Strengthening opti spark distributor LT1 SBC

[@NJRangerGeorge]

Another good thing to-do is seal around the cap and any gaps so coolant or oil can't get in .

[@dandilts3213]

Ok, it’s not pronounced “A SELL” it’s like accelerate. The first five letters of accelerate “ACCEL” pronounced “AK SELL” I agree with what you are saying about the quality of the parts. I’m about to do an opti spark distributor replacement on my 92 C4 convertible & I appreciate the info you put out. If it weren’t for you who knows how long mine would last before I’d have to do it all over again & it’s no small task to replace it. Your right about not thinking the opti spark would be the problem after it was just replaced. I already replaced the fuel filter thinking that was it. So thank you for making this video. Just know it’s very much appreciated!! I’m going to follow your suggestions, locktite & JB weld. Outstanding!!

[@michaeladkins8750]

Dude this is such a great video, I'm so fed up also with the optispark always failing. Will definitely be loctiting those rotor screws but not sure about the jb weld. The truth is, if your car is failing just go to the optispark before chasing ghosts everywhere else around the car

[@Jpilgrim30]

Opti isn't as bad as it's made out to be. If you have a gen 1 opti convert to a gen 2 with the vent and use an original Delphi unit.

[@Altermyego-]

Hey B- thx 4 your video. It opened my mind as to "build it up". I know exactly where you are coming from with the opti.

[@oillife2115]

Kevin yes sir they can be a headache but I just can't get away from them when I modify them just a little they work pretty good

[@utoobube]

Solid info, bro! I've never seen one do that before. Thanks for the video!

[@oillife2115]

you guys are quite welcome I'm glad you guys tune in

[@keilylmm6377]

Great tutorial. I'll have to look into my msd Opti spark that I bought. I bought it because my entire ignition system is msd.. in my 94 Pontiac Trans am LT1.

[@ThatNoFbody-ch9ky]

What was ur issue I’ve had the whole msd ignition set up for a bit now with the msd 6al and it’s been pretty good for awhile now

[@nicotoscani8270]

Another issue with these distributors other than the problems you’ve mentioned is the sensors. All non original optisparks have non Mitsubishi sensors that are very prone to failure.

[@felixsoto5807]

MSD was the worst I installed it on my 95 LT1 and immediately started having stalling issues got a ac Delco and so far so good

[@nickoD509]

Same here on my 96 Z28 383 stroker. Then the bearing went out on it months after the 1st warranty work done by them. Its crap. Probably try the AC/Delco.

[@noewood61]

Nicko D Im having the same issue with my 96 383 stroker with the OPTi second optispark this week smfh did u find a fix for the issue

[@ThatNoFbody-ch9ky]

Idk about y’all but I have the whole msd ignition set up w the msd 6al and it runs beautifully never had no problems w a mezeire electric water pump never had a issue

[@vox1966]

My 1993 camero pace car has a msd it’s coming out shit product never again

[@cecilfreeman6147]

I see that this video is now five years old. How well did you fix work? Anything you would do different if you had to do it again?. Thanks CW

[@oillife2115]

I sold the car 2 years later if you run in the Carhartt this is what you need to do

[@CaseTheCorvetteMan]

Mate if you're still struggling with this issue you need to get yourself a Petris and probably never look back. Chris is a top bloke and knows his stuff :) That touching the sensor issue is common on the cheap ones usually, but often they do it only when the rotor screws back out. I rebuild the OEM spline drive 92-94 version using the MSD cap and rotor which adds venting. I haven't ever had to rebuild a 95-97 version so i haven't ever opened one up and i don't have any here. I did a 94 Corvette just yesterday and it had a dead Chinese spine drive in it, the rotor in those is so shit i am surprised this one lasted two years. One screw was still tight, the other was almost backed out. Funny enough, the cap on those black coloured Chinese cheap shit distributors isn't too bad really, the rest of the assembly is GARBAGE, and you're right, no love going into that. The OEM factory fitted unit in my 93 lasted 29 years and was still working fine, although the bearing was my main concern, and when i swapped it out the bearing was damn near impossible to turn by hand.

[@liljohnbarton]

Just purchases a petris opti im hoping there name holds up.. This is definitely not a job you wanna do multiple times. Not to mention the cost of them. I will also make sure I have no coolant or oil leaks..

[@jtome84-91]

@@liljohnbartonhow is the Petris working out ?

[@liljohnbarton]

@@jtome84-91 5000 miles and still no issues.

[@joeyalfaro2323]

I was in same boat figured I see numbers on spark plugs someone already changed it cool. Stock in limp mode, oil got reader from shaft oil rings failing. Mine is pleasent experience I even make my own water pump gaskets. I bought cheapest eBay one I could get. But I baby my motor.

[@GlycerinZ]

Looks like I'm starting to have issues with my Opti.. damn POS part AND a pain in the ass to get to.

[@truthurtzjc]

First mistake would be buying one that isint Ac Delco or Delphi.... We are all guilty of it..... We get what we pay for, however we may be able to get away with a off brand cap & rotor but not the optispark. Very informative video btw thanks bro.

[@oillife2115]

Eric I believe you missed out on a quite a few videos there are three parts to this video 🤦🏽‍♂️

[@oillife2115]

They're all the same Chinese junk I've dissected all that you can think of I want to say after 2000 they stop being American made

[@terrencesteele444]

Just shim the sensor up or down under the screws to get correct gap

[@oillife2115]

What Are you having trouble with?

[@formula73]

Thank you, goddammit. When GM started selling remans only, they fucked us all.

[@oillife2115]

formula73. yes ur right

[@recklessvector8886]

What electric water pump is good for the opti

[@1607rosie]

Check that damn ignition module too need that AC signal to the module(1-5) volts. can you put a thin shim under the opti module.?

[@oillife2115]

No I would not do anything extra other than what I did

[@leoamaya1818]

I'm lucky mine has been good for 6 years & I have an ac delco back up.

[@oillife2115]

Leo Amaya that is very good that it lasted six years for you some people get lucky like this because a good friend of mine his lasted quite a few too I'm not so lucky I've been buying junk even though it's brand new it's still junk to me but everything is working out good now I haven't had any issues lately

[@leoamaya1818]

Jus drove from N.Y to Texas & still! My opti in 2022 still working flawlessly 😳 My 94 has a vented one & the check valves are still doing their job. I patiently wait cause it’s been 12 years so far. I still have my back up ( AC Delco with that Mitsubishi emblem inside ) I installed a Napa fuel filter inline from the valve cover to the throttle body & on the D-side I kept the pcv valve ( AC Delco ) I keep it simple “ Take care of her & the black pearl will take care of you “ To think that she survived the N.Y elements. Program your cooling fans too & 160 degree thermo for summer 💯🇺🇸🥃

[@leoamaya1818]

Mine just took a dump, the back up is ready.

[@eddielyons353]

do you seal the outside from moisture intrusion with rtv or anything?

[@331fox82ut]

Bean Oil, how well did your modified opti hold up?? looking to get into my first lt1, and seeing what works for reliability.

[@oillife2115]

331fox82ut. Good it really works

[@331fox82ut]

I ended up picking out a petris enterprises unit, still need to put it all back together. Long live the lt1

[@marlenerush2787]

I need 1 for my C4👌🏾

[@casualtactician9537]

Does the metal spacer ring go on top of the disc usually my older ones have the metal spacer ring on the top I just bought a duralast gold opti that didn’t work and that metal spacer ring was on the bottom or the disk

[@oillife2115]

No that little teeny disc goes underneath

[@oillife2115]

It shows you it has a one little hole and has a cutout like a you it falls in place

[@fasterthanaturtle]

Thank you for the video. Have you ever diagnosed the AC Delco? GM dealership parts I think the "LOVE" might already be in there.. But not sure

[@felixsoto5807]

Thank You for this video

[@steffanerodriguez258]

Are u making it to heavy for rotation. I'm trying to understand why you had to change all these. I know they beat but that's a lot 9

[@oillife2115]

Steffane Rodriguez it works it really works it's not heavy at all

[@armando8127]

I just took mine off from 96 corvette. Last one got water all over it. I got ac delco cap and totor but unit did not come w distributor. Since it is just a magnetic sensor, i believe the distributor is ok w water intrusion. Is this accurate? I will put some silicone between the 3 components and the new screws have a little bit of loctite. I cant use a spark tester w the vehicle torn apart but it would be great to test the distributor b4 putting it back together

[@BaritoneOneFive]

Is there a better quality aftermarket optispark available? Mine is still original at 145K miles, and I see changing it at some point in the future.

[@chinoperez422]

Hey im replacing mine for the 8th time in like in 9 years . But i wana try this. Do u add jb weld on top or bottom of the disk and also how is it holding up

[@oillife2115]

Yes definitely try this if your mechanically inclined it works it holds up very well but it's so many different ways that this distributor can go wrong and I figured it out

[@chinoperez422]

Thanks . Yea ive never opened one up but i will this time . Mine has always broken the rotor off . Thats what the machanics would tell me

[@oillife2115]

@@chinoperez422 do you see it for yourself sometimes you can't trust mechanics especially if you don't know them like that that's what makes it difficult if you do your homework then it makes life easier

[@chinoperez422]

Damn right . One machanic showed it to me and as crazy as it sounds the distributor had pretty much snapped. But im tired of paying labor and now that i got way more knowledge about it and with ur tips i hope i get it done myself

[@chinoperez422]

So i take the disk out or just leave it in and add that jb weld on top ?

[@5sapaches25]

I wouldn’t put any thread lock on those two little screws because you never know when you have to replace the cap and rotary. Thread lock on screws that size would make it difficult to takeoff or easy to strip the screws. I prefer simply tightening the screws.

[@f86fman]

Use blue, not red threadlocker and screws will stay put but you can remove later.

[@terrencesteele444]

Use blue locktite it's a antivibration product.

[@mattbuck9586]

Hey buddy I got the LT1 and a 95 Firebird and I'll look online and ship man in in a lot of people are saying it's a timing and stuff like that but dude dude sent me a distributor cap and rotor button and everything to replace the one that was on there already so I honestly think it's the distributor sounds like it wants to fire up but it's not getting a spark I don't think it's out of time so you think it could be thedistributor

[@oillife2115]

Hey what's up buddy what's going on did you buy a distributor off someone used is that what you telling me and if so do you know anyting about going inside of the distributor?

[@keitriksavala]

Its the coil mine did same thing

[@JonBoltinghouse]

+Jameel Spradley...thnx for the video. I feel ya bro. just changed mine and my wounds are healing but my body feels like I went 3 rounds with George Foreman Sr.

[@oillife2115]

Jon Boltinghouse lol yes

[@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?

[@MisterMayhem727]

Who makes the A cell one's ? I haven't heard of them.

[@oillife2115]

I believe they all made in China

[@oillife2115]

There is nothing American-made Hartley

[@oillife2115]

Look up the company delphite do a little bit of research and see if they make it that's American company

[@morrowdavid30]

Have you ever had one bad straight out the box ? 95 impala starts up fine runs good for 5 minutes then lacks power like it's missing it a duralast gold brand new

[@Reaperhydraulicstampa]

Sound like someone was getting murdered in the background 😂😂😂

[@oillife2115]

😥🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@tomalvarado306]

have you ever got a p1371 code have a 97 trans am and trying to narrow down the problem

[@michaelthomas-cq9xv]

So did you FIX it ??

[@oillife2115]

Yes and it works

[@tyrell8732]

have u ever had a problem with moisture when it rains my car won't crank when it drys it crank this the 4th distributor I've had put on my caprice in suggestion

[@ultra78721]

You mean when it rains it turns but does not start? And when its dry it turns and starts please advise I thin im having the same problem

[@hasbeengood]

Thanks man!

[@oillife2115]

hasbeengood yup

[@nikreece7955]

Do u rebuild and sell These

[@oillife2115]

I have five of them for sale

[@mrstanskaggs1]

is your disk warped? Maybe if warped it touches the slot sides..

[@kirbyyasha]

Damnit... I just installed a "re-manufactured" ACDelco, I wish I would have seen this video first. Not a fun job...

[@oillife2115]

kirbyyasha I'm glad this video is a help because I have bad experience with dealing with these distributors meaning once you make a purchase and you get it home and you crack it open and you see a screw missing or even the screws loose that's a problem so I began building them making sure everything is tight

[@marktheristal]

Jameel Spradley Whats up? I was thinking about this while watching your video. Does the LT1 blocks have a camshaft retainer plate that keeps it from pushing forward? Just a thought. I recently purchased an LT1 block. I thinking of rebuilding it soon, but if this optispark deal is a problem, I at least would like to rectify the problem before proceeding with the rebuild. I will use the loctite method you mentioned.

[@oillife2115]

Marley Taylor no you're good do your build do not let nothing stop you or encourage you yes to camshaft has a retainer blocking it from going forward

[@marktheristal]

Jameel Spradley Great! Thank you for the inspiration. Have you tried the Summit Racing brand optispark? I was researching online and read so good reviews about it. I will continue with the rebuild. Only thing that has me saying out loud "STUPID", is the fact that the engineers positioned the opti right next to the water pump. I overstand the hood clearance issue, but still though.

[@U2Jaime1317]

@@marktheristal convert to electric water pump and it will never leak again. Also the engine won't drive the water pump anymore (hence "electric") and your engine gets some more power since it has one less drive to deal with. Look up videos about it. It also keeps the car running more cool since the electric water pump is at a constant volume unlike the OEM water pump which only pumps depending on how many revs the motor drives it to. It can also cool your car while it is off since it is electric (can stay on while key is on run position). Horsepower, cooler engine, no leaks... for 280 bucks? Come on now get to it!! A new OEM waterpump that will eventually leak and go bad or this amazing mod Meziere WP118HD

[@brandonherrera2891]

So if we are doing a LTCC conversion, should we still loctite?

[@oillife2115]

Brandon Herrera yes sir I am so sorry for getting back so late but yes you want to use Loctite because what I did was chop the tail off the rotor and still use half of a rotor definitely Loctite is a good idea

[@brandonherrera2891]

Well crap, I already put the opti in lol. I just connected all the plug wires and coil wire, plus coolant sensor and she started up. Mounted the coil packs. Now, waiting on my plug wires. Thanks for the response!

[@crislopez2946]

@@oillife2115 how do I do the conversion I got a 1995 lt1 caprice

[@oillife2115]

I'll be so busy throughout the day you guys I try my best to put up great videos unanswered questions not enough time in a day but I will post another video soon as possible it's going to be based on how to sell the unit sometimes with silicone or no silicone

[@leebo490]

💯

[@acrock21]

how did that jb weld work out?

[@bigdiesil75]

crank seal and pump seal will leak and cause them to jump spark

[@eddielyons353]

and also, i have a 1994 roadmaster. will a 1995 cap work ? good video bro!

[@kennethnation381]

Eddie Lyons the 95 cap should work but make sure to plug the vent if your 94 opti isn't vented, I think they switched to vented optis in 95 but I could be wrong

[@knation92]

Ethan Eliachar but you can't do that or you make a vacuum in the cap and could bend the rotor, the vented opti has a vent in the opti housing also so the air can come in and go out of the opti so the water can be drawn out of it if it gets in, switching to a vented opti means you need to change to a 95+ timing cover, timing set, and camshaft or pull the pin out of the 95+ camshaft and put it in you 93-94 camshaft because the pin for 95-97 is longer

[@felixsoto5807]

Went through all the stuff you were talking about electrical fuel pressure compression check can’t be the freakin distributor sure enough it was Then MSD refused to own it bastards $400.00 just thrown away

[@oillife2115]

meant to say seal

[@carbonfiber117]

Does the computer detect this ?

[@midnite1717]

carbonfiber117 it doesn't detect the screws loosening, but the mark that is left on the timing disc will set a high resolution failure code, and turn on the check engine light.

[@oillife2115]

carbonfiber117 you are right my friend it sets off a cold sometimes not all the time because I had to situation with my car acting like it had a bad fuel pump when it was the distributor the whole time the car kept turning off like if it was losing gas so of course I'll put my gas gauge on and it ran fine there's a few other weird things that can happen but the tip of the rotor was barely on that is why it was acting like that

[@fahqto]

i have a 94 vette they are a bitch to replace compared to the other gm models theres a dam piece of frame directly in front of the the bottom pulley its possible i have put two on in 16 yrs i hate that job

[@redman58fla]

Anyone tried this new to the LT1 game

[@workingshlub8861]

NO do not use loctite inside those..the issue is water getting in and wrecking them not anything coming loose.

[@VroodenTheGreat]

yeah the part has the warranty, but who wants to pay 1500 bux or spend 6 hours to R/R a bogus part?

[@nosyfree]

Isnt this guy the go to college guy what are u doing with your life guy no no do it right now😅

[@oillife2115]

What's going on family did you get your car running

[@nosyfree]

​@@oillife2115yeah I got it running your video helped on getting more knowledge on the optispark

[@7x779]

ALL, ALL, ALL, aftermarket Optis are garbage, because NONE, NONE, NONE of them use the factory Mitsubishi sensor. They ALL, ALL, ALL use cheap Chinese counterfeits. Mitsubishi will ONLY sell a minimum of 10,000 units at a time, and even GM waits until they think they can justify selling 10,000 refurb Optis before placing an order. I even tried a 800.00 MSD "Billet" opti, put the whole motor back together, and the MSD opti was BAD out of the box!!! Took it apart, looked at the sensor, and obviously cheap Chinese JUNK. Called MSD 'engineer" who could barely speak English, and confirmed the Opti was bad, but gave me this BS about using "their own sensor". Folks, it's crap. Furthemore, if you use any type of aftermarket ignition CDI Booster box, you're asking for more premature failure, as higher voltage risks more failure. I actually had one burn a hole, strait through the cap where the coil wire plugs in, and short out to the back of the water pump, so badly, it got to the point the car would not even start or run! Conclusion: Keep to stock OEM GM opti. Use a manifying glass, and make sure you see the Mitsubishi logo on the sensor. And don't use a spark booster box.

[@oillife2115]

Buell Ah call right yes sir you are absolutely right that you are get back to you soon

[@oillife2115]

Buell Ah you are absolutely correct my friend yes sir absolutely Chinese junk