Quickest Reatta

I drive/race a Mustang GT. My friend has a Reatta and wants to build it. What's the quickest Reatta around? What does it run? What kind of horsepower does it have? What mods were required?<P>Thanks,<BR>Matt Hill<BR>Matt Hill Designs <A HREF="http://www.matthilldesigns.com" TARGET=_blank>www.matthilldesigns.com</A>

[EDBS0]

Matt;<P>that is really easy...tube frame...500+ cubic inches...blown...parachute<P>Already been done and won NHRA World Championships in both Top Fuel and Funny Car.<P>Tough to make one faster than that!!<P>Have fun trying, Robert<BR> <A HREF="http://www.motorsportunderground.com/Jpage/Webpp/pages/Bernstien's%20Reatta.htm" TARGET=_blank>http://www.motorsportunderground.com/Jpage/Webpp/pages/Bernstien's%20Reatta.htm</A>

Matt, lemme know if u guys come up with something for the Reatta other than tranforming it into a funny car. I've haerd guys using a series 2 Buick supercharged 3800 V6 with the tranny that come along with that but nothing else. Some computerchip is needed to make it work also. Sorry for the lack of info but maybe that will help you guys out a little. [img]images/icons/cool.gif" border="0[/img]

[Barney Eaton]

There are several Reatta owners that have "played" with their cars. Here are some of the things that have been done.....<P>Computer chip, cheap, fast, but no big gains.<P>Muffler change, someone may have modified the system "cat-back" but again no big gains.<P>Engine modifications...cams, porting, etc. All this works, and there is probably no limit to what you can do and what can be acheived. But unless you can do it yourself it can be costly, and the car may not be streetable.<P>Final drive change...all '88-'90 Reattas come with a 2.97 final ratio. The transmission has seen several ratios in different Buicks (and other GM cars) 3.33 was used in the '91 and the '86 Century Grand Sport used a 3.41. This would be a fairly inexpensive way to get some quick performance.<P>Turbocharging.. think Grand National. No known complete kits for the Reatta but all the parts are available. You or you mechanic would need to do the fitting.<P>The supercharged 3800 ..... In my opinion the overall best choice. Engine and transmission mated to work together. Several conversions have been done. This engine in a Regal is claimed to be around 6.5 seconds to 60.<P>There are probably other suggestions to follow.......

Matt, listen to Mr. Eaton. He seems to have the most knowledge aruond for the Reatta. Good luck on your buddy's Reatta.

If you want to fool around with tire/wheel combinations, you can duplicate the final drive ratio of the '91 transaxle by going to a smaller diameter, something like 225/45-16 would be one. That will lower the car 1" as well, if you like the slammed look, but it won't fill the wheelwells and the speedo will be off quite a bit. The effective ratio of 3.33 is actually 3.25 relative to the earlier models due to the slightly larger tire, (225/60-16), on the '91's. Barney is right on: a couple of people have installed the S/C engines and can hopefully give an idea what it has done for performance. At least one has installed a 4.9 Cadillac engine. I have been working on a turbo setup which will hopefully see the road next summer. Something like 250 hp. or so would seem to be a good target as it will reduce the weight/horsepower ratio by about 30%.

[lrg50]

Lets remember that power to weight ratio has its limits. If I remember correctly, Buick put a higher horsepower engine(250-275?) in a Reatta and took it to the GM test track in Arizona. The little car was so powerful even the test drivers had a tough time keeping it on the track except on the straitaways, The car was eventually wrecked. To much engine not enough car!!! [img]<>/mad.gif[/img] [img]<>/mad.gif[/img]

Irg50, you are so right. There is only so much power that is practical in a fwd car, but, I think the original question was about how fast in a straight line? The little Civics at the import drags are putting hundreds of hp. through the front wheels, so it is possible, just not practical. I'm not so sure about the lack of weight being the problem, (the Reatta is about as heavy as a LeSabre), but the short wheelbase makes directional stability more of a problem, plus the suspension is relatively soft to keep the ride with the short wheelbase acceptable.

[padgett]

Actually it is the ratio of FW/RW weight that makes the difference in a straight line, the "caltilevered forward" of the 3800 (engine in front of the drive wheels) helps.<P>Regardless, the same engine/transmission (and they will fit either) in the back of a Fiero is going to be faster than in a Reatta. Period. 800 lbs more weight in the Reatta and the Fiero can put the power down better even before talking about FWD vs RWD.<P>As long as you can keep the wheels from spinning, you will go as fast as you can and I suspect it would take a lot more than 250 hp before that is a real problem.<P>Personally think my 88 has "enough" for what I want it for though I also think the transmission does a good job of hiding it - shifts are too soft and is too reluctant to downshift to ever feel quick.<P>Wouldn't think the short wheel base to be a problem, is the same as a Corvette and five inches longer than a Fiero, it is just a completely different kind of car.<P>With a SC series II and the right tweaking, getting into the 12s which usually translates to a 0-60 around 6 seconds should not be hard at all, the GTP crowd does it every day. All that is necessary is cubic money. That and someone who really understands the electronics and FWD suspensions, but certainly doable. The only question is "why" ?<P>If your answer is "why not ?" you are most of the way there ( would help to be an oil prince).<p>[ 12-27-2001: Message edited by: padgett ]

Ha Ha Ha, you're right Padgett. I assume you meant oil prince. Wheelbase is only part of the equation, although I'll bet the 'Vette is a lot better, plus planting the rear wheels with power vs unloading the front on ours doesn't help either. It does take an entire package to go fast, not just hp. Even the GTP guys use subframe connectors, torque arms and other things even though those cars are designed to be more "sporty" to start with.

[Barney Eaton]

I am glad Hal jumped into this one.... I only preach the gospel, Hal actually writes it. He is very modest. Whenever I have a engine question I send it to Hal.

I was surfin' the net one night and come across a guy that had an '89 Reatta and he was installing a Caddy Northstar powerplant.I'm going to find that site again and share it with u all. Sounds to me that would be a fun car to drive!

[padgett]

Most of the trouble with FWD is the weight transfer on launch, if you can keep from going up in smoke for the first 15 feet, you will be OK (for any reasonable power).<P>Know LSD for the Fieros exist so suspect something may be avalable for the 4T.<P>Was thinking about an active suspention, something that pulls the front end down on the line, then expands the strut on launch for some artificial loading or is that illegal (must admit that I kind of lost interest in drag racing a long time ago - the entire concept of "breaking out" just seems silly in any form of competition).<P>Of course at one time I designed flight controls for fighter aircraft - did get into conflict a few times about letting the pilot command more than the aircraft (or the pilot) was designed to take (with warning but not denial). Question was "What are these things for ?". Of course after the Iranean disaster, things changed a bit.

Now this is good. We have all kinds of great information going around on this question. My view on this matter is. It is a front wheel drive car, They never will a be great Street Rod. There is nothing like having some HP in a RWD car. But in FWD i dont know. The Reatta is an awesome car, I love it. The only reason i would put a Northstar in it. So, That it would be a really awesome car. What i mean by that, Is that i had a 1996 Seville STS 300 HP Northstar in it. I like to pass when i want to. With the Northstar you can do that. The Reatta you need a little time. So, I would install a Northstar just for the nice easy power of it. Not to see how fast i could make it run in the 1/4. like Padgett said in FWD you can only have so much HP. That is how i feel too. Even the 4.9 Cadillac would be nice in a Reatta. The only reason with the Northstar is that i already have the engine and i like to putz around on these Reatta's. They are so cool. P.S. I think some of us has seen "Fast and Furious" to many times. Including myself. Talk too ya soon.<BR>Randy

[Barney Eaton]

All this talk got me thinking about where I've been...before things got complex with the EPA, computers, etc.<P>Started by putting a small block Chevy with Packard transmission in a '33 Plymouth 5 window coupe, that car ran in the '62 or '63 NHRA nationals in Indianapolis (not well) then there was the '50 Dodge coupe(sleeper) with a 270hp dual four barrel Corvette engine and close ratio transmission. About that time we also built dirt go-cart track and raced ..that was fun until so many people showed up we were spending all our time working on the track and not getting to have fun..... Then can Nancy, children and a string of dull cars. There were two Corvettes in there but that is another story.<BR>Somehow got hooked on Corvairs (should have collected something worth $$$). I have lost count but have owned over 37... had 13 at one time. Now it is Reattas, who know where this will lead....... thanks for the memories.

How wide is a Northstar engine? It would be a killer of an installation if it will fit.Usually those dual overhead cam engines are pretty wide, but if it can be squeezed in, I would love to see it. Did you see the Tim Allen model Cadillac DeVille? They pumped up the engine to 400 hp. 13:1 compression ratio, stock cams which were re-indexed, free flow exhaust, porting, etc... The point is there is even more potential in that engine and still allow it to be emissions and street legal.

[rong]

I have seen this thread before and I always wait for Jim Finn to jump in and add his experience. Some of you may recall a Duluth Road Rally held in the late summer of '00. There were pics posted and one was of Jim's white '90 with a Northstar in it (I think)!? Jim, do you still have such a beast or am I having another senior moment?

I though it was a Caddy 4.9, not the Northstar? Anyone?