The Camaro Club (UK)

Due the extended very wet Uk winter the optispark in my 94 Z28 has started failing. ( Usual symptoms!)
Any recoommendations for getting a replacement in the UK?
At the moment it seems the cheapest way is to order one from the States. ie Ebay

i'd go with the US and ship, just be prepared for the VAT added and maybe another 10% for car parts, sometimes it isnt added. Anyways as long as you price it up you can weigh the costs then. Try US automotive or Rodleys or something just to get some quotes too.

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'99 Z28 A4, 253 LS2 heads, 228R TSP cam, Patriol Dual Springs, Double roller timing chain, LS6 ported oil pump, OBX LTs, 3" True Duals, LS6 intake, 42lb/hr injectors, SLP lid + bellow, EFIlive COS 3 Speed Denisty Tune (self tuned), 3200 Circle D stall, CAI mod, KYB AGXs, Eibach Pro Front Springs, UMI panhard, LCA + Brackets, Strut Brace, Custom Subframe connectors, WS6 axle with 3.42s, 18" American Racing Rebels, US mirrors, 93 tail lights, 3.5 inch custom cowl hood. Mickey T's Street DRs on Vette-ZR1 wheels for the strip !
Best ET: 12.0 @ 116 mph (on a 0-60ft of 1.8 s)

Got a quote from Usautomative. £199 + vat just for dist cap and rotor!!!
The car fires up when cold and has been left a few days but as soon as its warm it starts missing especially under load. no fault codes are being shown which suggests to me it is the cap breaking down/ warm rotor. I have had a quick look and it does not look as if the dist has ever been taken out. ( With only 32k on the clock this is probably the case). I shall start stripping it out in the next few days. I want to race it at Santa Pod in July. So much to do and so little time!!!.
Any recommendations for parts suppliers in the UK? US automotive are very expensive, I have ordered a cap and rotor arm kit from the States $48 which will be £48 after shipping and tax

best looking in classic american for suppliers, I usually use Rodleys or US automotive for small stuff, oil filters etc cause you dont save much shipping yourself. You could also try Autopontiac.

Basically everything I have got on the car has come from US ebay after talking with the suppliers. I sipped all my suspension, intake, headers etc, all cheaper than I would have paid in UK

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'99 Z28 A4, 253 LS2 heads, 228R TSP cam, Patriol Dual Springs, Double roller timing chain, LS6 ported oil pump, OBX LTs, 3" True Duals, LS6 intake, 42lb/hr injectors, SLP lid + bellow, EFIlive COS 3 Speed Denisty Tune (self tuned), 3200 Circle D stall, CAI mod, KYB AGXs, Eibach Pro Front Springs, UMI panhard, LCA + Brackets, Strut Brace, Custom Subframe connectors, WS6 axle with 3.42s, 18" American Racing Rebels, US mirrors, 93 tail lights, 3.5 inch custom cowl hood. Mickey T's Street DRs on Vette-ZR1 wheels for the strip !
Best ET: 12.0 @ 116 mph (on a 0-60ft of 1.8 s)

Try rockautos.com they are pretty good and quick, had a similar problem on my old ford turned out to be plug leads, they had carbon centres which crack over time which causes a missfire,as the car warmed up it became worse.

Just taken delivery of a new Optispark unit from the states, Total cost including tax £88!, and took 18 days to get here from placing order! the dist cap on its own was £199 + vat from USautomotive
So in future get stuff straight from the States!
Just got to fit it now!

yeah i usually do for the 'bigger' more expensive stuff. If its under £100 its not worth the hassle for the sake of a tenner less if you get it yourself, but alternators, optispark etc are literally half price even after shipping and duty, as you know

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'99 Z28 A4, 253 LS2 heads, 228R TSP cam, Patriol Dual Springs, Double roller timing chain, LS6 ported oil pump, OBX LTs, 3" True Duals, LS6 intake, 42lb/hr injectors, SLP lid + bellow, EFIlive COS 3 Speed Denisty Tune (self tuned), 3200 Circle D stall, CAI mod, KYB AGXs, Eibach Pro Front Springs, UMI panhard, LCA + Brackets, Strut Brace, Custom Subframe connectors, WS6 axle with 3.42s, 18" American Racing Rebels, US mirrors, 93 tail lights, 3.5 inch custom cowl hood. Mickey T's Street DRs on Vette-ZR1 wheels for the strip !
Best ET: 12.0 @ 116 mph (on a 0-60ft of 1.8 s)

Just got to modify it and fit it now!

how to waterproof an unvented Optispark.
1. obtain some 3mm brass tubing. some 8mm brass tubing, 8mm vacuum hose and an inline paint sprayers water filter.
I have soldered 3 short lengths of the 3mm brass tubing into the weep holes in the body of the new optispark, these are soldered into the 8mm tubing, A bit like a micro exhaust manifold a length of vac hosing then goes thru the bulk head where the water filter is fitted. The opti spark can breathe ie get rid of corrasive ozone, but as it cools back down dry air is sucked back into the distributor body. Simples!!!!! I will take some photos as I fit it
Regards

The Pufferfishman is back on the road . My modified distributor works. The work involved in replacing it was not as difficult as I first thought. Although getting the waterpump on was a pain. ie the gaskets move as to locate it.
the old opti was completely knacked ie the cap was completely corradoed. Any other car would not have fired!. If you want advise on non vented optisparks get in touch.
thepufferfishman@aol.com