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

Ignition??

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 2, 2006 | 06:02 AM
  #1  
Paul Bell's Avatar
Thread Starter
That's MISTER MODERATOR
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,616
Likes: 65
From: NYC
Default Ignition??

I made a trip to Canada about 2 weeks ago. Like 1,400 miles total, the car ran flawlessly. There's this annoying driveshaft vibration around 130...

I park the car and had a real busy week work wise. The next time I want to use the car, about 10 days had passed. Dead battery. Stone cold. HUH, I must have something drawing power. Jump it, it starts right up, I let it run good and long to charge the battery, no probs.

After doing this, it runs like crap. It's like there's a plug wire off. All looks good. I have a new vented Opti with the MSD cap, rotor and coil with about 3,000 miles on it.

Is my cap & rotor shot allready? Is this the expected life of these things?

It's such a bitch to change that I'm considering the LTCC system.

Any pro's/con's aside from cost?
Reply
Old Jul 2, 2006 | 08:32 AM
  #2  
James Montigny's Avatar
11 Second Club
iTrader: (13)
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,843
Likes: 0
Default

The LTCC still relies on the optical sensor in the opti.
Assuming it's good, you will be fine.

Double-check all of the plugs (fouled?) and wires for cuts and burns first.
It's a pain in the butt, but it may save you some cash.

Did you happen to run higher octane fuel on this trip?
Reply
Old Jul 2, 2006 | 12:38 PM
  #3  
Paul Bell's Avatar
Thread Starter
That's MISTER MODERATOR
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,616
Likes: 65
From: NYC
Default

Yup, the Optical pickup is still used with the LTCC system.

I'm in the middle of changing plugs to the NGK TR55IX jobs.
Reply
Old Jul 2, 2006 | 03:32 PM
  #4  
Paul Bell's Avatar
Thread Starter
That's MISTER MODERATOR
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,616
Likes: 65
From: NYC
Default

So I've completed the spark plug change. What a bitch! 6 & 8 are best started from under the car. Some of the plugs were somewhat oil fouled.

The car runs a bit better but the problem remains. It's dead from a standstill yet gets better with the higher RPM's. I'm getting no SES codes. WTF??

Looks like a call to Bailey for the LTCC is in line for Monday.

Guys, anything else I should look into?
Reply
Old Jul 2, 2006 | 03:56 PM
  #5  
ShadyPhi's Avatar
On The Tree
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis, MO
Default

on your driveshaft vibe note....you still using the stock steel LT1 driveshaft?? If so, those are known for their vibration issues. Switch to a 1LE or LS1 alum driveshaft or get a custom one.....
Reply
Old Jul 2, 2006 | 06:03 PM
  #6  
James Montigny's Avatar
11 Second Club
iTrader: (13)
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,843
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by Paul Bell
The car runs a bit better but the problem remains. It's dead from a standstill yet gets better with the higher RPM's. I'm getting no SES codes. WTF??
Your wires all look fine I assume?

and have you checked the air filter? (You'd be surprised how many people don't)
if they are fouled, it's probably running rich.
Reply
Old Jul 2, 2006 | 08:16 PM
  #7  
Honda Hunter's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,401
Likes: 0
From: The beautiful Kingdom of Bahrain
Default

I have a feeling that after normal driving for a couple of days itll be fine. My car doesnt run very well if the battery has disconnected but after a couple of days it's smooth again.
Reply
Old Jul 3, 2006 | 12:55 AM
  #8  
Paul Bell's Avatar
Thread Starter
That's MISTER MODERATOR
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,616
Likes: 65
From: NYC
Default

I have a friend with a blown '66 Impala producing about 750 HP. He twisted and chopped up his drive shaft pretty good, causing an additional $4,000 worth of chassis, body, tire, safety loop, exhaust & transmission damage. It was supposedly a 3 inch steel shaft good for 1,500 HP. One fine day, I'll upgrade to a new steel shaft with the larger joints, I just couldn't trust an aluminum shaft.

The air filter is about 1,500 miles old. I'll check it but I don't think that's it.

Yup, the plug wires look great, Taylor Thundervolt's.

Loss of battery power caused loss of memory? I thought about that but again, I have my doubts.

The car does run better with the new plugs at higher RPM. Seems everything below about 3 grand has a miss/stutter/stumble.

Next, I'll hook up a fuel pressure gauge to see if that's the culprit.

As I now recall, during the period that the car sat, we had two very hard rain storms here in NYC. While the car is covered, it's still outside. Maybe some moisture worked it’s way into the Opti?

Thanks for the suggestions so far boyz....
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

10 Reasons Daily Driving a Swap Project SUCKS! (& 1 Reason to Do It Anyway)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

6 Gifts Neither Your Dad Nor Grad Will Shove Into the 'Trinket Drawer'

 Brett Foote
story-2

Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-9

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
Old Jul 3, 2006 | 04:23 PM
  #9  
Paul Bell's Avatar
Thread Starter
That's MISTER MODERATOR
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,616
Likes: 65
From: NYC
Default

OK, I found the problem. # 5 plug wire laying squarely on the header tube. I run them on the L/S under the header so even while changing the plugs, I didn't see it. I only caught it by seeing the spark in the dark. Burned it right to the core. Replaced the wire, wrapped it with some heat cloth and I'm back to melting the BFGDR's.

HOWEVER, I still hate the Opti system and the hokey way the wires run from the cap ('specially on the the R/S) so I'm still seriously considering the upgrade to the LTCC system. I like what I've read posted here about the performance/reliability gains and it does look sooooo cool.

Now, if only Turbo Bob Bailey would email me back...... Does anybody have a phone number on him?
Reply
Old Jul 4, 2006 | 08:19 AM
  #10  
James Montigny's Avatar
11 Second Club
iTrader: (13)
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,843
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by Paul Bell
OK, I found the problem. # 5 plug wire laying squarely on the header tube.
Hope everything runs nice and smooth for ya
Reply
Old Jul 4, 2006 | 12:01 PM
  #11  
Paul Bell's Avatar
Thread Starter
That's MISTER MODERATOR
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,616
Likes: 65
From: NYC
Default

Yeah, it's running good again. I'm onto doing other things like a new CLS, water wetter and fixing lamps. Every other lamp socket I touch needs replacement. How do you get to the front side marker lamps?

Thanks fer the help guys.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:53 AM.

story-0
10 Reasons Daily Driving a Swap Project SUCKS! (& 1 Reason to Do It Anyway)

Slideshow: 10 reasons daily-driving a swap project might not be for you. Or is it?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-17 09:39:05


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Gifts Neither Your Dad Nor Grad Will Shove Into the 'Trinket Drawer'

Don't get dad new socks or a grill brush this year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 14:55:56


VIEW MORE
story-2
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

Slideshow: We take a close look at the ONE and Artidiag 800BT2 diagnostic tools from Topdon and the reasons to buy one over the other.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-18 10:26:23


VIEW MORE
story-3
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

Slideshow: The controversial Ferrari F6 swaps its original flat-12 for a Corvette Z06-derived LT4 V8 and sends power to four rear wheels through a custom-built drivetrain.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 18:23:54


VIEW MORE
story-4
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

Slideshow:These GM engines didn't just make huge power, they survived abuse, boost, track days, and six-digit mileage with a reputation for refusing to quit.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-21 16:45:27


VIEW MORE
story-5
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-6
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-7
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE