How to remove the OptiSpark Distributor on your LT1 & LT4 Corvette

[@johncunningham60]

One thing about you guy...you got a great attitude about this project.........nothing is not that bad..! LOL

[@clydemoreno7330]

everything is "not that bad".

[@ghostreaper1081]

Thanks man, you saved me about 800 in labor cost on my fleetwood LT1!!

[@dolnick7]

Best video I've found on KZbin about this procedure. Thanks for posting.

[@johnpittman7928]

This is one of the most detailed and comprehensive videos I've ever seen👍👍👍

[@Joahnnes87]

Did the same work on 1 hole day on my 92 Corvette, last week i repaired my pop up light on the driver side, nice work 👍🏼

[@adriantarngriffin]

Many thanks. Invaluable to see it done before actually doing it.

[@georgehgordy1690]

At 8:36 after you separate the pulley from the balancer it can be removed from the crank & pulled off the motor and out of the car if you twist then turn it while leaning the top & bottom in or out depending on the position of your crank.. It's a hard puzzle to figure out but once you do it will be easy to repeat... No hammer required, just A LOT OF SWEARING... LOL.. I know because i just put an opti-spark in my 96 LT4 Corvette.. Great upload Ben this video helped me out a lot so i thought I'd add what i learned in the process.. Thanks again.. George

[@canadacatalyst]

you did that job in 10 mins! that was quick!

[@mrgozz2780]

Excellent tutorial , you made it look so easy , well done ..... and thanks

[@cecilfreeman6147]

Thank you! I understand that this is a common part that needs to be changed? I like your idea to divert the weep hole from the water pump

[@shawnbauman5463]

I love how people complain about these things. They really are NOT that bad to change. Time consuming, yes, difficult no not compared to many jobs on newer cars. You just have to remove a lot of stuff, not unlike ANYTHING built anytime since the 90's. Best way to get the balancer off is to get under the car and beat on the inner part of the balancer with a pry bar/hammer. No issues off in a couple minutes at most.

[@TheCorvetteBen]

+Shawn Bauman agree with you 100%

[@nickyjam770]

Shawn Bauman i can change optispark in under 2 hours in an F body.... that is with a beer break... changed over 100 optispark.

[@bradharper9282]

Way easier than the intake gaskets, I think so anyway.

[@rubyred93chev]

*Yup Ben,* my Opti-spark is needing replacing on my '96 Corvette convertible, (and two water pump gaskets which must have been the culprit)? Trust me, the price my dealership quoted me wasn't bad considering(😲) it was just over $1000 bucks. Great video(wish I was in Texas right about now).

[@jeffneil8111]

Great video my friend cause i cant even get 2 corvette shops in Phoenix to even look at c4 .so here we go.man mines a 93 convertible i hope i can get the harmonic balancer out.thats my problem wobbly. And im changing it all.

[@larrysmith5581]

Great idea putting drain tube in WP

[@AJTwitchel]

this is a sweet video thank you. my brothers camaro has been having issues starting up and i think this might be it

[@portagepete1]

I would have liked to see inside the cap and how bad was it running? and what the spark looked like entering and exiting. but nice video, Thanks.

[@project9320]

This video is gold. Thanks so much.

[@featherleclair4925]

best video on KZbin, helped a lot now let me go put this distributor on lol

[@featherleclair4925]

what

[@TheCorvetteBen]

pocket text comment lol

[@euelallen2714]

Great video , very helpful, i greatly appreciate you!

[@rickturntosender892]

Can you show me how to tap in water pump hole to add a line so water pump don’t leak on distributor?

[@clydemoreno7330]

a seep hole is already there. just get a little plastic fitting and attach a rubber hose, run it around the opti. I used a small fitting from a sprinkler system and about a foot of 1'8 inch rubber hose.

[@TheMrmmkkpro]

Doing my buddies 1995 LT-1 , what brand did you use and how is it working? I own a 1990 ZR-1 and had to put a water pump on ye ole LT-5 , everybody wanted 500.00 plus 30.00 for the gasket , i found one on ebay , assume made in China for 53.00 with gasket. When i got it i couldnt believe how nice it was. That was 11k miles ago , so moral of the story , dont write off Chinese parts , hell i could buy 9 of them for the cost of one everywhere else. Nice video , thanks for posting , well done.👍👍🏁🏁

[@archibaldlafferty7407]

Great job explaining the process of changing Opti Spark, are you a mechanic by trade, you seem very knowledgeable about LT4

[@1eyedwillie]

We made that center powdermetal part with the orings back in the 90s. The stem inside the opti has to be ground with a certain lead. Unfortunately, the previous supplier of this part ground them incorrectly causing the opti to draw moisture into it.

[@TheMrmmkkpro]

Nice video, thank you, what brand opti did you buy and how has it worked? Excellent info.

[@El91637]

Great video. Nicely edited. Thanks.

[@frankcava8073]

All that to change the distributor????? Holy crap!

[@alirezashirazifard8990]

Thank you great video i do appreciate it. What brand optic spark did u used ? All i hear is they all suck . Except Petsie brans . Thanks

[@johnsmithth3318]

Yeah done that pita job . Things to note, the keyway on the opti to Cam also remember the position of the balancer. Also to get the balancer off the front cross member is in the way (kind of tricky ). An alternative method is coil packs up top.

[@TheO21790]

I'm looking into doing that conversion soon. Not cheap, but easier to maintain in the long run.

[@uptonfg]

Thanks for the video bout to tackle this job on a mint 93 vette

[@hydroplaneconvoy8130]

👍🏽wish I was as brave as you

[@uptonfg]

@@hydroplaneconvoy8130 really wasn't such a bad job

[@21bkier]

I've torn almost everything apart but just wanted to make sure I do the last part correct. It's honestly and easy job just very time consuming and annoying for one part lol but I've seen so many people swear changing and optispark is super hard and takes a true mechanic with years of experience, not true at all

[@jeepguymb45]

So 2 o rings go on the smaller spline ? In addition to the water pump spline ?

[@usaf20071989]

why does everyone remove the throttle body? am I missing something because I've seen many people do it without taking it off

[@clutchdog]

I was wondering this myself because i have to do this to my LT4, and would rather not take the throttle body off if not necessary. (edit) After looking at it again, i think he did it to replace the vacuum hose underneath. It might be required to access the clamps?? I don't really know.

[@sdcoinshooter]

When you had your water pump out, did you consider swapping it for an electric? I am thinking about doing that for my 95

[@WarriorsPhoto]

Good video. Have you used the MSD version? If so is it a better design?

[@alirezashirazifard8990]

No I had to replace it twice . Too expensive not worth it at all. Buy petsie brand

[@georgehgordy1690]

the spark plug wires are the ones that came from the factory on it so i'd say yeah that was the original opti-spark

[@deankay4434]

Although electronic components are used, they are in a hostile environment imaginable. The smaller bottom hose is a clan air inlet, while to top hose is a calculated vacuum leak. Every time a spark occurs, the atmosphere’s molecules are change. Oxygen is ionized into ozone or O3. This gas is removed by evacuation and needs regular inspection for proper operation as hoses can fail, plugged by techs, or deteriorate and come off. The electronic chosen are the highest quality and live in a hostile environment, yet fail over time. The emission regulations force on all manufacturers to reduce emissions by CARB, caused every engine designer to use 360 laser cut slots in a stainless steel disc with another row to provide crankshaft location signals to provide performance yet emissions as well. This design started in1992 in the Caprice, RoadMaster and the Corvette providing accurate ignition control and reverse flow coolant systems alone that added 12 HP. ASE Master Tech since 1978 / Retired

[@markgoralnick3040]

Great vid. Thank you for doing that!

[@CaseTheCorvetteMan]

Hope you kept that original, those are incredibly reliable and almost never ever fail. That one has the original Mitsubishi sensor in it. New Petris cap and rotor, and a new bearing, you're good to go with a perfect spare.

[@FFCasale]

What an outstanding tutorial dude!! Very thorough. But, what a piss poor design by Chevy....huh!?!?! Thanks for the terrific info!

[@zeushernandez2449]

Dam u mines well replaced everything u took off n do the timing chain n go whit high Pre-Foreman’s parts even the cam shaft

[@rossschultheis8098]

Do you have too set the timing on the optispark? I keep reading mixed things you don’t have too because it’s controlled by the Ecm and it only goes on one way . Reason i ask is because I’m only getting 15 inches of vacuum that indicates low timing i would appreciate your feed back i have a 1992 corvette low miles brand new optispark

[@joeyalfaro2323]

Mine stuck limp mode had oil in optnispark reader. 2 oil rings on shaft failed. For some reason my water pump bolts started wheaping at end job. I put rtv on bolts called day. Crank shaft pull fell off no extra tools. I put cheapest unit eBay had. Mine swaps out blind folded with one hand behind my back. Use carboard to place bolt pattern parts punch each bolt click wise as they go. I have Caprice way more room in engine bay.

[@gideoncone6024]

Brilliant idea to use the cardboard

[@griffn14]

That's a looooot of work!

[@jasonpalmer1828]

When you put it back together does it have to be at TDC?

[@phchallenger0941]

May be a stupid question, but should I disconnect the battery first?

[@1deadly187]

This video makes me happy to own a crossfire...

[@shotimeplayer]

why wouldn't you go with the msd opti? did you change the seals on the timing cover while you had the pump and opti off? also just a little note that tb does not need to come off.

[@TheCorvetteBen]

MSD was twice the price of what I bought, and it didn't have as long of a warranty as what I got. Also heard things about them being crap out of the box. Timing cover seals were changed.

[@shotimeplayer]

Yeah I heard the same about the msd, but I went with it anyway on my f body and had no problems. the main reason I went with it was because it converted mine to the vented opti.

[@marcusweathers5867]

Vette just blew mine last night..is 1300.00 about the right price for r.n.r. please advise? That was quote

[@goldenmanuever1176]

I did this before on an LT1 Camaro - 16 years ago. I honestly don't remember removing any crank pulley.

[@MICKSHRED]

Same here

[@workingshlub8861]

lt1 is a good motor but ignition system ruins the whole thing.

[@brianmenendez]

this will be the third time I have had to replace this stupid optispark crap system, I will never wash my car engine again

[@Bbdrew]

use a steam cleaner. I completely took my blackened grimed engine bay lt1 z28 I got for $1600 that sat for 3 years to a nearly spotless engine bay in about an hour. All using a crappy harbor freight $80 steam cleaner, some spray degreaser, and basic wiping down with simple green and shop towels after steaming. Much safer especially on optiplop cars.

[@spacemonkeyfive]

So true!

[@coreythomas7225]

great video watched this to change my opti

[@georgetaylor9501]

Very Well Illustrated

[@cervezatorres5700]

Would it be the same process for a 96 Buick Roadmaster LT1? Mine hasn't failed yet but I know it will at some point since the car has almost 200,000 miles.

[@jerplane400]

Awesome video! Thanks!

[@sclebo05]

Those bearings sound crunchy!

[@MrMany2811]

I s this the same as the 1985 Corvette with the lt1 engine ,i just got one of this vettes today i was itching for one ,body is clean interior is good ,well i paid for it bout 5 blocks down the street it died , didn't want to start up ,i don't know much bout this cars but i k ow my way around cars ,so i replaced the battery ,started up then died again didn't want to start ,i messed with the cap and wires and she fired op ,drove home bout 2 hours i got up to bout 95 mph ,she ran good ,go home then the Vette idles really rough ,shutted off then no start ,took cap and rotor off ,rotor was looks bout to fall off and smocked,replaced new rotor and cap ,coil looks need ,she fires right up but runs really rough,don't barely cranks if hot ,where can I get an optispark i am thinking this is my issue,do i have the coil on the front too or only the one on the cap ?

[@brandonkierzek6633]

what size socket to remove the balancer

[@IntoThePromiseLAND]

+TheCorvetteBen Thank you very much for this video, do you have any recommendations of how to better seal/protect the opti from moisture? this is the second time I'm having to replace it in 4 years....

[@TheCorvetteBen]

If you have an early opti (1992-1994) you need to upgrade it to a vented style (1995-1996). That is the best thing you can do.

[@moodberry]

@@TheCorvetteBen I have a 92. So, is it as simple as just putting a 95-96 on, or is there a conversion process also? In other words, can I just order the 95-96 psrt and directly replace the 92 opti part?

[@CPAJayhawk]

I tried to change it on my 93 Z28 years ago and I couldn't get the crank pulley off... Had to tow it to a shop.

[@stevemadak6255]

Hope you changed out the cam seal while you were in there.

[@ziggylothbrook8644]

is there any safe way to clean the engine I have a 95 and all the cleaning it's ever had is vacuuming the motor and wiping down. already replaced whole ignition once for 1k and I don't want to screw it up(no i did not use any water lol) any help would be appreciated it's only got 42 clicks on her and I want to keep it forever

[@nickyjam770]

Al Sipes The only time I wash an LT1 is when I'm changing the optispark. Pressure washer.

[@mrdeanv4414]

Ok so I pulled the little spark plug looking wire from the optispark that goes to the coil and turned the motor over and I have fire using a test light.. ok so I replaced the plug wire back in to the optispark and I pulled the front drivers side spark plug wire and placed the test light in the plug wire and turned the motor over and the test light wouldn't light up... would you say the optispark has gone bad?

[@clydemoreno7330]

check your computer for trouble codes...if you get a H16 code the opti is bad. If not it might be something else.

[@kavinskysmith4094]

Man talk about frustration: The Job, also at 7:09, is that a chalk mark from the factory over there that says 95?

[@michaelpark5589]

Big help Thank you sir

[@danielortega6122]

why did he remove the throttle body for... its not in the way.

[@demikpre]

KeweKrypto 12 lol chill he was just asking a question

[@ozzstars_cars]

It's a pain in the ass job. Replacement Optis are mostly considered junk.... it's a shame. Good info shared in your video. Take it easy - Glen

[@TheCorvetteBen]

Mine has run pretty well so far. Got mine from Sac-City Corvette, just because it came with a 2 year warranty. Just wait until the next C4 video Ill put up. I have a clip of what I find inside the original optispark!!

[@ozzstars_cars]

In a few days I will be in Bowling Green Kentucky at the National Corvette Museum and then tour the factory where the C7's are built. I'll let the higher ups now about the Opti issue haha

[@huskybrushape]

TheCorvetteBen Is the Sacc City optispark still running good? About to replace mine, trying to decide between Sacc City one or Petris. Thanks

[@mrdeanv4414]

My optispark on my 95 Lt1 impala has 2 vacuum lines at the bottom of the old optispark and the new optispark has only 1 place for a vacuum line at the top of the optispark... can you help me please?

[@raymundteguibon8952]

What brand of opti did you use

[@dolaward]

If you have one you can trust, how much does the dealer charge?

[@msladek1385]

My car won't start anymore after a failed brake stand attempt on my 96 LT4 manual. It won't even crank over. The battery is good, electronics all come on, but no crank. Any idea if it's the optispark?

[@TheCorvetteBen]

Does the engine turn over? Does it sputter and try to start? or when you turn the key you get nothing?

[@msladek1385]

TheCorvetteBen I get nothing! Thanks for your response!

[@TheCorvetteBen]

make sure the battery connections are tight and not loose. That is number one, next make sure the car is all the way in park. You can also try to start it in neutral.

[@msladek1385]

TheCorvetteBen it's a manual..could it be the clutch switch?

[@TheCorvetteBen]

+msladek1385 yes, there is a safety switch on manuals as well

[@ronaldwarren5220]

Another nice job.

[@meepmeep3018]

Idk what the issue is but my balancer will not come off no matter how hard I pry and it bent my puller.

[@rushtk2112]

Thank you!

[@rickwhoo1]

I have a 93 with 98,000 miles on it and my water pump is leaking. Should I replace the OptiSpark even if it works fine?

[@TheCorvetteBen]

No don't touch it, because good aftermarket optis can be hard to find

[@alejandrourrutia1613]

CORVETTE LT1 can drive raining for the optispark?

[@drjohnsonhungwell5115]

What brand Opti are you running ?

[@hershalgroundjr585]

Man I got the three bolts out of the pulley and the darn harmonic balancer seems to be stuck on the hub

[@kevinoconnor6323]

Great video!I have to do mine.Can you Ben or anyone else recommend a good optispark to buy?How about these new one s that say OEM.Thanks guy's.

[@johnsmithth3318]

Yeah you'll have to pay a little more but get the msd

[@alirezashirazifard8990]

@@johnsmithth3318good luck with MSD

[@dateatorjr9671]

I wonder how many people on the design team ever had to change one? The opti makes me appreciate my L98 and not want anything between 92-96, ZR-1 excluded of course lol.

[@dannysayez]

yah, and how many times have you ever had to take apart the 4 piece (of shit) TPI bolt together intake manifold ? On the Corvette, the wiper motor has to be removed to get at the rear most lower runner bolt on the driver side. Removing the wiper motor is a BITCH in its own right, just to get at one TPI bolt. The valve covers also have to be removed to remove the runner tubes and upper plenum in order to get at and remove the fuel rails in order to change injectors. I can hardly wait to replace my restrictive wrap around long runner L98 TPI manifold for an LT1 style set up, without the Opti Spark of course !!!

[@clydemoreno7330]

great video ....but no need to remove the TB....if you dont want to.

[@AlexHernandez-sc4vg]

How long did the whole job take?

[@williamcasper3236]

Alex Hernandez 24 years

[@chinoperez422]

Wat screws exactly do u put loc tite on

[@drjohnsonhungwell5115]

Chino Perez loctite on the rotor button screws

[@chevycaprice5289]

@the corvette Ben will a bad distributor make my engine cut off when it warm up

[@TheCorvetteBen]

it is a possibility. Lots of things can cause the optis to go bad. Usually it is a combination of heat/water.

[@chevycaprice5289]

I have the LT1 in my 94 caprice will since it's going bad will it make my engine cut off at a certain temp

[@emilnordberg1411]

hi, did you try replace that distributor and did it help? bc I am in the same situation right now..

[@joshuakeith8710]

Mine went out in my 94 just while driving down the highway. Same symptoms as running out of gas. Sputtered then ultimately car died.

[@robertsmith1768]

I'm watching videos on how to do this because the opti in my '96 LT4 is going bad. I don't live too far from you and I'm thinking I may just see if I can pay you to do it. I'm a lousy mechanic.

[@rensoestrada8144]

Hey so does the timing on a optic spark have to be like the regular distributor you know like cylinder 1 and 6 on top death center or the optic spark just have one certain way to get it install with out messing with the timing I'm just Curious about it

[@TheCorvetteBen]

IT has a key way where it mounts, and also only bolts in one way. The only way you can get it wrong is to put the plug wires on the wrong spots, BUT even those are labeled on the housing

[@lourdesangelicadesantiagor2874]

very good

[@tomz9c1]

Why would you remove the TB ?

[@MrMisanthrope1RBjr]

i dont think you needed to take the throttle body off

[@GlycerinZ]

i didn't need to

[@alonzahanks1182]

I just learned theres a antifreeze drain plug on block just above the oil pan on block on LT1s

[@Pbeezy4]

Wish I knew this a week ago

[@C4VETTELT1]

You 1,000% DON'T have to take the throttle body off!! I've done a few optisparks and never pulled the throttle body!

[@nickn390]

Question for everyone please don’t roast me... what engine has the distributor behind the water pump? LT1 or LT4 or both? What engine type could be in a 95 without this problem?

[@TheCorvetteBen]

All LT1 engines and LT4s

[@charlesdyer2376]

Smack me if I ever think about buying a corvette.

[@papabeargarage]

Thats why I am researching before I buy.

[@jsg6058]

They're wonderful cars otherwise. I bought my 92 with 55k miles for 5K 9 months ago. Love the thing, great driving car, super comfortable. I'm here because i'm getting a code H36, which everyone says is the Opti. My issue is a barely noticeable miss at steady RPM. hoping it's just a plug or coil wire.

[@MacLaw3084]

Charles Dyer idc im still gunna

[@danimal7713]

You can get to the distributor without taking off the throttle body.

[@GF-km9lv]

What problem does this cause

[@LiveWireFLP]

More worried about the intake manifold gasket lol.

[@fleetwin1]

Holy Shnikes! Why the heck would engineers put the distributor there. Like you say, prone to moisture and damage from leaking antifreeze. I can't imagine this is a cost savings, was there no room under the hood for the standard distributor? I guess all that EFI plenum stuff got in the way.

[@qwerty-dm8gr]

it was so the plug wires could be hidden under the engine and to shorten the length a bit.

[@tonywhite8162]

Go ahead and put in the electric water pump when doing this. Very easy and stops all overheating.

[@michaeljohn8995]

you didnt degrease all the shyt with the opti off?..attempting my opti today :/

[@TheCorvetteBen]

+Michael John Oh I sure did! This videp is just to show you how to remove it.

[@michaeljohn8995]

nice...im starting mone as i txt lol..soo much grime

[@GlycerinZ]

how did it go? Looks like I need to replace my cap and rotor

[@michaeljohn8995]

Glycerin It wasn't all that bad. I replaced plugs and wires and the water pump shaft seal as well as crank seal? I think. All while the water pump and opti were off.. oh and the coil for the hell of it.. now that I took it apart id say its hardly dreaded. Just looks intimidating..will be getting painted now by next week hopefully.

[@GlycerinZ]

Was it running poorly prior to that? How does it run now?

[@stricklandgarageaviation2864]

Don't throw the old optispark away. there are companies that can rebuild them. This way you save the OEM reader.

[@lt1_sam78]

What would be a good replacement distributor without spending $500? Hah- Need to do this on my Lt1 Camaro.....

[@illstatenolove]

Skipwhite.com look up there optis

[@ixlr8677]

why did elvis wade here remove the throttle body? i hope to clean it.

[@MICKSHRED]

When I had a 94 z28 over 10 years ago, I replaced it with the msd version, it was like 400 or so. Ha