handmedownreatta Posted August 3, 2015 Share Posted August 3, 2015 those wheels are too big but maybe im too old..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest HuevosRanchero Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 i like that pic very much...hadn't seen it before. Stance is perfect....for what I like anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vidsal Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 (edited) Very cool idea! As far as the prototypes, GM/Buick was featured on a show, maybe Motorweek, in the late 80s early 90s converting their fwd cars to rwd with V8s and other high performance stuff. If I remember correctly was one of those skunkworks operations within GM probably shut down with the de-emphasis on performance at Buick. That's probably online someplace. a bit more, sorry if already posted in this thread...http://forums.aaca.org/topic/141353-the-fwd-and-rwd-turbo-reatta-w-specs-and-pix-the-car-that-never-was/ Edited August 4, 2015 by vidsal (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 I've had several tire/wheel combinations on my car Even though I like the looks of the tall tires and wheels filling the wheel wells, I don't like the fact that the tall tires will turn your Reatta into a dog when it comes to acceleration. It also hurts braking power on a Reatta. Small brakes and big tires don't go together. Installing a tall tire is like installing a higher gear ratio differential. The tires and wheels in the photo look a lot like some 255/50-17" wheels I tried on my Reatta that came off a 2005 Mustang. They changed the acceleration of the car so much it made overdrive all but useless. Driving on the interstate in the hills of East Tennessee required keeping the transmission in "Drive all the time to stay up to speed on long hills. If you left it in "Overdrive" it would downshift to Drive as soon as you started up a hill anyway. I've also had 225/55-16 2000 Mustang GT wheels on my car. That size had good acceleration Better than stock wheels & tires in my opinion but they looked a little short. Recently I acquired a set of 16" Cadillac 16" chrome wheels that came with 235/60 tires. They were also hurt acceleration but they looked good by filling up the wheel wells. In my opinion the best combination for looks and maintaining decent acceleration are 225/60-16. That is what I have now and I'm very satisfied with them. 2000 Mustang wheel Cadillac Wheels Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machiner 55 Posted August 5, 2015 Share Posted August 5, 2015 Ron, I'm not one for changing things on my Reattas as I like the car pretty much the way it came from the factory but, I really like thosewheels shown in photo #1 of 2.If I were to change wheels, I think those would be the way to go. John F. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scourge Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 Updates? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney Eaton Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 I might be considered a "hot rodder" at heart as my first car was a 1933 Plymouth 5 window coupe that was in pretty good original shape when I got it.... that didn't last long. It got a small block Chevy (283, this was 1960) a Packard 3 speed because it had syncro 1 gear, and a Hurst shifter. I then found a nice 1950 light green Dodge coupe that had a 270 Corvette engine and close ratio 3 speed...purchased it for the motor, but it was such a "sleeper" the motors never got switched. Marriage, kids, money all got in the way and those cars were sold. The reason for the above is hopefully so you can understand that I am not against modifications but there does need to be some planning. The front of a Reatta cannot take wheels and tires as shown in post #42 without modifications to the front suspension...the bottom of the spring mount limits the wheel size and location. Buick did "hot rod" some 1989 cars and they were documented in several magazines including Buick's own employee publication "Inside Buick" spring 1989None of the cars were V8's....they were all V6's, and they were.......... *Electra wagon with a modified Grand National engine, 0-60 = 5.18 sec*Reatta, rear drive turbo 3.8, 245 HP ... estimated 0-60 = 7 sec*Reatta, front drive turbo "low boost' 230 HP.. estimated 0-60 = 8 sec*Reatta, front drive turbo "high boost" 245 HP estimated 0-60 = under 6 sec*Regal, front drive supercharged 3800*Regal, rear drive supercharged/intercooled 3800, 245 HP... estimated 0-60 = 6.5 What happened to the cars? The high boost Reatta was run into the side barrier by one of the journalist (torque steer probably got him) and it was out of service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney Eaton Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 Here is the one that hit the barrier............ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scourge Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 The front of a Reatta cannot take wheels and tires as shown in post #42 without modifications to the front suspension...the bottom of the spring mount limits the wheel size and location. Has to be something out there that can fit....be made to fit reasonably easy and inexpensively. The Reatta ride is ok for a stick cruiser, but it could do well to get a little bit more aggressive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scourge Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 Been two months, which may or may not be a long time depending upon your perspective, without an update. Remaining hopeful, but with so many ambitious car projects, the last 10% requires 90% of the time, ingenuity, and engineering. Maybe the same here....but hope not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
repriebe Posted December 4, 2015 Share Posted December 4, 2015 Super cool Jimbo59! I have always wondered if anyone would ever do something like this! My daily driver 1990 was recently totalled by a red-light runner (smashed the entire front subframe) and I was thinking hmmmm - full-tube chassis! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scourge Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 Been 4 months now without an update...even if its just winter and the project is on hold. So often, there are beginnings of projects and then they die. Quite likely that the last 10% of engineering takes 90% of the money/effort which kills so many projects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 If I was doing this project, I would remove everything from the interior and work on mounting the suspension front & rear. I would then go to a salvage yard and look for a center tunnel of about the same size in length as the inside the car. Cars that I might look at for a center tunnel transplant would be a Camaro, Mustang, or maybe even a Corvette if you can find one. Then I would cut a center tunnel area from the interior of the car to match the transplant part. The reason that I would look for a tunnel transplant would be many of the critical clearances around the dirveshaft have already been calculated for you and going to a rear wheel drive the transmission area would also be sized correctly. Just some thoughts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don B. Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 Its one thing to mod a FWD, you are just dragging the rest of the car, no torque to transmit to the rear, no body twist.A full frame should be the way to go. Very few uni-bodies can handle that power. My friend had a Chevy Monza with a 262 in it.He hopped it up with cam, manifold and carb. He started to see the rear pillar warping after racing over one season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smithbrother Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 I'm surprised he is planning on DRAG RACING, Vette independent rear suspensions aren't know for drag racing. Half shafts don't like POWER SHIFTING. I KNOW, I ran a 11.02 quarter without power/bang shifting, and was told if I would power shift, 10's were possible, well I chances it, and BANG U-joint broke.I guess you could tie down the rear so it doesn't squat under power, if you don't, weight transfer will puts the U-joints in bind. Dale in Indy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scourge Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 (edited) Larry SchrammI would then go to a salvage yard and look for a center tunnel of about the same size in length as the inside the car. Cars that I might look at for a center tunnel transplant would be a Camaro, Mustang, or maybe even a Corvette if you can find one. Then I would cut a center tunnel area from the interior of the car to match the transplant part. ==== Did GM cut out the tunnel and replace it? The photos that I have seen do not really look like it, although maybe. It seems that one could get by the way Acura Integras are made RWD/AWD - just get a BFH and "massage" the tunnel for space. Vette rear ends can do more than a lot of people realize. But then, if one just swapped over a SC38000 out of a Camaro, the electronics match up and the Vette parts could easily handle that power. But then, you'd have more of a road racer or autoX car than a one-note wonder drag racing car. Edited January 19, 2016 by scourge (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 Did GM cut out the tunnel and replace it? The photos that I have seen do not really look like it, although maybe. It seems that one could get by the way Acura Integras are made RWD/AWD - just get a BFH and "massage" the tunnel for space. Vette rear ends can do more than a lot of people realize. But then, if one just swapped over a SC38000 out of a Camaro, the electronics match up and the Vette parts could easily handle that power. But then, you'd have more of a road racer or autoX car than a one-note wonder drag racing car. The Reatta is built off the Riviera platform and there was never a center tunnel that I know of. The reason that I make this suggestion is because of the number of mule cars that I have seen and how they are fabricated. Not a total transplant of parts, but combination of parts to check out future parts/cars in a configuration that the public would never see/notice. There are a lot of wolf powertrains running around in sheep clothing in the Detroit area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smithbrother Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 I need to clear up one thing, my Vette is a Doug Nash 5-speed, pro-stock clutch, so when power/bang shifting occurs, lots of strain is put on the independent suspension. Now if he runs an automatic then it's more of a constant power action. Vette rear ends are great pieces, but not for drag racing as a general rule. Ford 9" rules that for the most part. Of course you can go with some great after market pieces too. Dale in Indy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scourge Posted January 23, 2016 Share Posted January 23, 2016 The Reatta is built off the Riviera platform and there was never a center tunnel that I know of. For the exhaust, IIRC. So, like the Integra made RWD/AWD, one would need a BFH. Oh, and split the gas tank too it seems. Probably a better option today though. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6Up75edezo&feature=youtu.be Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonlabree Posted January 23, 2016 Share Posted January 23, 2016 Strange Engineering make the best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 For the exhaust, IIRC. So, like the Integra made RWD/AWD, one would need a BFH. Oh, and split the gas tank too it seems. Probably a better option today though. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6Up75edezo&feature=youtu.be Agree for the exhaust, but there is not enough room for a drive shaft which requires more room. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tb3 Posted January 26, 2016 Share Posted January 26, 2016 I'm sure this has been asked many times....but anybody know the fate of that rwd reatta test car in the video? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scourge Posted February 28, 2016 Share Posted February 28, 2016 Know for a fact with proof? Not really. Conjecture and stories? Lots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Man Jimbo Posted April 1, 2016 Author Share Posted April 1, 2016 Sure has been a while and a lot of life has happened and a lot of money has been spent on this project.Last winter I decided to buy an economy car to save fuel expenses as my 93 Caprice Classic Wagon only gets 9 MPG so of all things I bought a 2006 Pt Cruiser... HA !. After 2 months of a total re build of suspension ( Moog ) and any other thing known to go wrong I have a sweet Cruiser that gets great gas mileage although I do NOT like driving it although it looks cool. I reluctantly decided to scrap the RWD journey mainly because of good ole Arthritis in my old body, sigh . Last week I bought another 90 Reatta so now I have 2 ( a black & a silver ) . The one that I have had for a few years now has a bad engine so I will do a swap depending on a compression check this weekend as the electrical on the new one seems to be a nightmare . Been researching the LN3 to see what can be done as far as upgrades . This has been a humbling experience for myself , the ole gray mare just ain't what he used to be , sigh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted April 2, 2016 Share Posted April 2, 2016 (edited) I have a RWD Reatta, it is called a Crossfire. Has a 6 speed manual to boot but does not have a boot. My 88 coupe is a much better road car. ps had a 78 Sunbird with SBC and a 4 speed. Cracked everything that did not break, tore the clutch pedal mount out of the firewall. Do not twist though, had a factory torque tube from the trans to the rear end. Edited April 2, 2016 by padgett (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
handmedownreatta Posted April 2, 2016 Share Posted April 2, 2016 you had a sunbird with a v8 swapped in and didn't break the trans or rearend? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buick City Posted April 15, 2016 Share Posted April 15, 2016 Just wondering what bellhousing can be used with the Reatta 3800 engine to adapt to a rear wheel drive manual 4 - speed (going to use it in a off-road app! ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2seater Posted April 15, 2016 Share Posted April 15, 2016 The bellhousing pattern is the same as the 60 degree V6 GM engines like the 2.8, 3.1 et. al. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D-a-n-i-e-l Posted April 17, 2016 Share Posted April 17, 2016 The 98-00 f body cars used rwd transmissionsn with the gm fwd bellhousing pattern Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest PontiacDude210 Posted April 17, 2016 Share Posted April 17, 2016 On 4/2/2016 at 4:47 PM, handmedownreatta said: you had a sunbird with a v8 swapped in and didn't break the trans or rearend? I talked with a guy once who had a RWD Sunbird with a blower. The first body style of them was apparently a very versatile little car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scourge Posted July 13, 2016 Share Posted July 13, 2016 On 4/1/2016 at 8:08 PM, Old Man Jimbo said: Sure has been a while and a lot of life has happened and a lot of money has been spent on this project. This has been a humbling experience for myself , the ole gray mare just ain't what he used to be , sigh. Getting older is such the great enemy for all of us. Swapping in a LS engine out of a GTO and same with the seats and rear subframe to keep IRS (or go C4/C5/C6 Corvette) is a tough and time consuming proposition. So many hopes and dreams and talk online, but the last 10% of a build often takes 90% of the time, energy and money. I still want a RWD Reatta, but there are so many other easier choices that are already RWD (Saturn Sky/Pontiac Solstice/Cadillac XLR) to start with or converting to RWD is nearly a bolt in affair (Volvo C70 AWD/RWD or Ford Escort with Ford Laser AWD rear subframe or Mercury Cougar with Jaguar X-Type AWD rear subframe for AWD or RWD swap). I bet a lot of quiet haters read this thread and make comments, but time, energy and money are all in limited supply unless you;re Jay Leno with your own private garage and full staff. My oldest son is still just 5 years old, so I still have time for a father son project. This thread will be research material for those who consider this swap later. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbenvie Posted September 24, 2016 Share Posted September 24, 2016 A number of years ago there was aguy from Kansas area with a number of Reattas he was selling. One was rear wheel drive with a big Buik V8. Anyone know what happened to it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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