LT1-LT4 Modifications 1993-97 Gen II Small Block V8

opti question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 14, 2009 | 04:55 PM
  #1  
slp96ss's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 179
Likes: 1
Default opti question

first off, would a small crack or break in the opti cover cause the car to stall in mild and worse conditions of rain? if it gets bad out, the car stalls and can't restart for a few minutes. second off, if i do put in a new opti, would that be a good time to do a cam? if it is, what is the best decently priced cam for a stock motor? something that is aggressive but is able to work well with stock parts. i'm not going to do anything else to the motor if not necessary.
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2009 | 05:02 PM
  #2  
RamAir95TA's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 9,467
Likes: 8
From: South Jersey
Default

Yes it would. A crack in the housing would let in ambient moisture. More importantly, if the housing is cracked, the integrity of the opti housing has changed, throwing off the geometry of the cap and rotor.

If you replace the optispark, you're only about 1/3rd of the way through a cam swap. To some it may be a good time to do it, but to others, maybe not. You'd still have to take off the valve covers, injectors/fuel rail, intake manifold, rockers, valve springs, pushrods, radiator, fans, crank hub, timing cover, timing chain, lifters, water pump drive, then the factory cam.

No aftermarket cam will work "well" with stock parts (springs, etc.). If you're going through the trouble of installing a cam, it might as well be a performance cam. If you're not worried about *****-out performance and no guesswork, look into the LT4 hotcam kit. You'd likely need new lifters (if yours are over 100k or in not so good shape), a new timing set, not to mention gaskets and such. You would also need supporting modifications (exhaust, intake, etc,) to compliment a newer aggressive cam.

Expect to pay around $1,000 in parts for the cam swap if you plan on doing it yourself. Don't let me scare you though - it isn't THAT hard of a job to do with a few friends over a weekend.
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2009 | 08:24 PM
  #3  
ss.slp.ls1's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
15 Year Member
iTrader: (36)
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 8,184
Likes: 28
From: Orange County, CA
Default

Get a new opti from "thepartsladi" on Ebay. Best deal around.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/95-96...mZ400037038121

I agree with RamAir95TA, from your post, a LT4 hot cam kit would probably suit you just fine.

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...2&autoview=sku
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2009 | 10:04 PM
  #4  
slp96ss's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 179
Likes: 1
Default

what kind of power will that bring to a 96 ss m6 with slp loudmouth I catback and slp cai? probably would get a mail order tune as well.
Reply
Old Mar 15, 2009 | 01:28 PM
  #5  
RamAir95TA's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 9,467
Likes: 8
From: South Jersey
Default

Originally Posted by slp96ss
what kind of power will that bring to a 96 ss m6 with slp loudmouth I catback and slp cai? probably would get a mail order tune as well.
Expect anywhere from 310 to 330HP.
Reply
Old Mar 16, 2009 | 03:43 PM
  #6  
slp96ss's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 179
Likes: 1
Default

i'll take that considering that's the 400hp at the motor. not too shabby.
Reply
Old Mar 16, 2009 | 04:46 PM
  #7  
ss.slp.ls1's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
15 Year Member
iTrader: (36)
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 8,184
Likes: 28
From: Orange County, CA
Default

Originally Posted by slp96ss
i'll take that considering that's the 400hp at the motor. not too shabby.
It's probably more like 375 at the motor, but I'm just guessing.
Reply
Old Mar 16, 2009 | 04:57 PM
  #8  
slp96ss's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 179
Likes: 1
Default

possibly true but i'm just gowing by the 80% to the wheels for m6 cars. on the lower end, 310 at the wheels is about 390 at the motor and 330 is about 410 so i figured 400 was in the middle.

plus my car started with 310 hp from the factory, plus cai, exhaust, cam, rr's, tune, air foil, tb bypass, etc. i'd say that's about 75 hp easy.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

6 Gifts Neither Your Dad Nor Grad Will Shove Into the 'Trinket Drawer'

 Brett Foote
story-1

Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-6

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-8

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-9

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Mar 16, 2009 | 05:36 PM
  #9  
ss.slp.ls1's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
15 Year Member
iTrader: (36)
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 8,184
Likes: 28
From: Orange County, CA
Default

Originally Posted by slp96ss
possibly true but i'm just gowing by the 80% to the wheels for m6 cars. on the lower end, 310 at the wheels is about 390 at the motor and 330 is about 410 so i figured 400 was in the middle.

plus my car started with 310 hp from the factory, plus cai, exhaust, cam, rr's, tune, air foil, tb bypass, etc. i'd say that's about 75 hp easy.
Ok, I guess I can see that at the crank.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:38 PM.

story-0
6 Gifts Neither Your Dad Nor Grad Will Shove Into the 'Trinket Drawer'

Don't get dad new socks or a grill brush this year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 14:55:56


VIEW MORE
story-1
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

Slideshow: We take a close look at the ONE and Artidiag 800BT2 diagnostic tools from Topdon and the reasons to buy one over the other.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 11:05:11


VIEW MORE
story-2
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

Slideshow: The controversial Ferrari F6 swaps its original flat-12 for a Corvette Z06-derived LT4 V8 and sends power to four rear wheels through a custom-built drivetrain.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 18:23:54


VIEW MORE
story-3
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

Slideshow:These GM engines didn't just make huge power, they survived abuse, boost, track days, and six-digit mileage with a reputation for refusing to quit.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-21 16:45:27


VIEW MORE
story-4
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-5
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-6
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-9
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE