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

96 LT1 Optispark help

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Old Feb 21, 2011 | 03:57 PM
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Default 96 LT1 Optispark help

I replaced my water pump yesterday because it was leaking for a few days. While I had the whole thing apart I took the optispark distributor off to take a look at it. I put it all back together and now the car is popping when i give it short throttle bursts and slightly popping while idling. But it runs fine if I keep it at a steady rpm above idle. I havent drove the car yet though. I broke some of the plastic on the optispark that the coil wire connects to. Could it not be getting a good connection and cause the car to make popping noises? Also is there a way to put the optispark distributor on wrong or does it only fit one way? Is it possible that i slightly changed the timing by taking it off and not putting it back the same way it was?
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Old Feb 21, 2011 | 04:32 PM
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Well long as ur #1 piston is at tdc and the little pin on the distibutor is at 10 o'clock when u put it bak on, there's no way to change the timing on the lt1 cause the marmoic balancer on goes on 1 way, when u changed the water pump did u make sure not to leak any water onto the opti?cause that will give u a misfire and that's usualy what makes that popin noise in ur intake manifold.
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Old Feb 21, 2011 | 04:40 PM
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Originally Posted by dnasty94ta
Well long as ur #1 piston is at tdc and the little pin on the distibutor is at 10 o'clock when u put it bak on, there's no way to change the timing on the lt1 cause the marmoic balancer on goes on 1 way, when u changed the water pump did u make sure not to leak any water onto the opti?cause that will give u a misfire and that's usualy what makes that popin noise in ur intake manifold.
ok, dont listen to this guy.




You can install the opti on the engine no matter what its position is in the firing cycle. It doesnt have to be a certain way. Its "supposed" to only go on one way with the dowel pin but people sometimes can force it in the wrong slot on the back. There is only one slot on the back of the opti that will fit the dowel.

If you didnt force it on then something got messed up when you took it apart or something isnt connected properly. I dont know. thats why you dont mess with it, EVER! LOL
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Old Feb 21, 2011 | 04:43 PM
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lol yeah i know, I shouldent have messed with it at all. So should i buy a new opti or is there something else that i can try?
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Old Feb 21, 2011 | 04:46 PM
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Be sure you didn't get your ignition wires mixed up. The opti goes on one way but if the dowel pin wasn't aligned properly then it wouldn't seat properly against the timing cover.
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Old Feb 21, 2011 | 04:58 PM
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I only took the coil wire off. it slipped right back in place, i didnt have to force it back on. I think that it is seated properly
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Old Feb 22, 2011 | 12:16 AM
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Dnt listen to the guy who got that info from the chilton and personal experience pff
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Old Feb 22, 2011 | 09:12 AM
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Originally Posted by dnasty94ta
Well long as ur #1 piston is at tdc and the little pin on the distibutor is at 10 o'clock when u put it bak on, there's no way to change the timing on the lt1 cause the marmoic balancer on goes on 1 way, when u changed the water pump did u make sure not to leak any water onto the opti?cause that will give u a misfire and that's usualy what makes that popin noise in ur intake manifold.
WOW.... WTF! With answers like this you have no place giving advice on this forum!
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Old Feb 22, 2011 | 04:15 PM
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It turns out that the coil wire wasn't getting a good connection. It runs fine but it is leaking oil... Is there a gasket or something behind the optispark or something? How do I fix the oil leak?
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Old Feb 22, 2011 | 05:20 PM
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there are 3 seals on the front of the timing chain cover. should of changed them when you had everything off/
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Old Feb 22, 2011 | 05:51 PM
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I guess that I need to rip it all apart for a 3rd time. By any chance do you know the part numbers? What should I ask for at the auto store? Just say that I need the timing chan cover seals?
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Old Feb 22, 2011 | 05:56 PM
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yessir. i suggest searching on how to put the waterpump seal on. its kinda hard to do without ripping it on the waterpump drive.
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Old Feb 22, 2011 | 05:59 PM
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The 2 gaskets on the water pump? I just put a little bit of rtv on both sides of the gaskets then bolted the pump on.
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Old Feb 22, 2011 | 06:17 PM
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So there is no seal on the opti itself? I wonder why the timing chain gasket all of a sudden started leaking when I took the opti off
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Old Feb 22, 2011 | 09:05 PM
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hi im new to this a have a 96 trans am and im tryin to put a opti-spark in can any one help me wit wat to do thanx
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Old Feb 23, 2011 | 12:13 AM
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Originally Posted by hot-trans am
hi im new to this a have a 96 trans am and im tryin to put a opti-spark in can any one help me wit wat to do thanx
Im sure that there is a guide somewhere. But basically you take off the water pump and harmonic dampener then there are 3 10mm bolts that hold the opti on.
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Old Feb 23, 2011 | 09:05 AM
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ok i got the water pump off and harmonic dampener off and just took the opti off is their ome way it can go back on do the motor has to be at tdc thanx
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Old Feb 23, 2011 | 09:18 AM
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yes it only goes on one way http://shbox.com/1/opti_back.jpg
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Old Feb 23, 2011 | 11:18 AM
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ok thank i be puttin it together tomorrow just waitin on the part
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Old Feb 24, 2011 | 06:38 AM
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Originally Posted by Turbo Silverado
So there is no seal on the opti itself? I wonder why the timing chain gasket all of a sudden started leaking when I took the opti off
Because the "seal" is on the front cover of the engine. There are 3 seals on the front cover...1 for the water pump drive; 1 for the opti; and 1 for the crankshaft.
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