so i'm extremely bored at work right now and I was thinking about my optispark.

I currently have a 94 z28 that had the opti that was original to it. Now the motor I will be getting is from a 97 ws6. I will have an electric waterpump and the timing cover is already filled in.

Now my question is, can I use the opti that I have or will I have to switch opti's to accomodate the 97 lt1? I will be using the cam from the 97 lt1 also if that makes a difference.

I'm sure I've read an answer to this but I didn't find anything on it so any input is appreciated. I hope what I just typed makes sense

 

use the new opti as it will be vented. it might also be keyed differently but i'm not 100% sure about that.

 

the motor i'm getting will not be coming with the opti. So that's why I'm wondering if I have to sell the one I have and get one for the new motor.

 

If you're getting the 97 motor only and not the wiring harness, then you will need a new opti harness (cheap fix) to run the 97 opti since the plug is different (you'll see when you get the opti). The dowel pin on the 94 cam is shorter than the 97, but since you're running the 97 cam, then you should need to use the 97 opti (obviously), which as mentioned above is vented which = better

EDIT: didn't read your post above until after I posted, but if you want to use your 94 opti, then I would just stick with the 94 cam. But I think all you have to do to the 97 cam is grind or cut the dowel pin down and it will work with the 94 opti.

 

yup... as was said, 96/97 Opti is needed.

 

You will need a new one. the one from the 94 will not work

 

****!!! i was hoping i could just get away with shortening the dowel pin but i don't have a micrometer to measure the length of it.

SO.....does anyone have an opti from a 96/97 lt1 that they want to trade?? the one I have is from the gmpartsladi with about 500 miles on it.

 

now technically could I not use a file and micrometer and make the cam work by shortening the dowel pin or will it still not work?

 

The drive mechanism is completely different. 93-94 optis are spline driven. 95+ are cam driven and have a different timing cover, among other differences. No parts are interchangeable.

 

yeah it wont work. the timing chain is different where the opti slides in. non vented uses the splines on the timing chain in the middle. vented uses the dowel pin. the newer style chains dont have the splines.

 

well that f*ckin sucks

well here it is for sale if anyone needs a non-vented opti...https://ls1tech.com/forums/parts-cla...optispark.html