New reatta owner with a interior question

[Guest tb3]

Hi,

First time owner from St. Louis, MO of a 88 Reatta.  Not new to Buicks, just Reattas.

I just bought a clean well kept driver with a 100,000 miles on it.  I plan on keeping it clean and driving it.

I've done some research here before buying by doing some google searches. but just signed up a few hours ago.

 

I am not sure if I'm missing something or not on my interior, my guess it that I am.

Is there supposed to be some sort of cover or "escutcheons" that go over the bolts that hold the door pull straps on"?  (see pic)

 

If there is, where can I get some replacements?  (new or used).

My Reatta is light gray interior and exterior.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Guest PontiacDude210]

My two 90s have longer leather on the door pulls that cover those bolts.

[handmedownreatta]

Hi,

First time owner from St. Louis, MO of a 88 Reatta.  Not new to Buicks, just Reattas.

I just bought a clean well kept driver with a 100,000 miles on it.  I plan on keeping it clean and driving it.

I've done some research here before buying by doing some google searches. but just signed up a few hours ago.

 

I am not sure if I'm missing something or not on my interior, my guess it that I am.

Is there supposed to be some sort of cover or "escutcheons" that go over the bolts that hold the door pull straps on"?  (see pic)

 

If there is, where can I get some replacements?  (new or used).

My Reatta is light gray interior and exterior.

Thanks in advance!

 

20150829_191125_resized.jpg

yes but you will have to find them used.

[Guest Kingsley]

tb3 - there is a chance that Jim Finn in Duluth, MN, may have some new ones.  Suggest you send him an email - reattas.60@gmail.com.

 

Welcome to the World of Reattas and this AACA sponsored Forum.

 

Kingsley Baker

Reatta Specialty Parts

[Barney Eaton]

I think I did a sketch of this assembly once but cannot find it.......

The parts are only used on 1988-89 Reattas that makes used parts hard to find and unless you find a dealer with some old stock you are then looking for someone here that has a few.

 

If you were putting the hand pull back together, (1) the end of the pull goes into the hole (2) the RETAINER (20588020) sits on top of it and the (3) mounting SCREW holds the retainer on top of the pull.

Last (4) the ESCUTCHEON (20587948) snaps into the retainer to cover the screw and make it look finished.

 

What seems to happen is the pulling of the hand pull puts stress on the plastic RETAINER and it cracks.  A cracked retainer will not hold the escutcheon so you are wasting your time just replacing the escutcheon.   I seem to recall some talk of making new parts on a 3D printer and this would be a perfect set of parts for that device.    Also, regardless of the interior color, these parts are black.

[Guest my3buicks]

If someone could verify part number this could be some new ones   http://www.ebay.com/itm/Buick-GM-OEM-88-91-Reatta-Door-End-Cap-20588020-/111567898602?fits=Make%3ABuick%7CModel%3AReatta&hash=item19f9f707ea&vxp=mtr

 

and

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Buick-GM-OEM-88-91-Reatta-Door-End-Cap-20588020-/261993882008?fits=Make%3ABuick%7CModel%3AReatta&hash=item3d000d6198&vxp=mtr

[handmedownreatta]

that first one charges twenty dollars shipping for something that will fit in an envelope.two years ago i installed four new mounts and four used covers.i only have one left.it seems to me we need a machined block of aluminum or stainless steel to flush out with the door panel and a decorative screw.

[DAVES89]

I gave up on those a long time ago. What I do is this;

 1] With the retainer removed wrap some electrical tape over the top

 2] Cut an "X" in the electrical tape so you can install the retainer and it's screw

 3] Put another piece of electrical tape on one side of the retainer, but leave as a "flap"

 4] Install the retainer and screwpush the "flap" of electrical tape down onto the previous electrical tape

 It is not a perfect replacement, but it covers the handle end nicely and is easily replaced everytime you go in the door. Best part is no one really notices and it is cheap and easy...

 I do have extra retainers end end caps but I will keep them for the "show car" I will never have/get. [Looks like the '90 vert will be "The Car" and it doesn't use those retainers/caps].

[Barney Eaton]

I found the sketch

[KDirk]

Keith, the item on offer in that ebay listing is the retainer, not the cap that goes over it. So, not the part the OP is looking for. I have to concur that this is a job for 3D printing. I had several sets of flat "slugs" made in matte black aluminum in the same basic shape and size as the caps a while back. I'm still looking for a way to reliably attach them that doesn't require adhesives that will self-release in the heat, mechanical attachements that require modification the door panel, or just putting them on permanently so that they have to be destroyed if the door panel has to come off again. So far, I've not found a solution I was happy with.

If I come up with something that I feel is decent enough I'll offer them for sale. Barring that, reproductions made on a 3D printer are going to be the proper solution. Well, tbe other solution would be to get proper reproduction parts injection molded ala Kingsley's convertible visor clips, whihlch are excellent. I suspect, however, that virtually no one would be willing to pay the price for those given the production cost and likely low sales volume. That is why I've been looking at less costly ways to emulate the part in question. My efforts are ongoing but slow and I may never be satisfied with the quality of what I intended to do with this.

So, besides Jim, anyone have access to a 3D printer and would be willing to do some contract work?

KDirk

[Guest tb3]

thanks for replys!

so I'm actually missing 2 pieces per bolt hole.  interesting.

I wonder if I where to buy a piece of plastic with similiar texture, like this one, and mill out the shape.  Then use a lil dab of silicone to hold them on?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BLACK-ABS-PLASTIC-SHEET-1-8-125-YOU-PICK-SIZE-/271491779238?var=570329881662&hash=item3f362bcaa6

 

seems easy enough. 

but I'm all about somebody with a 3d printer making some up and offering for sale.

I suppose I'll bump the thread periodically unless I come up with some in the meantime.

[KDirk]

I contemplated doing that that. Even have a sheet of textured ABS black plastic from other projects I could use. Just don't want to use silicon to hold them on. Am looking around for someplace that can both model and print the piece. Of course, you are still lacking the retainers it sounds like. So, repro caps still won't do you much good without anything to hold them in place.

KDirk

[Guest my3buicks]

The retainers should be as easy to print as the caps.

[Vincent Vega]

I had two retainers that were badly cracked on the bottom. I cut slots in the sides near the bottom and wrapped them with electric tape. I put about a half inch of jb weld in the middle of them and let it harden. I then drilled a hole in the jb weld for the bolts. The slots filled with the jb weld to lock it in place. For the covers I put a dab of silicone to keep the from popping off. I used silicone so I could peel it off easily if need be. It's held up for years.

[Guest tb3]

Vincent vega, that sounds like a good idea. I may try that

[Barney Eaton]

The bottom retainer could be made from a solid piece of aluminum or maybe black nylon (I do not have a part to get measurements)  nylon could be easier for the average person to work with.

The top eschulon  could then be hand make from some flat stock and a short stud could be added to the back that would have a friction fit into the hole drilled for the screw.    Velcro  might also work.