Quite Possibly The Worst Design In The History Of Automotive Design!! 1995 Camaro Z28

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[@davidstreling3690]

I had a 1975 550 suzuki cycle and the electric starter went out on it, the kick start still worked I went to sell it and I checked with the dealership on getting the starter fixed and they said well it is inside the engine so was going to be real expensive to fix lucky for me as I was leaving the mechanic came up to me and said did he tell you this should be covered under a special recall thur suzuki and I said no so later on I went back to the dealership and told them I read about the covered part due to the design and they then agreed to fix it for free,,,,,,,, whew

[@paisleyprince5280]

Good ol optispark. So glad that didn't go mainstream.

[@jthonn]

You got that right. Doing anything to those cars is a bear. Working on the LS will be easier than that thing. Although that won't be easy either.

[@I_Died_2_Weeks_Ago]

I'm almost 41, and one of the first things I ever done on a car was a distributor on a 94 Camaro when I was a teenager. I had to do it twice because I put the O-ring on incorrectly. Also, I learned to never use a claw hammer on a car during the same job as I punctured a hole in my radiator. 😂 Hey, you live and learn. 😂

[@WrenchingWithKenny]

You learned a valuable lesson early on. Thanks for watching 🔧

[@M1A4R8K8]

Thank you again, Online Uncle Kenny, for showing me never to work on a 90s Camaro. 😂

[@WrenchingWithKenny]

You're welcome! What a pain in the a** Thanks for watching & keep wrenching

[@philspear73]

I'm convinced engineers actively conceive of ways to torture mechanics.

[@jthonn]

In a way it helps mechanics, because the average guy that can turn a wrench can't work on them.

[@philspear73]

@@jthonn true but still a pain to the ones who have the facilities.

[@jthonn]

@@philspear73 No doubt Phil

[@ateamfan42]

Sometimes it seems that way, but mostly it is just a form of indifference. Deigns are optimized for easy initial assembly (because that saves costs). But if a part is unlikely to fail during the warranty period, there is no reason to make the design easy to service. The higher labor time (and therefore cost) of a design that is hard to work on is the customer's problem once the warranty is over.

[@hickorystx]

Evidently, the GM engineers had a sense of humor when they designed this mess!! Your patience is a virtue!!! Nice work!!!

[@Blackmajic21]

That was a design engineer that probably never worked on a car in life.

[@TheDavidFromTexas]

You just brought back nightmares from working on my old ‘94 Caprice

[@darinjohnson7280]

Perfect timing for this video! I actually have a 94 Formula in the shop right now that I have to replace the Optispark, probably been at least 15 years since I’ve done one, thanks for the refresher Kenny!

[@WrenchingWithKenny]

Nice! Glad I could help. Thanks for watching & keep wrenching!

[@TSpain]

Loving the project videos!!! Excellent Kenny!

[@bobby9195]

Good morning Mr Kenny hope you have a great day

[@jthonn]

Coming along nicely, good progress. You are a great mechanic Kenny.

[@GeekBoyMN]

In late 2007 I worked at an NTB doing oil and tires mostly. A blue Camaro similar model year with the LT1 came in for tires, and after I was done and took the keys back to the desk, the owner was talking to one of the service techs about the nightmare that Optispark had been to get replaced after the water pump soaked it. LegitStreetCars had to replace the Optispark on a Corvette and ugh the work involved just for a distributor.

[@venombob3364]

can't wait to see this thing smokin tires. I like this series alot. love all your vids but it's also cool to see you at home working on your own stuff to

[@glennfields8121]

Great job brother Kenny! You didn't let it defeat you. You have patience! I probably wouldn't have paused the video to use some choice words.

[@simonatkinson1107]

This is an excellent example of a car manufacturers idea of production line "efficiency"! Bolt everything to the block then you only have to mount the engine and connect a few pipes and wires. Last hood I took off I put 2 shelving planks front to back on top of the engine. This lifted it clear of the fenders. I then laid on old blanket on the floor at my feet and 'walked' the hood along the planks until I could tilt it and lower it's front edge onto the blanket at my feet. Then I could adjust my grip and move it to where I was gonna keep it.

[@WrenchingWithKenny]

That's a great way to get the hood off! Thanks for sharing & watching. Keep wrenching 🔧

[@teagreen2220]

Save the air pump and use it to pull vacuum through the motor if you ever go forced induction. Remember that LS seals are easy to blow out so atmospheric ventilation may not be enough if forced induction. I always had fun working on those water pump distributors lol.

[@lowbudgetbob1155]

Doing hoods by yourself is always a blast. I had to laugh when you paused the camera to say some bad words lol. I've never worked on an LT engine and I'm glad I haven't, bad words would have abound.That garage could use more lighting. I found some LED lights on Amazon (box of 10) that are relatively cheap and light my garage up real good.

[@alphamegaman8847]

The sad thing about that POS distributor, is the sheer number of people it would have gone in front of for design and manufacturing reviews, and it was not Immediately, Rejected! 🤨 Wow! 🤬 Total Homer design! DOH!!! Mike in San Diego. 🌞🎸🚀🖖

[@EnglishTurbines]

As a retired mechanical Design Engineer....Sometimes they let people design stuff who have no idea...I came across a few in my time. Some folk can make having a dump complicated. Here is an example of it in action....🤔😳🙄🇬🇧

[@WrenchingWithKenny]

So true! You would be the one at the design table saying "guys, guys, guys! We can put the distributor, water pump (insert part in a stupid spot) there. It's almost impossible to get to!!!

[@EnglishTurbines]

@@WrenchingWithKenny No Kenny, I'm on your side...lol....I'm older, I know things....😏🤔😏

[@papatomsthoughts]

Even to change a simple headlight bulb, on my wife's 2014 suburban, requires going in from fender well, dropping plastic fender lining, to get to back of headlight. Stupid stupid stupid design. Engineers should have to do a complete repair and service on equipment before becoming certified

[@davebigdog]

Is that design worse than the starter under the intake???😂😂😂

[@WrenchingWithKenny]

I would rather do a starter on a Cadillac Northstar that is under the intake than one on a Ford f150 with a 4.6 Thanks for watching & keep wrenching 🔧

[@dennissmith8199]

I have a 1970 Chevy Nova that I have been doing a complete restoration on. Started with a painted body shell in Feb 2023, been working on it almost daily for at least a couple of hours, and am still not finished. Getting close though, maybe in a couple of more months it'll be done. I hope whoever the engineer(s) were that came up with the LT1 were fired and exiled from the auto industry.

[@bricktop7803]

Yup, brilliant idea putting the distributer behind the water pump. No surprise the US does not make cars anymore with that design. All the cars are now German, Japanese and Korean.

[@norcal715]

Thank you Kenny! The GM OptiSpark was a horrendous design. What engineer (in their right mind) would put the distributor under the water pump!

[@markmiles9581]

Not so stupid, not great, but was for compactness. Used to service those in about an hour. The hardest thing was getting all the air out of the cooling system.

[@greggc8088]

Those reverse flow cooling systems allowed for a bit higher compression plus those heads flow very well and have the heart shape design seen in the Vortec heads so just leave the front distributor shaft hanging, add a 4 barrel intake, add a distributor where the cam sensor/oil pump drive is, and you've got an engine that's a bit more efficient than the previous small blocks.

[@craigtegeler4677]

The front end of the engine looks mostly like an LT-1 350, 350 HP to me and the dead give away is that stupid water pump for sure! The LT-1 in the year of 96 1/2 is my favorite because Chevrolet by then had most of the bugs worked out of it, especially on the police interceptor model. The engine would act like it had an inexhaustible top end and it would launch like nobody's business!!

[@WrenchingWithKenny]

In typical GM fashion, they stopped using that design 🤯

[@rogerrossman5124]

Most of the auto companies have gone to contract designers. They have no loyalty to any company and sometimes will do things like that as a way of giving the finger to the company they are at for the time.

[@WrenchingWithKenny]

I have never heard of contract designers. Mrs Wrenching complains all the time about 3rd party employees. They have no loyalty or any care about the customers. Thanks for the info. Keep wrenching 🔧

[@stevecmason-rs6vf]

So lucky none of the bolts sheared! Great video.

[@davidcraven277]

This is what happens when large amount senior engineers quit or retire the new people come write out of collage with no one to mentor them and they try to reinvent everything you can track this every 20 years they offer buyouts and retirements and start the cycle again

[@stevophillips4121]

Yep my buddies wife was looking at those year camaros and mustangs.....Took me along, being the car guy and their mechanic, I told her buy the Mustang, I won't work on a Camaro ! Not with the engine stuck under the cowling hahaha. Fords were more my thing, since I worked at Ford dealer, even being a "Chevy guy". Only Cam's I'd own were the '67-'69's Now her 2005 Calif Special Mustang 4.0 engine timing chains took a dump. Sorry I'm 8,000 miles away now in Asia haha can't fix their cars. Funny, after a year plus me being retired here in Asia, ALL their car's broke down hmmmm.

[@WrenchingWithKenny]

This Camaro design is horrible! I'm sure you don't see many Mustangs now. Where did you retire to?

[@stevophillips4121]

@@WrenchingWithKenny In the Philippines, going on 2nd year this July. Living with my Filipina & her 2 kids out in the mountain province. I have seen 1 newer Mustang here in the city, but its rare. Funny their Toyota taxis (like a camry) are ALL 5 speeds. And they have small cars and pick ups running on diesel here. When I got here, I bought a 4 dr 1997 4x4 Suzuki Vitara (a Sidekick in the US) Which is good for my area specially after a rain in this sloppy mud hahaha. It's dry season now,very little rain & water is a bit of shortage, but we have 3 wells to draw from, at the nearby "creek".. And we're sharing with a few other houses.Because, I have a gasoline pressure washer type machine pump it to our storage tanks.... Manila area is having a heat wave !! 120-125 F. Here it can hit 90 F tops, so a lot cooler at our place....enough ramblin' I could write a book hahaha.... 'Til the next time (vlog) Kenny, keep on "bending wrenches, and bustin' nuts" buddy !!

[@johnchapman3446]

I wonder how log it took the engineers to come up with the worst possible design they could manage to make?

[@kellyross4397]

Yeah find the bad words always work 😅

[@WrenchingWithKenny]

😂😂😂 keep wrenching 🔧

[@Toolaholic7]

Buick Roadmasters,Impala SS and the Caprice cop cars had this engine too.That distributor was a pile of crap,it went out a lot.I had to change one in a Roadmaster and the water pump had to be changed too.The bearing for the drive was junk

[@electrake2063]

@1:55, did you actually put the hood on edge on concrete?? No cardboard under it at least to protect the edge? THIS is why I do my own work! I watched a mechanic once pop my $400 set of chrome wheel centers off, invert them on concrete, fill them with lug nuts and skid them a foot or two on the concrete. Unreal!

[@tuckerizer666]

Kenny, I do believe the keyway in crank is different on that engine. Not just a half moon key like the original smal block. Check it real close

[@jcwindevillose]

Wow that’s crazy. Engineers never have to work on there designs or else that distributor would be in a better place

[@WrenchingWithKenny]

Right?! They could have made it without the distributor. Thanks for watching & keep wrenching 🔧

[@petermedera8807]

Please cover the mundane parts of the process - part of the reason we follow you. You could speed up the video if you find too boring.

[@todddiedrich9106]

It always amazing on how we remember what bolts go where but somehow we do

[@Jonhobbs64]

Water pump on those usually fell apart when changing the Opti spark also. I went through 3 of them on a 1995 Caprice police car but man that thing would burn rubber from a 20 mph roll with 295-50 tires 😂

[@roger5638]

Not an engine i'd enjoy working on....what a messed design !!

[@CajunShrek]

Not naming the water pump leaks on the distributor and short it out

[@ws2664]

Oh yea, I remember those LT1 motors, gotta love em.

[@donames6941]

Mercury mystique had a bad idal with the starter they put it on top of the motor under the intake, and the alternator wasn't fun either .

[@xxxxxx_1300]

Yeah i remember these water pump starts to leak and you wait to long to fix it you will have to replace that distributor too

[@dullunit2188]

In this video, it appears as though the power steering pump is driven by the backside of the serpentine belt? I've only ever seen the backside of the belt being used on idler/ tensioner pulleys. Learn something new every day.

[@stringpicker5468]

Why US based manufacturers became irrelevant in Australia.

[@WrenchingWithKenny]

I didn't know that. Which cars are popular there?

[@rickbatey1548]

Could you convert it to crank trigger and delete the distributor?

[@bobjohnston8316]

Having built chemical plants from the ground up I got use to the idea of prints that showed electrical conduits passing right through the middle of storage tanks and steam lines passing through refrigerated condensers and drain lines running uphill. Obviously, you do workarounds during construction to eliminate the idiocy but you can’t catch all of the valves, relays, access plates, etc. that are designed to be in inaccessible locations. Somehow the design engineers should be forced to live with their mistakes.

[@WrenchingWithKenny]

That's crazy! I'm glad it isn't just the automotive world. It's like the designers do "there part" as if nothing is ever going to break. Thanks for sharing! Keep wrenching 🔧

[@joemazzola7387]

On the G M x cars the distributor was low and against the firewall because they used a rear wheel drive designed four and turned it transverse 1/3 of the engine is under the dashboard

[@ronwilgenbusch1961]

2.5 iron duke in an Oldsmobile omega. Been there, done that. Distributor is completely buried under the intake facing the firewall.

[@user-zc6dn9ms2l]

that rusted union for water pump need fifth wheel grease

[@MUSTANGGT12]

What kind of vehicle is that? Trying to see but couldn't tell

[@WrenchingWithKenny]

1995 Camaro Z28

[@danp7463]

I've worked on an LT engine before. The easiest to change a w/p the crank pulley is held onto a hub with 3 bolt's. The worst part was the small reverse torx head screws that hold the distributor cap down.

[@itchegerton8004]

Kenny what YMM?

[@timd1833]

9:30 Grabin' the bull by the horns! 😊

[@ateamfan42]

Watching a professional struggle and try not to spew curse words makes me feel better about the language and frustration I exhibit in my own garage.

[@angelr8892]

Opticrap is one of the reasons I skipped from my 89 Formula 350 WS6 twin cat to a 98 SS.

[@EnglishTurbines]

Compare this engine to the one at the shop you're taking the timing belt off...🤔😳🇬🇧

[@BRIGGS2710]

theory: Engineers make things difficult, so dealers can charge more for hours. #backroomdeals

[@WrenchingWithKenny]

Or, the engineers don't care how difficult it is to fix because they're done #mechaniclife Thanks for watching & keep wrenching 🔧

[@BRIGGS2710]

@@WrenchingWithKenny maybe or probably both : )

[@dalelangila9274]

I would put the hardware in bags and tag it what it's for , cars were alot easier to work on in the sixties

[@nigelterry9299]

That design is even dafter than Citroen's! They give you 1 inch of space to remove a bolt 2 inches long.....

[@robertdiehl9003]

The ole' 5.7 opti spark location.....

[@rancherodan5152]

I have owned several Buick roadmaster estate wagons with this set up. Everything is great until you have to take it apart! evil angry little man designed this to get back at someone! what a horrible idea. insult to injury I have learned this if the water pump is lightly dripping on to the distributor that dex cool stuff will eat through the seals at destroy the distributor! its a two for one repair and have lived it several times in our roadmasters 350K miles.

[@juans6639]

Repeat after me; (G)arbage (M)otors!...(C)an (H)ear (E)very (V)alve (Y)elp.

[@WrenchingWithKenny]

😂

[@mckinleygoetz9855]

You have to love engineers

[@robertmassmann228]

If you think your is bad, if you have time watch the you tube video of a BMW N63 engine removal. Which I had just started back up to remove from the car since it is getting warmer. Have to replace the engine since I . 🎉the bad knock is caused by a very worn connecting rod bearing. I think real culprit was stuck open fuel injector putting excessive amount fuel into the oil reducing engine lubrication. When I first got the car, as a project, I drained 2.5 gals of oil. All I could smell was fuel.

[@buffystclair9042]

Guess I missed a video or two. I wished you said what car and engine that was so I can chase the guy off the lot before he asks to work on it!

[@MitzvosGolem1]

That was a dumb design..

[@perfpj]

There is a LT4 top end kit for this engine that is worth the investment for additional hp/tq. I put a CC305 cam in mine and wish I went with the LT4 kit. Long tube headers for this are fairly easy to find and are reasonably priced. You really want to swap out the oem ones, trust me.

[@ewconway]

I completely agree, one of the worst engine designs. The engineers must of been smoking some real good stuff when they designed this engine. 🤦‍♂️

[@danielclark5170]

Engineering stupidity at it's best, must have been a BMW engineer working at GM

[@jws3925]

What car is this? I must have missed some of the first ones he refers to.

[@stevea6722]

Cab forward design, the cowl covers half the engine. Say some bad words? Like we haven't eh?

[@RussellBooth1977]

I got pushed away from doing project cars as well & I can't get over saying that you're going to find out that the LS1 V8 engine is much better than the engine you're pulling out of the car !

[@DocZoidberg549]

Just got a 94 Z28. Had to do research on the LT1 engine. Oh boy, the opispark 😮

[@simike24]

If your pulling the engine why take the water pump off?

[@edmartin5654]

You really don't like this engine! I've heard you trash some designs LOL but this is on a top 10 list!

[@WrenchingWithKenny]

It's on my top 3 Thanks for watching & keep wrenching 🔧

[@DaleKratzsch]

Doing front brake rotors on 2005 4x4 colorado Pull the steering knuckle and unit wheel bearing to do your brake job. Retarded. The front axle created the need for this I think, but boy what a two weekend mess unless you’ve done it before.

[@gregleenyit]

Not a great design...not nearly as bad as everyone makes it out to be. What are your plans with the old engine?

[@user-ij3vx3nx8f]

Nothing should go into production until the engineers take it apart and put it back together in the vehicle, these SOB’s design this garbage then sit back and laugh at us

[@christinamoneyhan5688]

That whole engine set up is asinine. Way to go GM. Keep making things impossible and your Chevy fans will soon be gone totally.

[@rsmith3033]

take your car n 4 a tune up $4,000 dollars later 😡

[@tomrogers952]

This typical GM

[@user-yq4hn8hf9q]

Jeeesh

[@leonardhirtle3645]

Deposit the LT1 engine in the scrap yard where it belonged from day one.

[@rustypeckerheads7263]

Ford used frount mounted distributors on there flat head V8's and tractors

[@ianrace4066]

That thats as stupid as GM running the front drive on my tbss threw the oil pan.

[@Justiceincorporated.]

Are fleet vehicles easier to work on?

[@Jimbo171000]

What kind of car are you working on?

[@ronlind1757]

87 Chevrolet Camaro

[@michaelrevers8067]

36,000 miles is all that needs to go thank you GM that is why I only buy Toyotas

[@watsisbuttndo829]

GM engineers year end barbeque..."Lets take a time -proven, reliable, cheap, easy to maintain design and replace it with an unnecesarily dificult to work on unreliable, expensive PITA for no obvious advantage, that'll really piss off those mechanics". " your drunk Jim, but my daughter was knocked -up by one of those greasy bastards so im in!". "

[@daveblevins3322]

Every career has that one dude that you know without a doubt, cheated on his exams. Just sayin' 🦜🦜