Spy Pic - Optispark Relocation mod
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Salt Lake City, Utah
Car: 1988 camaro "SS"/ 1991 305/T5
Engine: 383 LT1 in progress/LT1TBI 355 soon
Transmission: Probuilt 700R4 3600 stall/ T5
Axle/Gears: Moser axles, 3.42 Eaton Posi
Re: Spy Pic - Optispark Relocation mod
Subscribing!! very interested in this swap.
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From: Readsboro, VT
Car: 85 IROC-Z / 88 GTA
Engine: 403 LSx (Pending) / 355 Tuned Port
Transmission: T56 Magnum (Pending) / T5
Axle/Gears: 3.42 / ?
Re: Spy Pic - Optispark Relocation mod
LT1: Now powered by Corn Pops!
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,001
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From: Salt Lake City, Utah
Car: 1988 camaro "SS"/ 1991 305/T5
Engine: 383 LT1 in progress/LT1TBI 355 soon
Transmission: Probuilt 700R4 3600 stall/ T5
Axle/Gears: Moser axles, 3.42 Eaton Posi
Re: Spy Pic - Optispark Relocation mod
That is pretty clever. Now if I hadnt already put on my breadbox intake, my vic jr would have been perfect as I found someone to drill all my holes for sbc to LT1 for 75 bucks, and I am sure for a lil more he would be happy to drill out my injector bungs too.
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From: Ontario, Canada
Car: 1991 Trans Am GTA
Engine: LSX (swapping)
Transmission: 4L60E (swapping)
Axle/Gears: 2.73 Posi 10 Bolt
Re: Spy Pic - Optispark Relocation mod
I knew there was a way to do it! I just didn't think it involved Corn Pops :S
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Re: Spy Pic - Optispark Relocation mod
The key to getting this whole thing to work is to know Top Dead Center. On the back of the optispark, there is a numeral 1 with a circle around it that indicates TDC #1.
Last edited by Firebat; Dec 20, 2010 at 09:55 PM.
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From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Car: '89 GTA
Engine: 5.7L LS1
Transmission: 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt 3.27
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,001
Likes: 62
From: Salt Lake City, Utah
Car: 1988 camaro "SS"/ 1991 305/T5
Engine: 383 LT1 in progress/LT1TBI 355 soon
Transmission: Probuilt 700R4 3600 stall/ T5
Axle/Gears: Moser axles, 3.42 Eaton Posi
Re: Spy Pic - Optispark Relocation mod
Uumm, what is it?
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Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Ontario, Canada
Car: 1991 Trans Am GTA
Engine: LSX (swapping)
Transmission: 4L60E (swapping)
Axle/Gears: 2.73 Posi 10 Bolt
Re: Spy Pic - Optispark Relocation mod
You're gonna give up and put it on the shelf? lol
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Central NJ
Car: 86 Trans Am
Engine: 408 stroker sbc
Transmission: TKO600
Axle/Gears: Moser full floater m9, 3:70 trutrac
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From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Car: '89 GTA
Engine: 5.7L LS1
Transmission: 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt 3.27
Re: Spy Pic - Optispark Relocation mod
Looks like a belt tensioner...but pushing it down the stairs is good too, might solve that problem with the optispark rotating
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From: Pleasant Grove, Utah
Car: 1993 GMC Typhoon
Engine: 4.3 Turbo
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Re: Spy Pic - Optispark Relocation mod
this is a great idea... however even if you used a small distributer, the EGR valve will not fit, you will also need to remove the studs too. So for people that need to keep the smog parts on, this is not an option.
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From: South Carolina
Car: 85 2M6, 87 'Bird 88 'burb
Engine: LX9, LG4, L05
Transmission: F23, 700r4, 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.63, 2.73, 4.10
Re: Spy Pic - Optispark Relocation mod
I thought the vortec truck dizzy was pretty much an opti spark mounted on a distributor shaft? would one of those work as a strait replacement?
Re: Spy Pic - Optispark Relocation mod
No. Vortec truck dizzy uses a hall effect sensor (magnetic). Completely different than the optispark that senses slots cut in a round disc (optical?). That and the output signals from an optispark are different.
Last edited by Firebat; Dec 13, 2010 at 10:28 PM.
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From: South Carolina
Car: 85 2M6, 87 'Bird 88 'burb
Engine: LX9, LG4, L05
Transmission: F23, 700r4, 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.63, 2.73, 4.10
Re: Spy Pic - Optispark Relocation mod
ok, well, new question, the opti is designed to be bolted to the timing cover so that timing cant change, how to you plan to ensure that the cam and dizzy are aligned correct?
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From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Car: '89 GTA
Engine: 5.7L LS1
Transmission: 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt 3.27
Re: Spy Pic - Optispark Relocation mod
Supreme Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,545
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From: South Carolina
Car: 85 2M6, 87 'Bird 88 'burb
Engine: LX9, LG4, L05
Transmission: F23, 700r4, 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.63, 2.73, 4.10
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Re: Spy Pic - Optispark Relocation mod
Any progress on this? I'm looking to go to SEFI soon. I read through the threads on the EFI connection setup, but I think the opti-relocation would be far easier and cheaper since I can easily repin my TPI harness over to an LT1/LT4 and add the necessary additional circuits.
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From: Hou. TX
Car: 86 TA, 91 B4C
Engine: 5.3, 4.8
Transmission: 4L80 4000, T56
Axle/Gears: 4.30 M12, 23.42 10 bolt
Re: Spy Pic - Optispark Relocation mod
I used to want to do that whebn i had a LT1, but never found details.
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Re: Spy Pic - Optispark Relocation mod
Opti relocation won't work without modifying the housing of the optispark or the firewall of the car because either the coil wire or the harness hits the back of the firewall.
I did find something easier/better and then found something better than that.
What I found first was that it was better to put the optispark internals inside of a TPI HEI distributor. However, not being able to machine a part, have to use a lot of little parts bolted together, have to make sure everything is exact isn't the easiest thing to do either. Plus, still keeps the optispark disc and sensor.
Then I found the 4X conversion using the LS1 style PCM (12200411). Better but not cheaper but still cheaper than the best brand new aftermarket optisparks. Like the EFI Connections 24X but doesn't use coil packs, it uses the vortec dizzy. For a complete 95 LT1, I estimate it will cost about $400 for a 4X conversion if the harness is just repinned and a couple wires added. About $300 for the conversion on a 96-97 LT1 and probably less for a SBC but that's if you figure out the harness yourself and buy all the parts used except the ebay vortec dizzy. I'm going 4X or 24X but leaning towards 24x since I found a set of cheap coil packs.
Here's how I figure the cost for a LT1 4X 0411 setup and probably missing a few small parts-
$100 96-97 Timing Cover, Hub, crank key, 4X Crank Sensor & Reluctor
$50 0411 PCM (I got one cheap for $38)
$100 Ebay Vortec Dizzy with 1X Cam sensor and spark plug wires (could use a used dizzy to cut costs)
$25 lopsided machined spacer for rear dizzy for stock LT1 intake
$100 Univeral timing pointer & aftermarket balancer since no timing marks on stock LT1 balancer and homemade optispark plug cover(sheet metal and Rtv)
Total $375
24X
$275 Above minus universal timing pointer/balancer
$275 24X reluctor
$10 24X sensor
$40 Coil packs (most cost $100)
Total: $600
One setback I have found for both 4X and 24X setups on the LT1 is that they will not work with a 94 or 95 4l60e unless you change out valve body, 3-2 solenoid with 96-97 parts. And on the 94 would need to change the front pump I believe. The 94 4l60e does not have a pwm pump and both 94 and 95 use a different kind of 3-2 solenoid.
I did find something easier/better and then found something better than that.
What I found first was that it was better to put the optispark internals inside of a TPI HEI distributor. However, not being able to machine a part, have to use a lot of little parts bolted together, have to make sure everything is exact isn't the easiest thing to do either. Plus, still keeps the optispark disc and sensor.
Then I found the 4X conversion using the LS1 style PCM (12200411). Better but not cheaper but still cheaper than the best brand new aftermarket optisparks. Like the EFI Connections 24X but doesn't use coil packs, it uses the vortec dizzy. For a complete 95 LT1, I estimate it will cost about $400 for a 4X conversion if the harness is just repinned and a couple wires added. About $300 for the conversion on a 96-97 LT1 and probably less for a SBC but that's if you figure out the harness yourself and buy all the parts used except the ebay vortec dizzy. I'm going 4X or 24X but leaning towards 24x since I found a set of cheap coil packs.
Here's how I figure the cost for a LT1 4X 0411 setup and probably missing a few small parts-
$100 96-97 Timing Cover, Hub, crank key, 4X Crank Sensor & Reluctor
$50 0411 PCM (I got one cheap for $38)
$100 Ebay Vortec Dizzy with 1X Cam sensor and spark plug wires (could use a used dizzy to cut costs)
$25 lopsided machined spacer for rear dizzy for stock LT1 intake
$100 Univeral timing pointer & aftermarket balancer since no timing marks on stock LT1 balancer and homemade optispark plug cover(sheet metal and Rtv)
Total $375
24X
$275 Above minus universal timing pointer/balancer
$275 24X reluctor
$10 24X sensor
$40 Coil packs (most cost $100)
Total: $600
One setback I have found for both 4X and 24X setups on the LT1 is that they will not work with a 94 or 95 4l60e unless you change out valve body, 3-2 solenoid with 96-97 parts. And on the 94 would need to change the front pump I believe. The 94 4l60e does not have a pwm pump and both 94 and 95 use a different kind of 3-2 solenoid.
An $8D 7730 system
ZZ4 which has the Vortec timing chain cover and 8" damper 12555879
Large cap HEI distributor
I'm not beyond repinning my harness as I'm very good with wiring and schematics.
So what would I need for a 4X conversion? P/N's would help too!
I don't want to go with the coil packs as I'd like to do this as inexpensively as possible.
Last edited by ULTM8Z; Mar 12, 2011 at 06:09 PM.
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Re: Spy Pic - Optispark Relocation mod
I think I'm probably going to do the Opti-into-HEI conversion. It'll be easier and cheaper I think. I already have an idea on how I can do it pretty simply.
Question, is that magnetic pickup sensor replaceable? Such that there's a separate part number for it?
I don't want to spend a boat load of money on a new Optispark. Would rather get a malfunctioning one really cheap just to get the mechanical guts out of it and then put a new sensor in it.
Thanks.
Question, is that magnetic pickup sensor replaceable? Such that there's a separate part number for it?
I don't want to spend a boat load of money on a new Optispark. Would rather get a malfunctioning one really cheap just to get the mechanical guts out of it and then put a new sensor in it.
Thanks.
