged. The whole point is becareful when you are installing the seals so that you don't have to do the job over. JRB

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Re: Opti-spark (9/9)
1/10/12 7:53pm

rxpip
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Vette(s):
1996 Corvette Collector's Edition LT4 6 speed Magnaflow exhaust Vortex cold air induction

Joined: 3/19/2011
Posts: 30

Thank You all for your responses. I bought a waterpump and Opti-spark through MidAmerica motorworks.
I also had the spark plugs and wires replaced at the same time. My mechanic had trouble with the waterpump seals and had to redo the entire process. There was another inner seal which he didn't replace the first time. I
also found a radiator leak and replaced the radiator as well.

I must say, it runs much better now. The magna flows just "gurgle" without the back pressure noise I had before.
It has made a world of difference. Can't wait for spring to get here, although we have had a very mild winter here
in California. No rain the past 6 weeks and no rain in sight. January is usually are wettest month, so we are in
for a "dry" one this year.

Happy New Year to you all

Darryl

1996 CE LT4

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