Buick Know How: LT1 Optispark (ABITS) Distributor Operation and Diagnostics

GM training video for the Optispark (ABITS) distributor system used on the LT1 and L99 engines.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• LT1
• l99
• optispark
• distributor
• abits
• buick
• roadmaster
• chevy
• caprice
• impala
• ss
• cadillac
• fleetwood
• camaro
• B-body
• F-body

[nitrofed3000gt]

Thanks for posting this..great info



[moldymac]

@nitrofed3000gt Glad you found it useful.

[dstarks80]

HEI is far more reliable and cheaper to maintain than this ABITS garbage. Hell a typical shop charges around $1000 to tune-up these LT1 and L99 cars. Whereas a quality HEI dirstributor cap and rotor can be had for $30 and can be changed with 20 minutes and a screwdriver.

[moldymac]

@dstarks80 I agree, this system had to be one of the worst things GM ever put into a car. Supposedly they switched to this system due to lack of room for a regular HEI system in the Corvette. I still wonder why GM didn't just go with the coil pack system that most of their other engines had been using for years such as on the 3.8 and northstar.

[McVaio]

Wow man... I brand new Buick Roadmaster... I want to travel back in time!!

[moldymac]

@McVaio Me too, I would love to buy one of these cars new!

[TheLTXCamaro]

@mike510 i have 203k miles on my LT1 dumbass, optis are only good when taken care of!

[mike510]

@RockiNaDodge 200 dollars? I payed a shop 1,200 for the whole install haha

[mike510]

100,000 miles my ass LOL fuckin optis

[RockiNaDodge]

Don't get it wet. I cleaned under the hood of my camaro 2 days ago and damn thing still won't start. I just hope it's not F'd and this doesn't end up being a $200 car wash.

[nickyjam770]

These guys makes it look easy...

[Cameron32391]

100,000 miles my ass

[GregSr]

The optispark system gets a lot of negative comments. I have had a different experience. I bought my 96 Impala SS new and it now has 253,000 miles. The optispark system is factory original - including the spark plug wires. I've never had to do anything to it. I've changed the spark plugs once.

I've heard so many bad things about optispark, several years ago I bought a brand new GM optispark and wires. I'll install them when the original finally quits. 8-)

[low1938rod]

Nice thank u for the info

[MMK86]

Thanks for the upload man. My Camaro still almost looks as new as the one in the vid! hahaha.

[TractorWorld]

what a great vid and a awesome engine!

[McVaio]

@moldymac

It would really be worth to buy such a car new. I would baby it and store it inside (like I do with all of my cars) and I would probably never have to buy a new car ever again =)

Every American full-size car of the 90's was built to last. Those V8's will last forever.

[brock1384]

@brock1384  ^ ^^ oops. I posted in the wrong vid.

[brock1384]

You should be okay as long as its not interfering with anything. Unfortunatly you have to take the timing cover off to install it the right way. You should be okay though.

[moldymac]

@ghtowagon Your probably right. Although in my last video on engine diagnostics that L05 Roadmaster they used there had a dirty looking engine, had to have been used for something, maybe even corporate vehicles.

[ghtowagon]

@moldymac You know it was one of the 1st production cars and was probably donated to a GM school and is crushed by now... One of my old schools had a bunch of old cars from GM.. They had many caprices back in the day. They had lots of spare LT1s BRAND NEW

[moldymac]

@ghtowagon I think it enjoyed being the guinea pig, notice how it popped its hood on its own? It can't wait!

[ghtowagon]

I bet that roadmaster lived a hard life as a Guinea pig