the first problem with the golden bomb

[TexasT]

So the boy has this 1996 gold Roadmaster(63k miles). Lt engine and such. He sez it was "chugging" and missing on the highway. And now it is starting to over heat. I'm thinking the water pump is leaking on the optispark thing. I know there is experience out here. Do we need the optispark and a water pump or do I need to do some more research?

TIA

[Pyro6]

Once you fix the coolant leak, you should be OK. If the opti spark disc is all waffled and distorted, you will have to replace it. They are more durable than they look.

[TexasT]

I haven't really looked at it. I'm just going by his description and stuff I have read.
So a new water pump should do it?

[Pyro6]

Yes, it's probably running poorly just from coolant in the cap. Since the distributor is laying on it's side, solid coolant rests at the bottom when shut down and tends to spray when it's running. If the disc gets saturated it will delaminate. The pickup portion should be OK. I think MSD makes a replacement distributor for 5 or 6 bills. Get the pump off, look at the disc real good. I think I would replace the cap and rotor if they look any kind of old. It's not that bad of a job, in a Vette it's a little more miserable.

[Steve Wood]

optispark... a better idea from GM that went terribly wrong

[gusszgs]

   File that one in with PM docket

[TexasT]

It has come to light that he sprayed the engine down to clean it. This could be part of the problem though he sez it was missing and such before the engine shower.

[Pyro6]

Than it should stop missing after it gets good and hot. But what about the overheating?

[TexasT]

He said he checked the coolant tank and didn't put the lid on good n tight so it leaked. At least that is his story. Hard to know what is really happening. Kinda like when the wife sez there is something wrong with the truck. I guess I'm going to have to drive it and see.

He did fill it back up and said it isn't overheating now.

[Pyro6]

That's good news, just drive it and find out

[TexasT]

He sez it is still bucking and missing. He ordered a new optispark. Looks like you have to pull the balancer to get the optispark out. Does a balancer pulled for a BBC work or do we need one for this Lt engine?

Edit: Looks like we just have three bolts and can get the balancer and pulley part off. Not sure about hitting it with a 2x4 and big hammer. Good climate here. Maybe it will come off with out much effort.

[TexasT]

Well, he thrashed on it(if you want to call it that), all day yesterday. He was going to do it Sunday but I asked him how he was going to get the cap off the optispark. I don't have the e4 socket and neither did he so a trip to harbor freight got him a set. Then he decided the car was too hot to work on so he let it sit over night. I guess it worked out as he left in it last night .

Good for him. He was pretty proud and I guess so am I.

[TexasT]

He said the check engine light is still on. Not sure if it never got cleared or if it is still miss firing. I told him to put the scanner on it again and clear the codes and see if they came back. Haven't talked to him again.

If it is still miss firing I guess some. Plugs and wires might be in order. Is there a module or coil or something else in the mix?

[Pyro6]

I think the coil and module are bolted to the front of the driver's side head.

[TexasT]

Is there a test procedure for the coil and module? I guess a google search is in order.