Don't buy an Accel. You would be better off doing nothing.

 

why do you say that? i just can't see myself spending 500 dollars on this thing plus my 450 tune that's 1000 dollars on a tune up that's terrible

 

I agree! Additionally, if you're having problems and are unsure of the cause (chasing your tail), it doesn't hurt to pull the Opti to be sure. Then disassemble the Opti and check everything internally. Most often you can see the problem (loose bearing, rotor screws, Etc.). And, if the Opti turns-out to be OK, you have eliminated one possibility and can move on the next possibility.

On the issue of 96Caprice here on the forum. His posts are routinely heavy-handed and often in-your-face. He also makes his posts personal in nature (if you don’t agree with him) and routinely attempts to diminish my credibility (me personally) here on the forum. So, do you guys there in West Texas know of a good charm-school we could send him to?

WD

 

I'm just saying that if you decide to replace the distributor, do yourself a huge favor and don't buy an Accel. Unless you have a compelling reason not to, go with an AC/Delco distributor. This should be identical to the GM/AC/Delco optispark.

If it were me, I wouldn't be changing it just to be changing it. Is your car running like a$$, or are you experiencing symptoms of a bad distributor? If it absolutely needed to be replaced, your car would be running like butt. A rough idle could be something fairly cheap, like plugs or wires.

But, like someone else mentioned, if you aren't doing the work yourself, it might be a good idea to go ahead and replace it now as you would probably be saving yourself some money on labor in the event it needed to be replaced in the not too distant future. If you have the luxury of doing so, you should buy some wrenches and do the work yourself.

But for the Love of GOD, if you decide to replace the entire distributor, Just Say No to the Accel.

 

ok ill take your word on this one im trying to save up the money right now to do this tune up and as for your question on how the car is running, at a stand still it idles rough not terrible but you can feel it, and the tach sometimes goes between 500 and 700 rpms at idle but when the car is moving it runs perfect no stutter no nothing it pulls strong. Thanks for your advice

 

So, tell us what you're planning to do. There is a lot of good advice in the thread. I would agree with everyone who suggested that you pull the opti and get some idea as to its condition, but I wouldn't just arbitrarily replace it.

Something else to consider, and this is usually based on a number of factors, is that a lot of people would recommend replacing the water pump if you replace the distributor, along with the associated seals in the timing chain cover. Do you have any oil leaks from the front of the car?

How many miles are on your car? Do you have any idea how old any of the various components might be, such as your water pump etc.?

 

well im probably gonna just replace the opti when i get the tune up done, and im probably gonna get a new water pump as well since it is recommended to change it, as far as i know the car leaks nothing there is never any oil under it or anything else, it a 94 z28 with 97,000 miles and its my daily driver so i put on about a 1000 miles a month to and from work and occasionally drives with a buddy but normally use my girlfriends car for any other driving.

 

i don't know exactly how old the components are i bought the car from a probably late 20's guy that i know never raced the car or beat on it, and he got it from his grandfather who always garaged the car and took great car of it, other than getting the rear end bearings done this car has been a great car i got it with 88,000 on it last in 2006, when i bought it they said they had replaced some parts and did maintenance on it at scheduled times

 

no accel bro just get the ac delco opti. cant go wrong with ac delco