lil_lew52

well my opti went like 2 days ago an im changing it out tomarrow an i just want some info on how to change it an what to be aware of wen swapping it

landstuhltaylor

iTrader: (6)

You will have to take off the air intake, water pump, and the radiator. Make sure you don't get any coolant on the new one, use plenty of rags.

BOLO

iTrader: (40)

No need to remove the radiator, the dual electric fans maybe.

chavez885

iTrader: (12)

https://ls1tech.com/forums/showthrea...ight=swap+opti

pictures don't work, but its written well.

1badzee

iTrader: (12)

Yeah i cleared my photobucket album without thinking twice.. when i do the opti on my friends impala ill take thorough pictures

Cheap Guy

iTrader: (3)

First of all, are you sure it's your opti? Do a search and do some research regarding symptoms of opti failure.

If you're sure it's your opti, it's not hard, actually the hardest part is removing the air pump/emissions stuff. You have to take off the water pump and if you know it's been a while since it's been replaced, you may want to take care of that too. Be careful and note which bolts come out of which holes for the water pump, they're not all the same length. Since you have to drain the radiator, now would also be the time to replace any hoses that look bad. You will need a wheel puller to take off the damper - rent it from the auto parts store. I did not have to take out the radiator, only the fans. I'd say three hours tops, about two for us "experts" who had to do it more than once.

Make sure you get a true AC/Delco opti. Don't get the eBay knockoffs, even if they say they are GM parts.

leadfoot4

iTrader: (1)

Keep in mind, that you only have to pull off the outer part of the crankshaft pulley by removing the 3 bolts, not the center hub. That is, if you have the OE pulley on there, and not an aftermarket piece, such as Fluidampr, TCI, etc...

lil_lew52

yea i did a spark test an i have no spark, an i was thinking my opti was goin bad because the car felt like it had no *****, it felt like it wasnt performaning like it should and i did some research an they said opti is one of the reasons an like a week later the opti went bad, an i have new waterpump so i dont need to change that an just all bout my hoses have been changed out too so i should be ready to go, so i assuming that if i mark the opti for the timing an the timing is off i have to put everything back on an check the timing an take everything back off to adjust it?

chavez885

iTrader: (12)

What does timing have to do with changing the opti?

94CamaroZ28SS

sounds like its your opti its not hard to change should take like 4 hours max if you have the right tools.

leadfoot4

iTrader: (1)

Nothing, as far as I know.....The pin on the camshaft engages the corresponding recess on the back of the opti drive. The opti housing bolts to the front of the timing cover. that's it.

Dadic 78

A quick way to get it started is to get the front of the car in the air, and unplug the petcock screw in the bottom Passengers side of the rad to get coolant draining. While it's draining, get the air intake, coil, AIR stuff and WP off. This is a good way to go, as you're making efficient use of time.

lil_lew52

well i thought since the opti is the distributator like on my mustang wen changing the distrib. u have to adjust it just right to get the timing of the car just right or the car would run like **** until it was adjusted just right, so its diff with the opti u just have to put on place an bolt on an not worring bout marking it so it dont throw the timing off the car off an make it run like ****? or is that was the computer is for.

chavez885

iTrader: (12)

Yea the opti change won't affect your timing, just put the opti on the same way you took it off.

the_merv

iTrader: (88)

Timing itself with the Timing Gears and Chain has nothing to do with the Opti, put the Cam Pin in the wrong slot on the Opti, you will see how your Engine will run screwy...

sbs

iTrader: (1)

"What kind of car?" would be a good place to start...


Don't see anything there that identifies the opti as the cause of your no spark condition.

stfuad

I asked the same thing in the other thread then forgot that I posted till I saw this one. He says he replaced the icm and bought the opti assuming it was bad.

I believe the original symptoms were, no start, backfiring out the intake when he tried. Then in another post he indicates that the engine will start(?) after a while.