LT1 Optispark Distributor Replacement 

It is three bolts on the front of the hub and it comes off.

@shonwheeler9125 it doesn’t just “come off” you need to get a 3 prong crank puller and pull it off.

My thoughts exactly. Trying to pry this off atm

I wanted the owner to use a better quality optispark but they got the cheap one. I never thought about the electric ones not having a weep hole. That is a good upgrade to do as well.

Yeah these give a lot problems and a lot of people are actually going to the LS engine coils on these now to get rid of the optispark. It makes them easier to work on and better spark.

@@operationoverhaul thanks for the advice👍🏼 great video by the way.

I agree as well. The customer is the one who ordered the part and I told him to go with either an oem or the msd one if he was going to do it.

@@operationoverhaul From what I've researched since last week when mine started going out the oem and msd opti's are hit and miss these days as well. For 700 dollars for an msd or round 300 for a delco I elected for a cheap amazon myself for now was thinking and looking into the 411 swap but just want to get it back on the road reliably for now. I'm probably going to look into rather then using the whole new one try and clean up the optical and clean it out use cap and rotor from the new and see how it goes. Not opened it yet may just need the cap and rotor anyway I'm thinking it is a distributor after all. Started having the stall while driving issue

Not a dumb question. I had already put full strength coolant in the car and was diluting it with water. You typically want like a 50/50 mix of water and coolant in your system.

Need coolant so insides dont rust up just mix it with distilled water not tap water

After removing the three bolts, I just tapped it with a rubber mallet and after a couple taps it came right off. No puller was needed.

Is the oil on the opti spark

@@operationoverhaul well it's on the plug wires but I think it's dripping down from the water pump seal

​@@operationoverhaulyes it's on the opti I'm goin t change the seal behind the pump and behind thr opti I am scared to do the crank seal 😂

So it just started to throw those codes after you changed the optispark?

Yeah which Makes me think it's something to do with the optispark or that harness. But here's where it's confusing. So everyone knows that the original "Mitsubishi" optispark sensor is the best one to have that I've known. So my old cap and rotor were shot the thing had a crack all the way down it. So I purchased the entire optispark from autozone it was a duralast gold. I put that in put everything back together and that's the first time it threw those codes. So I read on a camaro forum that the old Mitsubishi sensor inside were the best to have. So I took everything off again and took the duralast optispark apart and put in the Mitsubishi original and the slotted wheel thinking this would change what was happening with the codes. Got it all back together it starts good at cold start then starts to idle a little rough or vibration just as it did when I put the duralast one on and still has the codes. So I don't think it's either sensor in the optispark otherwise it wouldn't start like that and at least seem like it's going to run like a beast. So I'm stuck I changed the sensor and plug for the crankshaft that didn't work. I've tried moving the harmonic balancer thinking that was off point or that something could still be off point on that. Then I'm thinking it's a ground that I could have accidentally hit or moved and was old and came loose during the first tear down or the harness could be messed up or a bent pin on the new harness for the optispark. Or just plain out that the crankshaft position sensor is faulty. I haven't checked the harness yet. I've looked at some of the wiring. And I've checked on the camaro forums etc a few people have had this issue unfortunately you never get to see a solid outcome or solution lol. So hear I am, have you seen this problem or have an idea it's driving me insane.

I would check the grounds to make sure that there is not one loose, broken, or corroded. Then if that checks out good, I would check the signal on the crank sensor to be sure it is reading correctly. If I remember correctly it can only see a - 10 degree to a + 7 degree range. If it bad I would pull the sensor and use a flashlight to make sure the reluctor wheel is not broken or missing pieces and also check the connections to the sensor.

How do you check the signal to the crankshaft position sensor? By the wiring harness I'm guessing. That sensor is new and the plug but that doesn't mean anything your right I'm definitely going to check those. I've never thought about checking the reluctor wheel but that makes sense. I'll definitely let you know have you seen this sort of thing before?

@joshhall7702 you actually need a scanner to see live data from the sensor. If you know of anyone that may have one that will let you see signal.

Why would he do that. The factory ones are better and he should have just changed the cap instead of the entire unit

A factory original one to be honest. I can get you the part number or you can call your gm dealership and they can get it for you but that is the best one to use.

@operationoverhaul I appreciate that so much. I've looked and searched so many forms it's ridiculous. Msd is trash ect so I have read. My car is popping/back fire out the exhaust sometimes. Still runs stout for now but I assume that's the opti going on its way.

@kseriesholden2606 yeah it sounds like it is going out to me. They get moisture in them pretty easily.

Your mom works best for me 🤷‍♂️

that is true. you do not have to remove it but it does give you a little more room and it did not take much to get it out of the way for me. SI should have clarified that in the video. Thank you for letting people know that you do not have to but if you want to you can and it will give a little more room to work.

Prodemand says 3.5 hours. Does it call for different labor time somewhere else? I know some labor guides are different than others.

1994

@machinesnmetal you can get the engine code off of it and look it up and it will tell you everything about it

@machinesnmetal yeah you will need the obd1 connector to read the computer on that unless you get the 96 computer.