Is there any made that will not fail if not vented?
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Re: WTB Opti Spark 1993
Frank------
None that I know of. The original 1992 Opti-Spark was not vented and they led VERY short lives (mine failed at 3,000 miles). The 1992 replacement and 1993-94 version was vented with 3 holes drilled in the bottom of the housing base. These will last quite awhile as long as no water "intrudes" (washing an engine or a failed waterpump= failed Opti-Spark).
The final 95-96 design used vacuum extraction for venting. These still fail due to moisture-obscured optical sensor. These cannot be retrofitted to 1992-94 without major additional engine component changes.
There are aftermarket kits available to add vacuum extraction to the 92-94 Opti-Sparks but given the fact that the factory vacuum extraction system was not hugely successful, I'd be reluctant to go to the effort.
MSD offers a replacement Opti-Spark that's supposed to solve the Opti-Spark's problems. Its appearance differs greatly from the OE units and whether it's actually "bulletproof", I don't know.
The Opti-Sparks are the "Achille's Heel" of 1992-96 Corvettes with LT1 and LT4.In Appreciation of John Hinckley -
Re: WTB Opti Spark 1993
I have a 1994 Camaro Z28 with 6-speed M.T. that has an Opti-Spark distributor. In the summer of 2010 with about 120,000 miles I replaced the Opti-Spark with a $500 vented aftermarket Opti-Spark made by MSD . In August of 2015 with about 139,000 miles this MSD Opti-Spark started to fail. The engine would just die on the interstate (at 65 MPH) for no apparent reason. The car would only restart after about 5 minutes or so. This happened 5 or 6 times and I never knew when it would happen again . On the Interstate I had to always drive in the 1st lane adjacent to the shoulder as I could not risk stalling in the 2nd or 3rd lanes. I have not driven the car since September of 2015 as I have not got around to replacing the Opti-Spark. I agree with Joe as the Opti-Sparks are truly the "Achille's Heel" of Z28's as well. I bought the car in 2002. My son drove it in Miami while in college until 2005 and the Opti-Spark was replaced by a Chevrolet sealed during that time.
DaveComment
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Re: WTB Opti Spark 1993
I have a 96 daily driver that has 297,XXX miles and I have visited the Opti-Spark many times. It takes an afternoon to replace the "thing" and I have many words to describe the Opti-Spark (none used in the presence of a lady).
Opti-Sparks are available on E-bay very cheap and look like the same casting as the original 95-96 version with an active vent system. They give a lifetime warranty but that is a joke since I have replaced a couple of those.
I love my old 96 but the Opti-Spark has made me HATE the GM engineers that came up with that idea!
JRComment
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Re: WTB Opti Spark 1993
I would go to a well established corvette shop in your area and have a scan tool used to project other issues in your vehicle . Like the corvette shop i contacted said are you sure it is the opti? The other restoration corvette shop said we dont have a scan tool but we do them in a couple of hours ( That shop sent the warning signal)So we as home mechanics are limited because of the tools we have but there are times we need the specialistComment
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Re: WTB Opti Spark 1993
Frank why a Corvette shop? Any shop that has a scan tool that reads OBDII will be able to pull the codes. I am on my 4th opti in my 94 in 10 years. Replacing them in a giant PITA there is no other way to describe it. 3-4 hours to get to it. 10 mins to replace it then the time to put it all back together. The first time I replaced mine I got a Delco from the dealer. That worked well until I blew a 10 dollar coolant hose and dumped coolant on it. The dealer told me there was no more so I bought a Car Quest brand with a warranty. And I am glad for itComment
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