Timing

**beaver50** · 04-11-2014, 10:38 AM

I had to replace my opti.After getting it back together it wouldnt start.Im getting fire and gas it just wont hit.I set my time at the 12 oclock on both top and bottom marks.Is this right?

**shownomercy** · 04-11-2014, 10:59 AM

Should be dot to dot, but why did you mess with your timing set to replace an opti?

**beaver50** · 04-11-2014, 02:29 PM

I had to change out my timing chain cover seals.Then when I went to put it back together.i just brought up #1 cylinder to set the timimg and put the opti back on.thats just the way Ive always did it.Dot to dot would be 6 oclock on the cam and 12 oclock on the crank.Im going to check shoebox site again and see what it says.Im pretty sure dot to dot isnt right.but it just might be.Maybe somebody else might chime in and give us some help.

**beaver50** · 04-11-2014, 02:40 PM

Dot to dot is #6 TDC.

**joelster** · 04-11-2014, 05:11 PM

The opti only goes on 1 way.

1. You put the timing chain on dot-to-dot (Cam sprocket dot on bottom, crank sprocket dot on top)

2. Non-vented opti' use the spline drive and it only fits 1 way
3. Vented opti's use the long dowel, and it is possible to inert the dowel into 3 spots on the back of the opti, but only 1 is correct.

**Featherburner** · 04-11-2014, 08:50 PM

Originally Posted by joelster

The opti only goes on 1 way.

1. You put the timing chain on dot-to-dot (Cam sprocket dot on bottom, crank sprocket dot on top)

2. Non-vented opti' use the spline drive and it only fits 1 way
3. Vented opti's use the long dowel, and it is possible to inert the dowel into 3 spots on the back of the opti, but only 1 is correct.

It is completely possible to install the spline wrong.

**Injuneer** · 04-11-2014, 09:06 PM

In theory - only fits one way. In reality - in the 15+ years I've been helping people with problems like this, at least 10% of the Opti's are indexed incorrectly. It's the first question I ask.

**Featherburner** · 04-11-2014, 09:11 PM

Originally Posted by Injuneer

In theory - only fits one way. In reality - in the 15+ years I've been helping people with problems like this, at least 10% of the Opti's are indexed incorrectly. It's the first question I ask.

It's strange how theory and reality don't always jibe.

**beaver50** · 04-12-2014, 01:12 PM

I agree it really go on one way.I also agree it can be put on incorrect.But I got it on right and had it on #1 cylinder.I think my new opti was bad.I was going to buy a new AC Delco but I called Whites performance to tell them my opti went down.They guaranteed it and sent me another one.I think its bad.Its throwing a spark but very little one.When I checked for a spark when I started cranking the engine it took a few cranks to start getting fire.Then it would stop firring and it was a yellow color fire.

**GaryDoug** · 04-12-2014, 02:06 PM

The Opti-spark distributor has little to do with the color or strength of the spark. That is controlled by the coil and ignition control module. The sensors in the Opti-spark send timing signals to the PCM, which processes them and sends the spark control signal to the ICM. The ICM drives the coil, whose output is routed to the spark plugs by top half of the distributor.