WTB...Opti Spark for 94 LT1

[Steves94Z28]

Hey, anyone out there have a decent used Opti for a 94 LT1? Looking for used or even one that needs rebuilt.

[chrizar]

I have a good vented gm one for cheap if your interested. 40$

[Steves94Z28]

I have a good vented gm one for cheap if your interested. 40$

Chrizar, that's a good price but I think on the 94 LT1's, weren't they non vented? I'm not financially in the position to swap it over...wish I was though. Maybe someone will correct me if I'm wrong?

[93formulalt1]

Chrizar, that's a good price but I think on the 94 LT1's, weren't they non vented? I'm not financially in the position to swap it over...wish I was though. Maybe someone will correct me if I'm wrong?

94 was non-vented.

Speaking from experience here, you need to get quality parts from the get go. Don't cheap out, buy used, or get one of the off the shelf remains from Autozone. You'll regret it. Ask me how I know.

Only way to do it is to do it right, and unfortunately, on these engines, that requires shelling out the coin for the Delco Opti. Nothing else comes close as far as longevity or quality, and the factory units are not user-rebuildable. It's usually the optical sensor that fails, and the only source for a quality replacement is directly from Mitsubishi, who refuses to sell to ANYONE other than the OEM. if I'm not mistaken, one of the aftermarket pieces were rebuildable (accel or MSD, can't recall which), but even they don't quite stack up against the Delco/Delphi parts as far as "known not to be DOA 50% of the time".

[98blackbeauty]

You may find a used one because someone swapped out because of problems, you can get rotor and cap replacement parts but that is not what fails, like Nick said usually its the optic sensor or the circuitry associated with the optic sensor. They also can give you very intermittent problems. Fail when hot ok when they cool off. Voice of experience.

[chrizar]

I don't know what it takes to swap one over to vented, but i can't imagine it's honestly that hard. I rebuilt my old opti and still going fine 10k+ later and beating the hell out of it. You can get away with going used but it can bite you in the ass.

[Steves94Z28]

Thanks guys for the information, i appreciate it. i think from what i have been reading, to swap from Non Vented to Vented requires a Vented Opti obviously, Timing Cover from a 97 and im thinking a different cam, although im not 100% sure about the cam....

[93formulalt1]

Thanks guys for the information, i appreciate it. i think from what i have been reading, to swap from Non Vented to Vented requires a Vented Opti obviously, Timing Cover from a 97 and im thinking a different cam, although im not 100% sure about the cam....

The dowel pin in '94 is shorter than that from the newer LT1's with the vented opti, so you would need to replace the cam as well.

[ryanwarby01]

dynaspark makes a vented opti for 93-94 cars, but it's not cheap. www.dynaspark.net

[meissen]

The dowel pin is just pushed in from what I understand, so you may be able to swap the pin but I don't know how well the results will be.

[Steves94Z28]

Sorry guys, I forgot I had this thread and started a new one.

[Steves94Z28]

I don't know what it takes to swap one over to vented, but i can't imagine it's honestly that hard. I rebuilt my old opti and still going fine 10k+ later and beating the hell out of it. You can get away with going used but it can bite you in the ass.

Chrizar, what brand and where did u buy your rebuild kit?

[93formulalt1]

Chrizar, what brand and where did u buy your rebuild kit?

Problem with rebuilding is the Optical Sensor. The Mitsubishi optical sensor used in the Delco/Delphi parts is NOT available to ANYONE except Delco/Delphi. Mitsubishi has refused to sell to any of the aftermarket Optispark manufacturers, and the Mitsubishi sensor is the ONLY quality sensor out there that has proven reliable. If you buy a rebuild kit, it either A) Doesn't come with a replacement optical sensor, or B) Includes a cheaper, lesser-quality sensor of unknown origin. Regardless, you WANT a QUALITY part. I'm going through my own private hell right now, I have a '94 Formula, and I've replaced the Optispark 6 (yes, SIX) times in the last 12 months. All of the cheaper, aftermarket options have failed prematurely, and I'm left with a car that STILL doesn't run right. If I had it to do all over again, the Delco, even though it cost twice as much as the aftermarket part I bought, would have paid for itself in reliability and the savings of not having to replace the damn thing 6 times.

I'm just sharing my opinion here, anyone who knows me can attest to the fact that I love F-Bodies, but have given up on the platform (LTX, at least) due to the headache that is the Optispark. Buy the best part, don't settle, because while initial costs may be lower for the cheap part, you WILL pay the difference later on. I just don't want to see you make the same mistake I did.