best optispark

[llorracs93s10]

I know they all kinda crap out, but are the MSD ones worth te 500 bux, or will they do the same justice as the duralast or Accel?

So whats the best bang for the buck when it comes to optisparks?

[1s152nv]

Best bet, if you don't mind spending the money, is to go with this: http://www.delteq.com/

[ssz28man]

they'll all crap out at some point and even the conversion above relies on keeping the distributor, just only using the sensor, so you will still have some problems with it. the best thing I think you can do if its a 93 to 95 engine, convert it to the 96/97 that had the vacuum line running to the cap, epoxy a bent tube into the weep hole in the water pump so it doesn't drip on the distributor, then on the cap, smear a layer of rtv along the edge between the epoxy and the plastic. just about every common problem with the optispark is moisture getting inside it, the better you can keep the water out, the longer it'll last. as far as which distributor, I'd stick with ac delco and not waist the extra money on the msd

[llorracs93s10]

Quote: Originally Posted by ssz28man

they'll all crap out at some point and even the conversion above relies on keeping the distributor, just only using the sensor, so you will still have some problems with it. the best thing I think you can do if its a 93 to 95 engine, convert it to the 96/97 that had the vacuum line running to the cap, epoxy a bent tube into the weep hole in the water pump so it doesn't drip on the distributor, then on the cap, smear a layer of rtv along the edge between the epoxy and the plastic. just about every common problem with the optispark is moisture getting inside it, the better you can keep the water out, the longer it'll last. as far as which distributor, I'd stick with ac delco and not waist the extra money on the msd

what about making some sort of splash plate underneath the optispark so the water below wont splash onto it. Iam not totatlly sure if it could work but it would deflect the water from the roads splashing up into it.

[ssz28man]

you could try it, don't know how you'd mount it or depending on how big it would be, how well it would work or how it would interfere with the belt and engine cooling. really though, if the housing is sealed good with rtv and you have the one with the vacuum line going to it you should be ok without a splash shield. if this engine is in an s10 you could probably get one of the splash shields off a 4x4, that should keep it dry

[llorracs93s10]

its a 95 lt1 and its going in my 93 s10.

[ssz28man]

ok, I don't remember whether or not the 95 had the vacuum line, 93/94 did not, 96/97 did. If yours doesn't and you don't have the engine in the truck yet it'd be a good time to swap it, i'm pretty sure you have to change the timing cover to use the newer distributor. did the 1st gen s10 have the big 4x4 skid plate in the front, it wouldn't have the little trap door like the 2nd gens cuz the filter is up top, but I don't remember if they even had the skid plate. in all honesty though I think you'd do just fine with just the rtv around the cap, unless your planing on driving through the mud or in heavy rain all the time

[llorracs93s10]

Quote: Originally Posted by ssz28man

ok, I don't remember whether or not the 95 had the vacuum line, 93/94 did not, 96/97 did. If yours doesn't and you don't have the engine in the truck yet it'd be a good time to swap it, i'm pretty sure you have to change the timing cover to use the newer distributor. did the 1st gen s10 have the big 4x4 skid plate in the front, it wouldn't have the little trap door like the 2nd gens cuz the filter is up top, but I don't remember if they even had the skid plate. in all honesty though I think you'd do just fine with just the rtv around the cap, unless your planing on driving through the mud or in heavy rain all the time

daily driving n no mudding for me. And i am not sure about the skid plate.

[ssz28man]

ok, yeah just seal it up good and you'll be fine, keep an eye on your coolant though, when the water pump starts leaking you typically have to replace the distributor too

[llorracs93s10]

Quote: Originally Posted by ssz28man

ok, yeah just seal it up good and you'll be fine, keep an eye on your coolant though, when the water pump starts leaking you typically have to replace the distributor too

thats what my mechanic said about teh water pump. ANd whre do you say to get the rv silicone and put it where on the optispark?

[ssz28man]

if it's a factory cap (replacements are similar but my have a diff color) look at the big flat face of it, it'll be a tannish color, that's the epoxy. you want the rtv all along the edge of that along the black plastic. I'd recommend ultra gray or ultra black rtv, you can get it at any parts store but don't get the 3m stuff get the permitex <sp?>
also like i said in my first post, get a small piece of tube that just fits in the bottom weep hole of the water pump, I'd use copper, bend it so it clears the distributor and ends away from the cap somewhere and jb weld the tube into the pump. that'll make it a lot less likely to have to replace the distributor with the pump

put the rtv more or less where the gray is in the pic

[llorracs93s10]

Quote: Originally Posted by ssz28man

if it's a factory cap (replacements are similar but my have a diff color) look at the big flat face of it, it'll be a tannish color, that's the epoxy. you want the rtv all along the edge of that along the black plastic. I'd recommend ultra gray or ultra black rtv, you can get it at any parts store but don't get the 3m stuff get the permitex <sp?>
also like i said in my first post, get a small piece of tube that just fits in the bottom weep hole of the water pump, I'd use copper, bend it so it clears the distributor and ends away from the cap somewhere and jb weld the tube into the pump. that'll make it a lot less likely to have to replace the distributor with the pump

good thing i work at a autozone, and get 20% off.