Doug Harness

Jim, I got mine today. They look great!

Was that a Jimi Hendrix tape that melted the roller?

Jim, I need a pair for the '89. However, I'd like to get a second pair in case I need them later for the '91.

Our ’89 was converted to R134A in 2004 after a coolant leak. In the past 7 years, it hasn’t required any additional AC work, is still running the original compressor, and is still cooling fine. I bought the ’91 in 2005 and it was still running R12. I couldn’t tell a difference in the cooling performance of the two cars. In September 2010, the compressor died in the ’91. A very good independent shop replaced the compressor and converted the system to R134A. The total bill was $674.39. This has been the hottest summer in Amarillo since they started keeping records. I’ve lost track of the number of days over 100 degrees. I drive one of the Reatta’s to work every day, and the inside temperature is unbearable when I first get in to go home in the evening. With the system set for 75 degrees running on the automatic setting, both cars are comfortable by the time I drive a few blocks.

Here are a couple of options; one is economical, and the other won't interfere with the antenna.

When shopping dealer lots for a used car a few years ago, I noticed Wheelskins packaging that was left in a car. The re-covered wheel looked great. The car salesman told me they had a local guy that installed them for most of the dealers. This may be something to check out if you don't want to do the work yourself.

It can be hard to stop at one!

It's not a convertible, but there is a green coupe listed on Auto Trader. Cars for Sale: 1991 Buick Reatta Coupe in NORMAN, OK 73072: Coupe Details - 301118381 - AutoTrader.com

I lived the first 40 years of my life in central Kentucky. Yes, they do get some snow there and they do use road salt. However, most winters are fairly mild with infrequent snow and not much accumulation. The Ohio River seems to be a natural boundary for weather fronts, with much more snow on the Ohio side of the river. I wouldn't be overly concerned about rust on this convertible. Based on the mileage, it was obviously not a daily driver and was probably garaged during the winter anyway.

Attached is a picture of a Pioneer DEH-P47DH in a '91. It's a 1.5 DIN and a perfect fit dash replacement for the factory radio. It was a bit tight in the cavity due to the extra bulk of the wiring adaptor. <!-- google_ad_section_end -->

When I was in college, I replaced a headliner in a '59 VW that had a sunroof. It turned out OK, but it was time consuming and I could have used at least one more hand. I paid $120 to have the headliner replaced in our '89 a few years ago. That included recovering the sunvisors. I'm not sure what he did different, but they do not look like pillows. I was shocked when I saw the contours of the new headliner. I had never been in another Reatta, and I guess the headliner was loose when I bought the car.

Our '89 was converted to R134A in 2004, and it still cools just fine. I continued to run R12 in the '91 and couldn't tell any difference between them. Last September, the compressor went out on the '91, so I had it converted to R134A too. Summer days can get pretty hot here, but the humidity is definitely lower than Florida.

As an owner of silver coupes, I think your silver convertible is beautiful. It's the first one I've ever seen.

Here's a link to a short video about a guy who has driven his car 2.7 million miles. This should inspire many of us to keep our 20+ year old Reatta's going strong. Can My Car Live Forever? | NOVA scienceNOW | PBS Video

Dave, I enjoyed a visit to your Gray Lady website. There's a lot of interesting information there. Thanks for sharing!

There have been short black antennas on car roofs for a few years. Recently I've been seeing smaller ones that look more like fins. Some are black, but others match the color of the car. Here's a matching one on a 2011 Avalon.

I've wondered about switching to an antenna like the new cars, but haven't found any online. Has anyone looked into this?

I had the emergency brake cable on the '89 replaced in 2007. It was a special order from Napa. The part cost $14.60 + $5.23 freight. If you can't find a good, honest repair shop closer, I can recommend a great one in Amarillo. They have done work on both our Reatta's. They are reliable and reasonable, and they think Reatta's are cool!

The temp guage on my '91 used to register the same during the summer months. Exactly a year ago, the radiator developed a bad leak, and I had a new one installed. The car has been running a lot cooler since. Even on the hottest day with the AC running and stopped at a redlight, the guage reads just at the 12 o'clock position.

This seems appropriate: “People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they're not on your road doesn't mean they've gotten lost.” --H. Jackson Brown Jr.

Happy Flag Day!

The strap across the baby's neck may get you a visit from the local child protective services.

My Dad fought in 5 major campaigns during WWII. He was wounded twice, the second time in sight of the German border. He came home with a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, and a Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster. He also came home with permanent damage to one leg from a shrapnel wound and the effects of trench foot that bothered him the rest of his life. One of my best memories of my Dad involved a German car. When my wife and I married, she had a 65 VW. It had some body rust, so I got the bright idea of replacing it with a spare 59 VW body that my cousin had from a dune buggy conversion. I had been told that the bodies were interchangeable, but we didn’t count on the wiring being drastically different. We left the car at my cousin’s until the next weekend so we could figure out what to do. With the help of a neighbor (also a WWII vet), my Dad towed the VW to his house and completely re-wired it during the evenings after work. When I arrived there the next weekend, the car was running and everything electrical was working. Of course, that electrical system was a lot simpler than a Reatta. <O:p></O:p> I don’t think Dad thought that my bride was a traitor for having a German car in the early 70’s. I don’t think he considered me a traitor because I owned a Honda motorcycle then. If he were alive today, he probably wouldn’t consider his grandson a traitor for working at the Toyota plant in Kentucky since 1987. One of the things I loved about my Dad was that he was pretty laid-back, and I believe he recognized that the war ended in 1945.

It looks like the Dove Gray interior of my '91.

Here's a link to the GM Parts Direct listing for a '91 radiator: http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/catalog/frameset.cfm. Their current price is $241.50. The radiator in my '91 developed a serious leak back in July. I paid $189.99 for a new after market radiator. I wish I had replaced it sooner, because it immediately ran a lot cooler with the new radiator.