Blu-Zee

My motor is sitting in pieces right now due to a cam swap. I'm putting a cc304 with some new valve springs and all that good stuff. The car has about 135k on it and I'm wondering if I should replace the Opti while its off the car. I had no ignition issues before and I'm on a tight budget. Think it will be alright to put it back on?

Same with the Oil pump drive gear. Ive done some research and seen a lot of issues with the Oil pump drive gear getting chewed up with new cams. The gear that's in it now has a little wear but still looks pretty solid.

With the research I've done seems like I will be rolling the dice on getting a decent Opti or the OEM one going out , and the gear getting chewed.

What do you think?

Rob94hawk

iTrader: (1)

You can do a cap and rotor replacement. Open it up and take a look see. The optical sensor is probably doing just fine. Locktite the rotor as well.

As for the oil gear, it'll be fine. I just put mine back in with my heads/cam. Just make sure you locktite it back on. IIRC the torque spec was 15 ft/lbs.

SS RRR

iTrader: (2)

loctite is really not necessary. The bolt does not take on any load and 15ftlbs is plenty to keep the drive assembly in place.

Puck

iTrader: (17)

Ygpm...

guppymech

iTrader: (7)

The service manual spec is 13 fllbs for the oil pump drive bolt. I used some blue loctite on mine. Also my new cam got a new oil pump drive.

wrd1972

iTrader: (12)

I assume the CC304 is a cast cam? If yes, You are likely fine with your existing gear assuming it only show very light wear. If you can find a new GM gear, it would not hurt putting it on. Just dont get the Lunati gear, it is pure ****.

I always loctite the pump drive stub bolt. There is no negative benefit to doing it andf it provide additional piece of mind for a part that seems to causing many of us grief now days. Might want to get one of Wickeds brackets for the stub for maximum durability of the stub housing.

l 95 Trans Am l

iTrader: (5)

You can get a GM Opti for about 450. I'd do it while everything is torn down, however if you're on a tight budget, that's understandable

Blu-Zee

[QUOTE=wrd1972;15927962]I assume the CC304 is a cast cam? If yes, You are likely fine with your existing gear assuming it only show very light wear. If you can find a new GM gear, it would not hurt putting it on. Just dont get the Lunati gear, it is pure ****.

Yes the CC304 is cast, got the cam all buttoned up, and the original gear back in it with some blue loctite and torqued it. Next trip to the junk yard ill be sure to get a gear as a back up. Saw a motor with the intake off last time, hopefully its still there.

Now for the Opti, I think its just going to go back on, probably not very smart but ill take my chances, maybe it will hold off long enough until I get some more cash. Didn't have any issues at all when it was still on the motor.

guppymech

iTrader: (7)

Using a oil pump drive from the junkyard is about the worst thing you can do. Cars in the junkyard are there because they weren't cared for. The bevel gears on the cam and oil pump drive run-in together. It's like using old flat tappet lifters on a new cam, you could do it but why? A new drive is not expensive and will break- in and be long lasting on a new cam.
I had the bright idea to get some spare water pump drive couplings from the junk yard, never did get a good one. It was a waste of time.

spilner

iTrader: (6)

I went with a billet one

Rob94hawk

iTrader: (1)

That's a solid piece. Did it fit right in? I've heard a few that got it had to machine it a bit to fit.

RamAir95TA

iTrader: (2)

They do not drop right in and require machining to fit. I had to have .010" milled off of two separate units on two separate motors.

It would be nice if Herron mentioned this on their webpage.

wrd1972

iTrader: (12)

That is not cool that this piece would have to be further machined to fit. How hard could it be to simply make it the same as the plastic piece and call it a day? Plus how many actually have the resources to do this without incurring additional cost. Its a nice piece, but I think Wicked's $15 dollar bracket is as good.

RamAir95TA

iTrader: (2)

It cost me an additional $40 to have it turned on a lathe to fit.

Herron tried to tell me that I was installing it incorrectly and wasn't much help.

Had I known this I would not have purchased it and would have gone a different route for sure.

Puck

iTrader: (17)

I have Wicked's bracket on mine. Should be more then enough insurance, using a stock pressure/volume oil pump.

05HD

Can you give more detail on what area didn't fit? It was too large of a diameter or something? I was about to get me one of them.

RamAir95TA

iTrader: (2)

Mine was .010" too large and would not fit into the block. My buddies was .008" too large. They tried to tell me that I was putting it in wrong - I told them I passed shapes class in kindergarten.

FormulaJoe

iTrader: (5)

LOL... Ima have to use this for a bit in my sig... Definitely quote worthy.

Rob94hawk

iTrader: (1)

You mean a round shape doesn't go into a round hole? Damn. Who knew....

wrd1972

iTrader: (12)

Let me the first to offer an instruction sheet "wordage" for the installation of this since I kind of do it for a living.
Step 1. Insert drive stub into ******* hole.