I'm a non-believer. I think half of you guys who buy the $600 system "want" to feel the difference, yet perhaps there isn't much of one. That does happen. Also, you guys speak of drivability improvement. Well, you bought the Delteq because your opti was jacked up - so of course it helps drivability!!! Simply buying a new opti would have done the same thing. Performance gains?? I'd like to see it - show me a car with the stock setup and a good condition opti and an identical car with the Delteq. I doubt there would be any gains, and if there were, they would be extremely minimal. Not worth the $600, that's for sure.

 

The advantages of the Delteq:
1) Eliminates the high-voltage from the Opti-Spark, so you won't have that problem again. It is now an Opti, not an Opti-Spark.
2) More dwell time and a hotter spark at higher rpms -- similar to what the LS1 and LT5 have. With a single coil system, spark intensity starts falling off at about 4K rpm and goes downhill from there.
At what rpm does a single coil system actually fail? -- don't know......but it probably depends on the engine parameters, such as boost, compression, fuel mixture, etc.

Tom Piper

 

Just ordered mine from Elitesparkplugs.com. I saw the article about Overton's TA too, and while I must admit, that is impressive, I am going to go out on a limb and say that he probably doesn't drive his TA in the occasional rain and terrible Ohio salt crap weather. I just don't really believe the stock ignition is worth a ****. Plug wire routing is awful w/ headers, and the thing is in such a hazardous location on the engine, that it is bound to have an accident sooner or later. I wanted to get a more reliable spark than with that crazy correct-a-cap design, and wanted cleaner plug routing with custom OTVC wires to the coil packs. It was either invest in the delteq, or sign up for at least another opti change, and boy does that job suck. My 0.02, but the case for this setup is very compelling.


-Paul

 

First off, I have LT headers with an opti and factory wire routing, so if your burning wires learn to route your wires a little different. I have had zero problems with my opti, I also have an MSD 6al and coil and I have all of the smoothness you guys with the delteq have plus my ignition doesnt drop off at 4k. And when I did put my 6al box on I did notice the motor was a little more cleaner sounding and willing to rev higher than it was when it was stock. So there is an improvement with the 6al or the delteq. Is it worth the $600 for the Delteq? Not to me, I am 100% happy with my 6AL that I have, plus I think its cleaner looking than a plate with 4 coils on it with plug wires running over the engine. I have a MSD box and that is all you see. PLus if Joe Overton can run 9.30's with a similar setup to mine then I think I will be ok. PLus I got $300 extra That I saved b/c I didnt get a delteq. I am not bashing it, its just not worth it to me.

 

I completly understand what you're saying. But as you said, you have had zero problems with your opti. This is few and far between. Trust me, I wish I didn't have opti problems. But after replacing my entire opti and waterpump and then having the cap/rotor go out twice within 4 months, the delteq was well worth it, actually if I would have bought it the first time my opti went bad, I would have saved myself alot of money. I guess it all depends on your situation as to if this product will benefit you or not, it would be a waste of money to BlkLT1Z28 but it was a savior to me. Just my .02

 

I have already posted my dyno and 1/4 mile gains before on this forum. And there wasn't anything wrong with my opti to begin with. Run a search. People still doubt me.

You know what? My gain, their loss. You don't don't see me and the the hundreds of other LTCC and Delteq owners, making for sale posts, selling their junk.

It's nothing personal. But like I said. If you still doubt it, then try it for your self.

Mike

 

I'm not "trying" a product that costs that much money, when there is nothing wrong with my current setup. Nothing against you guys, but it will never be worth it to me. I have yet to have an opti problem, and you guys are replacing caps/rotors every two months? Sounds to me like there is something causing them to go out, which is the real problem. Delteq is cool, just not for me. I have zero need for it, I will buy a 6AL and MSD coil long before that time comes.

 

Yeah, your car is basicly new, only 31,000 miles. When you reach 150,000+, You will have problems wuth your opti. Your cap and rotor will be toast soon (pain in the a$$ to change) and about $150. Then if that isn't enough, you will start to have oil contamination of the opti. Tehn just for kicks, your water pump starts leaking all over your opti. good luck!

 

Jbird I understand what your saying. And I don't have a problem with it. Like I said its not for evreyone.

But I don't see why people who havne't tried the product should knock it. It's just plain unfair. And thats what I see. I also, don't like people who are delteq or LtCC owners who always right away tell people to get that product if they are having opti problems.

Because yes these aftermarket systems aren't cheap. But if someone is fed up with opti issues, and has gone through more then one of them. Then why not give the Delteq or LTCC a chance? That is my point.

Like I said, its not for each lt1 owner out there. But for those of you guys, who are looking to get the most out of your LT1 like I am, then it's worth a shot, concidering you will probably keep your LT1 for a while, and you will probably go through a few optisparks.

Thats all I ment.

Peace,
Mike

 

I'm down with that, Mike

 

Ok, Can I Chime In?
I just had my Opti go out at 70K. Still in the process of being changed. It was the rotor that disintegrated at WOT. I will be installing a whole NEW distributor from Summit since the whole thing costs just $289.
Now I did research the Delteq at their site and they do sell a bare bones kit for about half the cost. This kit allows the purchaser to pick his own coil, etc.
With this in mind, how about the best of both worlds? Buy the bare bones kit and with the extra $300 or so, buy the MSD 6AL. Are these 2 systems compatible with each other?

Had I had the foresight, I would have went Delteq.

But...I have read more than a handful of posts that state the optical sensor and the spinning disc do go bad too. Water dripping into the Opti housing can cause a residue on the sensor as well as dirt plugging the individual holes in the disc causing the PCM to misread and misfire.
Thus, even the Delteq, is only as good as the optical portion of the Opti is. We just need a new way of COMPLETELY eliminating the opti without breaking our wallets.

 

You can't combine a Delteq with an MSD 6AL.... the Delteq uses a 4-channel ignition dirver. The MSD "6" series is a single channel driver. You would need to move up to the MSD "DIS" series of boxes.... well over $300. And, you don't "pick (your) own coil".... you need the 4-coil pack from a Northstar or Aurora. And you need the IC module from one of those cars.

Evidence suggests that removing the high voltage function from the Opti REDUCES problems with the optical section. My Opti failed at 50K miles. It never had drips on it, the cap/rotor looked like new, no carbon tracking. But there was massive rust in the back 1/2, with the rust particles clogging the optical sensor. The bearing retainer was the source of the rust, and the bearing was starting to "grind". The evidence suggests it is the ozone generated by the cap/rotor sparks that accelerates the rust. GM added the vent specifically for that reason. Yet even the vented Opti's still show signs of rust.... look at the pictures of the Opti in Mike Chaney's "Opti Disection Page".... even though that's a vented Opti, it has the same rust marks I found on my unvented unit.

But, having experience with two different LT1 engines, both running the Opti WITHOUT the high voltage section being used, there is no evidence of this corrosion on the Optis, at least not on the one we disassembled when the engine was removed for replacement with a Dart Iron Eagle block (no longer needed the Opti ).

There is no absolutely correct answer to the question. Joe Overton's car shows the Opti can work. Others have used 4-coil and 8-coil systems, and demonstrated that they can be extremley reliable, while still using the optical sensor. One caution though, on looking at any of these cars.... few of them are "daily drivers".... my car hasn't seen rain in 3 years. I doubt Joe drives his on the street

 

I went through 3 opti's in the matter of 25K miles... the stocker failed at 50L, the next at ~63K, and I put the 3rd on in at 75K... and this pring I put the Delteq unit on the Car using that 3rd opti.... the car runs better than it EVER has since I bought the car at 45K...

And the 3 hour job of switching the opti every 15K miles was enough to warrant the upgrade. Not to mention where I mounted the Delteq setup; sideways on the intake just infront of the cowl; makes for EXTREMELY short plug wires(Most are ~2' long) which work awesome with the LT Hookers on the car.

For some people it's worth it, others it's not... just like ANY mod to a automobile, it's just part of the hobby. It's not worth arguing about.

 

My original opti last 13yrs w/ 70K on it. The last 7 yrs I ran it w/ a 300+ Accel setup and no problems. Noticeable gain w/ the accel over stock opti. Swapped out the opti since I felt is was due and still have it as a back up. Ran it for awhile in the 396 and upgraded to the Delteq last summer. Night and day difference in terms of driveability, idle, mileage and rpm's over just running a stk opti.

People who have a opti last this long are far and few in between. Don't get too happy thinking your opti won't crap on you because it just might. For my application is it worth it? Hell yes. Hasn't seen rain in yrs and isn't a daily driver but it's proven it's worth since I've owned. I got my coils from someone else so I only paid for the bare bones kit and got the module free. Is it worth 600? If you have a good opti yes. Bad opti fuggedaboutit.

Like they said don't knock til you try it. And Fred is right the opti is proven but some people aren't always as lucky esp when you aren't stk.

 

Hi guys,

I see allot of debate on how much our Delteq systems cost. To some that are turned off about price take a closer look at what we offer you for the price and you will find value in our kits.

Here is a few key points for our complete systems that many over look.


1) 4 high output ignition coils (retail at $35 each)
2) 1 ignition module (retail 350 + each we use gm ignition modules not cheap China junk other parts store sells)
3) New sparkplug wires.
4) A plug and play wiring harness (no cutting splicing etc) some of the other system requires you to hack up you wiring harness.
5) nice machined brackets.

So for the people out they’re who complain abut price think again what you get for your money. We offer allot for your money.



A word about Optis:


The Optispark has been debited since the first LT1’s rolled off the production line but, remember this fact !!!

GM sells over 58,000 let me repeat that again 58,000 optisparks a year that is a huge number for a engine with a short life span …….. if there was not a flaw about the optisparks why does GM stock so many of them ………

I know you see guys running 8,000 rpm with an opti … but then again most of the guys who run car like that never see much street time or rain so it’s kinda of hard to judge those cars about how long the optisparks will last. But for people that drive their car everyday it’s a reliably problem because it is like a ticking time bomb and once it goes your stuck!!! And trust me it has happen with me many times where the opti has taken a dump or the rotor decided to fly apart…

Other company’s have made improvements to the optispark but they still use the stock cap and rotor which are subject to fail and they don’t recommend to spin their opti 6,000 rpm.




Just my .02