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

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Old 05-24-2004, 11:43 AM
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Should I buy a new Opti from a GM dealer or would a rebuilt Opti from say O'Reailys work just as good?
Old 05-24-2004, 12:43 PM
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I JUST replaced one from the Pontiac dealer. I evidently got a great deal but there was also the option to buy the rebuild parts. If you opt for the re-man I would just get the parts and do it myself. I took my old one apart and it's basically just a funky distributor.. should be easy to re-man yourself as I had no problems re-assembling mine, altough I threw mine away without running it.

I took it apart to see if it was anything was obviously wrong with it since I was hoping to cure my current problem with the new one but couldn't find anything. It was also tested by the computer setup at the local tech shop and found to be good but I replaced it anyway -lol
Old 05-24-2004, 07:22 PM
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Buy a new one!!! If you have the money, I would go for the vented opti swap but if not, a new one will definatly be better than a rebuilt one. Jason Cromer is who you need to talk to and this is his info...

Jason Cromer: 877-726-8295 or 850-243-8826 (direct parts dept ph #)
email: parts@samtaylor.com
Sam Taylor Buick/Cadillac Ft. Walton Beach, FL
Old 05-24-2004, 08:25 PM
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Definitely go new.
Old 05-24-2004, 08:41 PM
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I bought a remanufactured one and a new cap and rotor. I saved like $150. I was going to the vented opti and decided it wasn't worth the headache.
Old 05-24-2004, 11:00 PM
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What do you have to do to convert it to the vented opti?
Old 05-25-2004, 02:06 AM
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Well you can look at it like this. With the one from O' Riley you get a lifetime gaurntee. While it wont be as good as one from the dealership you will only have to buy on for the rest of your life.
Old 05-25-2004, 08:44 AM
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Originally Posted by mrhawk
Well you can look at it like this. With the one from O' Riley you get a lifetime gaurntee. While it wont be as good as one from the dealership you will only have to buy on for the rest of your life.
Good point, so when that one goes out...I can get another for free?
Old 05-25-2004, 11:59 AM
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I rebuilt mine from Napa for a lil over 100bux.. that was over a year ago..and no issues... So I would say just go rebuilt and have the gaurantee I guess.
Old 05-25-2004, 01:21 PM
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Originally Posted by OneMeanZ
Good point, so when that one goes out...I can get another for free?

Yes all you have to do is keep the boxes and recipt if it goes out again take it in and say I need a new one and they will give it to you
Old 05-25-2004, 01:38 PM
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Originally Posted by mrhawk
Yes all you have to do is keep the boxes and recipt if it goes out again take it in and say I need a new one and they will give it to you
****, I just can't pass that up....If I need a new Opti I'll be going to O'Reillys for a rebuilt one.
Old 05-25-2004, 01:40 PM
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The entire opti (cap rotor and distro) cost me $371 and that was with a 80 dollar core charge
Old 05-25-2004, 02:08 PM
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Originally Posted by mrhawk
The entire opti (cap rotor and distro) cost me $371 and that was with a 80 dollar core charge
Did it work just as good as a new one?
Old 05-25-2004, 02:11 PM
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Yes it did
Old 05-25-2004, 02:34 PM
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The only problem is your replacing only half the problem with the rebuild units. The optical portion is the major problem child of the optispark, especially on the non-vented ones where the moisture build-up destroys them since its sealed.

To convert to the vented style, you can either swap cams (95-up cam have a longer dowel pin) or put in the longer dowel pin on your cam (this is a pain). You'll need the later model timing set and you will also need a new harness because the vented opti's have a longer plug. Alot of people just take the time to do an electric waterpump at this time as well.
Old 05-26-2004, 11:22 AM
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If you want to stick with a 94 style o/s, the 94 Impala SS were vented, also the IMP SS stock timing sets are stronger than the extreme duty sets, which require an upgrade to the 95 and up gear set-up. As for the buying the o/s, I get mine at Advance Auto Parts and each of the 2 I had bought had lasted me over 50k, All I get is the cap set and rotor, But I think I am due a new led module now.....$79. Granted, I buy there because my wife works there and we get a 20% discount, but it also has a limited lifetime warranty, NOTE- limited, same as O'Reillys.
Old 05-31-2004, 09:29 PM
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If Advanced, Auto Zone, O'Reillys, etc are selling A1 Cardone remans, then they are LIFETIME. Period. All A1 products carry a lifetime warranty. Working for Keystone has shown me many loop holes in the auto parts world

*edit*
also, if you go with a Standard Ignition cap, that's lifetime warranty stuff as well.

Last edited by DMNSPD; 05-31-2004 at 10:08 PM.
Old 05-31-2004, 09:56 PM
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i got one form oreilys and it did not fit correctly. we went to plug in the connectors and the pins were not long enough!!!! save the headache and go with the new one
Old 06-01-2004, 05:35 PM
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2 years ago i bought a remaned opti and a new gm cap and rotor, havent had a problem since. You also have to love the lifetime garentee of the renamunufactured unit!
Old 06-01-2004, 07:13 PM
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Originally Posted by 95greenmaro
i got one form oreilys and it did not fit correctly. we went to plug in the connectors and the pins were not long enough!!!! save the headache and go with the new one
Vented vs unvented (2 different Opti parts) so either you didnt know which one you needed, or the guy at the parts store looked it up wrong. The Vented 95+ opti has a longer plug in, than the prior models. Maybe you got a 94 year car (model 95) and it still had the old opti on it?



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