possible to convert lt1 to use distributer instead of opti?

lol I cant say for 100% sure but a friend of mine told me someone he knew drilled a hole though the manifold... but don't get your hopes up lol just, deal with the opti for a while and get used to it its no that hard once you've done it 3-4 time with in a year lol or you could just buy an msd cap and rotor, they have an extra bolt that keeps it tighter or you could go with coil pack conversion still uses opti but just for the sensor inside...

I'm sure that if there was a conversion many of us would be using it. Not saying that the opti itself doesn't do a good job but many of us would probably do it just because doing a opti change in a PITA. At this point I know of no dist/opti conversion. Either its too expensive to do or it just doesn't exist. I know, its still ok to dream. Long live the opti!

or you can do this:
EFI Connection, LLC - EFI Connection 24x System

To use a regular distributor on the lt1 requires the use of a carb instead of fuel injection. Basically you would be turning the lt1 into a sbc. However, if your doing it on a f-body there's going to be clearance problems with the dist.

There used to be aftermarket carb intake manifold made for the lt1, but now you would probably have to find a used one. I see them on craigslist from time to time. Ebay might be a good bet to find one.

The opti or another system like the 24X is needed for the pcm to get signals for the fuel injection.

codynewman13 said:

i saw something awhile ago about the tpis mini ram and read something about a distributer hole? can i convert my lt1 to run on a distributer instead of the opti? i know some people convert to carburated and and a distributer but can i convert from the opti and still keep it fuel injected?

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Just to move the distributor to the back of the intake? Why?

Cody, the optispark gets a bad rap from all the poorly made aftermarket units out there. Stock optis routinely go over 100k miles with no problems.
The Optispark is the most accurate distributor ever made.
Ref. LT-1 Ignition System - Understanding, Modifying - GM High-Tech Performance

I'd be lying if I said I haven't wished the LT1 had a more traditional distributor though.

yes you can convert the LT1 into a rear distributor using a carb. Go buy "How to Rebuild a SBC LT1/LT4 Engines" by Mike Mavrigian

this would be for a non computer controlled motor.

Not to rain on parades here, but has anyone here really imagined changing spark plug wires or cap/rotor behind the intake and way under the cowl?

Personally I would stick with just dropping the waterpump. Also, if you dizzy goes bad behind the intake? Well drop out the engine cause thats the only way to get it out...

All that, and I run a vortec distributor behind my intake.

It can be done, and you can stay fuel injected also. You would need a "411" PCM, tuning, and wiring harness modification to do it. Oh and a cowl delete would be recommended..

Installing an LT1 in a 1997 K1500 SBSS

Someone needs to make a distributor shaft for the Opti to bolt to, then it would be a simple relocation of the Opti.

Fitting a distributor in a 93-97 camaro looks very hard (like take out motor hard). There is just no room back there. There are coil per plug conversion like the LTCC and Delteq that eliminate the part of the opti that is most frequent to going bad. I'm in the process of getting the parts needed to do the LTCC conversion myself due to 3 bad optis in less than a year (though they where cheap optis). I like the timing retard (for nitrous later) the LTCC offers.

cocobolo95 said:

There used to be aftermarket carb intake manifold made for the lt1, but now you would probably have to find a used one. I see them on craigslist from time to time. Ebay might be a good bet to find one.

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They still have the intake manifold in question in the Chevy Performance catalog. Alternately, Golen Engine Service offers a modded Edelbrock Victor manifold for higher horsepower applications. (learned this from an email conversation with Chad Golen)

Edit: Victor Jr. I rechecked the email.

I like the idea of a conversion shaft to be able to put opti at back of engine. If I was a machinist, I would use a MSD type 1 splined shaft opti.

That way I could make the shaft with a splined end that connected to opti. If work was needed, like new cap & rotor or complete opti change, then opti could be removed without dropping engine.

Any machinists out there willing to tackle the project. I'd love to get my opti out from behind the water pump.

cocobolo95 said:

I like the idea of a conversion shaft to be able to put opti at back of engine. If I was a machinist, I would use a MSD type 1 splined shaft opti.

That way I could make the shaft with a splined end that connected to opti. If work was needed, like new cap & rotor or complete opti change, then opti could be removed without dropping engine.

Any machinists out there willing to tackle the project. I'd love to get my opti out from behind the water pump.

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Can't remember where, but I have seen one or maybe two of these that individuals did. It might be little tricky getting it precisely indexed the same as if it were mounted in the stock location.

cocobolo95 said:

I like the idea of a conversion shaft to be able to put opti at back of engine. If I was a machinist, I would use a MSD type 1 splined shaft opti.

That way I could make the shaft with a splined end that connected to opti. If work was needed, like new cap & rotor or complete opti change, then opti could be removed without dropping engine.

Any machinists out there willing to tackle the project. I'd love to get my opti out from behind the water pump.

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At this point, why in the world would you even run an opti? :lol:

Run a vortec distributor, 0411 PCM and repin the harness. That would be your cheapest and easiest method.

Would like to experiment and see if opti fares better on top, back of engine, than in front under the water pump.

It's the evil scientist in me coming out. Or the trekie, who wants to go where no man has gone before.:devil: