Totaled '89

[pal1955]

Hey, the insurance company offered me my totaled '89 for $300. Damage was to the driver side door and left front and rear quarter panels. I already took the CRT and a few button bars. It's blue on blue, which is the same as the '88 I just bought. <P>Should I go for it?

[harry yarnell]

ABSOLUTELY.

[pal1955]

I talked to my son and he is going to store it and help me dissasemble it. I broke my hand during the accident, so it may be a while before parts become available. The car had 170,000 on it, but was in great shape.

I was told that the engine, transmission and the related electronics were different between the '88 and '89 and are not compatable. For example, the '88 had the "C motor", which vibrates at 750 rpm, and the '89 had the "L motor" which added a counter-balance to take away that annoying vibration at idle. The transmission definitely drives different. The '88 has a real tall "lockup" overdrive gear that my old '88 T-type LeSabre had. You really have to punch it to get it out of lockup while at highway speeds. The '89 was much smoother. I didn't see any of these items listed in the "Differences" on www.reatta.net

The '88 and '89 are almost the same when it comes to engines; they're both code 'C' motors. The dash and touch screen are the same.

[Reatta_Cruzin]

When parts become availiable from your Reatta, let us know. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/icons/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/icons/cool.gif" alt="" />

[sahein]

Actually the "L" engines began in the 91 model year and the "C" engines are the ones with the counter ballance shaft.

[padgett]

All Reatta 3800s have the balance shaft (above the cam). Engine is essentially the same 1988-1990, changed to "L" (5 more hp) in 1991.

Trasmission essentially the same 1988-1990 - 440T4 aka 4T60 (designation change) with 2.97 final drive. 1991 got "E" (electronic controlled) transmission and 3.33 gear.

TCC lock/unlock is controlled by the PROM and there were again minor changes over the years but like fan turn on can be "fixed".

88 did have a different engine mount scheme from later Reattas which may be the source of your vibration however my 88 feels just the same as our 90 Bonneville.

Note that a marginal secondary ignition system can make any engine feel rough/lack power/poor mpg.

If your inside door panels are okay I need them. Mine are cracked arond the seat controls. I could also use the pad on the console glove box.

Thanks

[pal1955]

Secondary ignition system? Specifically, what is that?

[harry yarnell]

Secondary ignition refers to the high voltage side of the ignition system.

[pal1955]

My '88 runs smooth at all other rpm, has good power and excellent gas mileage. It just runs a little rough at idle. I don't remember the '89 ever running rough.

[padgett]

Secondary ignition is coilpack, plug wires, and plugs. Usually problems show up under high load at low rpm (hill at 45 mph locked up in o/d). My personal feeling is that the square top coilpack (Motorolla ?) is marginal.

How rough is rough ? Not going to be perfectly smooth at idle particularly 625 rpm with a/c on. I raised mine to 700 rpm mainly to help a/c and got a bit smoother.

[pal1955]

Sorry for being such an idiot, but is the coil pack the black box all the ignition wires run out of? Is that the same part on the '89? Is it pretty easy to swap out? I replaced all the plugs and wires already.

It's pretty rough at 650 to 725 rpm, definately a noticeable shaking going on.