Should I buy an LT1 Camaro?? Optispark
10-02-2012, 10:37 PM
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Should I buy an LT1 Camaro?? Optispark Looking at LT1 cars.
Found a mint 1996 LT1 Camaro, red, 70,000 miles. It's a beautiful car that has been well taken care of.
Reading this form has made me paranoid about the optispark going out and leaving me stranded.
Should I have it replaced just becasue?? Or wait 'till there is a problem??
Or drive it like I stole it, and not worry becasue the Opti deal is blown out of proportion??
Found a mint 1996 LT1 Camaro, red, 70,000 miles. It's a beautiful car that has been well taken care of.
Reading this form has made me paranoid about the optispark going out and leaving me stranded.
Should I have it replaced just becasue?? Or wait 'till there is a problem??
Or drive it like I stole it, and not worry becasue the Opti deal is blown out of proportion??
10-02-2012, 11:07 PM
#2
I bought my 93 with 88K miles on it.....Original Opti. I've put over 20K more miles on it and haven't had one hiccup. I'd buy it, drive it like it's any other car and just be conscious that it "could" be an issue. It's no different than a crank sensor going bad on a car and causing it to leave you stranded on the side of the road. Just like every other car, you need to be prepared if something happens. The newest LT1 powered car is 15 years old. They're bound to wear out eventually. I would't be concerned about the Opti until it gives you reason to be. That's just my opinion.
10-02-2012, 11:38 PM
#3
A well taken care of, garaged car's opti will likely last over 150k. Some people have seen over 200k.
Just steer clear of rivers and don't powerwash it and you'll likely be fine. Dont mess with it until theres a problem.
And if it does go out for some reason, its about $300-400 for a new unit (don't buy aftermarket) and it can be switched out in an evening or afternoon with simple hand tools. You're likely to spend more money on a car with shot tires than a car with a bad opti.
If it runs well, I'd say pull the trigger and don't look back!
Just steer clear of rivers and don't powerwash it and you'll likely be fine. Dont mess with it until theres a problem.
And if it does go out for some reason, its about $300-400 for a new unit (don't buy aftermarket) and it can be switched out in an evening or afternoon with simple hand tools. You're likely to spend more money on a car with shot tires than a car with a bad opti.
If it runs well, I'd say pull the trigger and don't look back!
10-03-2012, 12:17 AM
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+1 to the above... Seriously the optispark is an excellent distributor that does a great job. It gets such a bad rap mainly just because of where its located. In reality it will almost never be an issue in the entire life of the car, they can go forever on some cars, or go early on others.
Just be careful not to get it wet. It's a good idea to tap a small vacuum fitting into the weep hole on the bottom of the water pump and run a hose away from the opti. That way if your wp ever starts to go, the coolant won't weep all over your opti and you'll be able to see it right as it begins.
Just be careful not to get it wet. It's a good idea to tap a small vacuum fitting into the weep hole on the bottom of the water pump and run a hose away from the opti. That way if your wp ever starts to go, the coolant won't weep all over your opti and you'll be able to see it right as it begins.
10-03-2012, 01:10 AM
#6
Is there a reason youre looking at lt1 cars? Just curious.
But yeah, the opti isnt as bad as you may think. I had to replace mine due to carelessness from somebody i know, and im pretty sure a lot of optispark failures, are also due to carelessness. If youre set on an lt1 car, id say go for it. Not a lot of these cars with only 70k miles.
But yeah, the opti isnt as bad as you may think. I had to replace mine due to carelessness from somebody i know, and im pretty sure a lot of optispark failures, are also due to carelessness. If youre set on an lt1 car, id say go for it. Not a lot of these cars with only 70k miles.
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10-03-2012, 01:42 AM
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10-03-2012, 02:23 AM
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It's hit or miss even with a new opti sometimes... I put a MSD billet opti in my 383 car and drove it like 20 miles, parked it for a few weeks, started it back up, and the opti was bad lmfao. May have just been a bad one, or my buddy may have forced it on wrong because I remember him struggling trying to get it seated.
In any case, I got a brand new replacement under warranty, put it on myself, and haven't had a problem for the last year.
Bottom line is, don't worry about it for a second. When or if it goes, which may be never, spend the money on a good one with a good warranty, do the job right, and that's that. Nothing to fret about or keep you from buying a car, just do it.
Lt1s are still going strong kicking the *** of the majority of the little wanna be racers on the street
In any case, I got a brand new replacement under warranty, put it on myself, and haven't had a problem for the last year.
Bottom line is, don't worry about it for a second. When or if it goes, which may be never, spend the money on a good one with a good warranty, do the job right, and that's that. Nothing to fret about or keep you from buying a car, just do it.
Lt1s are still going strong kicking the *** of the majority of the little wanna be racers on the street
10-03-2012, 07:27 AM
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The predominatnt opti failure problem is actually not the opti's fault at all, most of them are due to a water pump failure that dumps coolant all over the opti. and distributor would fail if you completely flooded it. In all honesty, and optispark is one of the more precise units available. The other big failure for optis was due to ozone buildup in the cap, and this would cause corrosion, on a 96, this has been dealt with in the form of a vacuum venting system. so really, you should be prefectly fine, really you should be checking the pump. and if you see dampness around it, or mositure form the weep hole, you need to replace it.
I actually made a little umbrella for my opti a while back, simply got a form a funnel, put two little holes through it and simply put it on the lower studs of the water pump, put nuts over top and then formed it to make a scoop that channeled water away from the distributor in case of failure.
I actually made a little umbrella for my opti a while back, simply got a form a funnel, put two little holes through it and simply put it on the lower studs of the water pump, put nuts over top and then formed it to make a scoop that channeled water away from the distributor in case of failure.
10-03-2012, 08:15 AM
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I have a set myself up with a $5,000 budget. I could spend more, but I don't want to stretch myself too thin. Of course I have looked into an LS1, but they are quite a bit more then that, around here anyway. Even LT1 cars here are pricey compared to what I have seen.
Here is what I am looking at.
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/an...311422241.html
Here is what I am looking at.
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/an...311422241.html
10-03-2012, 01:22 PM
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Please please please go buy that car. Holy gorgeous! Don't worry about the opti as they all said it is overblown on how bad they are. You won't find another LT style Camaro in that shape very easily.
10-03-2012, 01:31 PM
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dont be scared of the opti,.. but when replacing never use MSD, accel or the cheap brands... only run the GM opti and loc tite every damn screw in it... the MSD opti is garbage and so is the accel... MSD makes great wires, coils and digital ignitions... optisparks... not so much...