So after bringing my car to speed inc after getting frustrated..I had them install a few things like electric cutout and window switch and a couple others as well which were nice installs... as well as diagnose my issues with headers glowing and backfiring out intake etc... They couldnt find the problem.. They told me they thought valves need to be adjusted but I assured them they were fine. I said if valves are fine check the opti and if its on right then check to make sure cam is lined up.. So they ran the car on the dyno and checked tuning and stuff and they were baffled.So after spending 1000 dollars for the installs and diagnosing they basically told me it was something internal and it would be too much to diagnose and Im better off picking the car up..I was pissed. So i picked it up drove it down the street looked at my dyno sheet and said "Wow" this looks and feels like ignition break up I never noticed it before how it was acting. So I think to myself IM gonna try one last thing before I part this POS out. I had an extra opti even though a new one was on the car and guess what.... It was the F***ing opti spark. Drove it around all night.. Car hauls *** 1st and second gear are useless on a street tire...So after two hours of labor. No more header glowing no more low vaccuum. No more stupid *** loss of power and backfiring out the intake. I actually felt good though that I found the problem and not the shop. I was starting to think I didnt know how to work on cars anymore. I didnt give more than 3/4 throttle all night and didnt bring it above 5k rpms but i raced my friend in is e46 m3 from 60-100 and put 6 or 7 cars on him. The faster we went the faster i was pulling away...
NOW FOR THE BAD NEWS
So the opti I used was my friends used one..I have been up all night, and we were driving to Byron to run his car and Speed inc rented out a lane and I wanted them to be shocked that my car was there a day after I picked it up. So I brought the car to like 5k rpms in second and BAMMM!!! it started missing real bad and all sorts of ****... But this as happened before to me and it was the opti before so im guessing his used opti that has been collecting dust for the last year didnt like high rpms. I checked the cam dowel length and it was in spec so i dont think that ruined it.. I think it was just coincidental. So I will be taking "my" opti to the dealership since its still under 12 month warranty... So i guess the best thing is that after a year of this new motor waiting for it to come and all the BS Ive been through it finally ran right...I WAS SO DAMN HAPPY...now i need to find a balancer that sticks out the same as stock because this new one I got sticks out too far and is eating up belts... So just two things i gotta fix and the car will be good to go

 

Yeah the opti does suck *** on these cars, that's the one major downside to the LT1.

I'm having a problem I'm beginning to think is the opti as well.

 

Yup I have seen Opti's right out of the box(as recent as a month ago) with loose screws. I have had them burn caps in less then a miles and just about every thing I can think of.

Sounds like the one you put on just needs a cap and rotor

And for the Balancer? Sounds like you put a 92-95 Hub on. they are longer then the 96-97 hub because of the Crank sensor wheel

Good luck man!

 

This is my 5th opti

 

Congrats on finding it, and sometimes u know, u just wanna say...F*CK Speed Inc!

 

opti is a great creature

 

I'm glad you finally finished that bitch. Now you have to drive ME around everywhere since MY car is down. =P