ol' yeller
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Posts posted by ol' yeller
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Bingo Ronnie, on both counts.
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It became apparent at the Portland show that I need to spend some quality time under the hood erasing some of the evidence of the 87,000 miles Marilyn has accumulated. In my defense, I have only owned her for 2 weeks. I had a bad experience with my V10 F250 when I did my usual engine cleaning routine. I shorted out a couple of coils as in that engine they are down in a well in the head. My usual routine was to start with a cold engine as I don't want to spray cold water on hot metal. I rinse the engine and compartment with a light spray of cold water avoiding/shielding components like electrical junction boxes and air intakes. I then use a very liberal dousing of Simple Green and let it set for 15 minutes. Any troublesome spots are wiped or brushed clean. Then another light rinse of water. I do NOT use a pressure washer. I also can't use a more powerful cleaning agent as the non environmentally safe rinse off cannot run into the sewer. The actual detailing of hoses and plastic is then done with protectorant. Gary D here had a great suggestion for the hood insulation as it doesn't clean up very well. He cleaned it well and then sprayed it with flat black paint. It looked awesome.
I'd appreciate any pointers to get the engine bay looking like new again and any warnings about either pitfalls in my approach or things to look out for. Thanks.
Greg
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Sean, it was great to meet & talk to you and Gary as well as the other Reatta enthusiasts at the show. 6 Reattas at a Chapter show has to be a record. All of them were beautiful examples of the finest Buick made in the late 80's, early 90's. Yours is an immaculate beauty. I found it interesting that of the 6, there was only 1 white one (mine) and 2 red ones. The most fun for me was talking and comparing cars to learn about differences of a handbuilt car line. I discovered on your car that it never had the "front engine shock" and all the rest did. Your's didn't even have the frame mount for it. We all puzzled over the green wire end next to the air filter box and how it's placement moved from 88-89 to 90-91 and its function.
The trip was awesome from Seattle and my new Vert delivered 30.02 MPG handcalculated over the entire 434 mile trip. Sharing the trip with my good car buddy, Mike was just icing on the cake.
How neat to surprise the former owner of your car. It is interesting how people form such attachments to automobiles as reminders of the good times in their lives. As we live close, stay in touch. I hope to see more of you at future Buick events.
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Daniel, How are you planning to do the pedal swap, adding the clutch? Mine is too original at this point to consider this MAJOR undertaking but in the future??? Did someone figure out how to program the ECM to work with the OBD1 system in the Reatta? Sorry if this has been hashed out already, but I have been away for a while and when I left it was considered extremely difficult to impossible to go to a Series II. I had one in a '98 Regal GS and that thing went like stink!
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So, it looks like just me and Gary D.
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When I bought my recent 90 vert, it was advertised as "The AC only needs a charge". Having been the $1,000 victim of this before, I negotiated a substantial discount because it wasn't working. I took it in yesterday to have it checked out. First there was a sticker on the core support that stated the system was converted to R134a in 2003. Among the many receipts I got with the car was a recharge in 2006. My mechanic said it was almost completely out of refrigerant. He evacuated the system, checked for leaks (found none) tightened up a connection at the schrader valve on the LP side and refilled the system with R134a and added a dye to help spot any leakage. So far there are no leaks and it blows cold! He surmises that as the car sat for long periods maybe some seals dried out and lost the refrigerant but resealed upon the recharge as they definitely are not leaking now. He thinks if I drive the car regularly, it may be just fine. So far, I was figuring $1,000, and the bill was only $150! I think this Reatta likes me!
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I got my new vert all shined up (and the ripped top hidden) and will be heading there on Saturday AM with a good buddy and my local chapter. This will be my first car event since my heart attack 2 years ago. Life is good! Who else is going?
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Ah, and so it continues. I am relieved!
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Does this mean that the Mid Life Crisis is over?
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On a previous Reatta I removed the MAF to clean it. There was a locating pin that I didn't get lined up with its matching hole upon reassembly. That left a huge vacuum leak & the same symptoms you describe. Just grabbing at straws to help you here.
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Not to hijack this thread but what is different about the front speakers on the later (90-91) cars? I need to replace all the speakers in my new (to me) 90 vert as they are very muddy and rattle badly. Are the verts different as well? As my car is mostly original, I'd like to keep it that way (at least outwardly).
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Yes, it came with 2 of them.
Greg
Greg,Did your car come with one of these posters?
1989 Buick Great American Race Poster Reatta 1936 | eBay
If not, you need to buy one ASAP!!!!
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I'm in love! Picked up my new (to me) car today and put almost 120 miles on it. I discovered a necessary option for a convertible... a hat. Man, is my forehead sunburned. In a week or so I'll change the fluids, detail the car and then take some pictures. This car is everything I had hoped. The owner's folio is complete (including the note pad) and it runs and drives as I remember. It does have an idle surge of 100 RPM or so at an idle. Probably an IAC, MAF or injector issue. Gonna run it down when I get back from vacation next week. The AC issue doesn't appear to be refridgerant related as the low refridgerant lamp isn't lit. When I get back from vacation next week, I'll try to run down the problem. I'll also have to replace the top. I'm leaning towards the original vinyl as this car is completely original. The original radio works fine but it appears that someone tried to pry out a cassette and bent up the plastic. Any ideas on replacement/repair? No CD player so I'm also thinking of getting a 6 disc changer for in the trunk. The front speakers have a rattle as well so I will be looking for some replacements soon. Even the keyfobs still have the original stencils on them. This is a documented, one owner vehicle with ALL the service records and only 87K miles.
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Any reason not to use a full synthetic motor oil in the 3800? My newest has 87K on it and it appears to have been run on dino oil so far. As I drive about 6,000 miles a year I'd like to switch to full synthetic and then change it once a year. Tried to search here but didn't come up with much. Also I will be changing the ABS fluid and tranny fluid. What is preferred to use in the tranny? Thanks and sorry to be dominating on these boards the last few days. It isn't all about Ol' Yeller but I do have lots of questions.
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I would consider going but I am pretty sure we have family vacation scheduled for that weekend. I have enjoyed going to the Open House many times.
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Woody, it wasn't a museum, rather an incredible private collection. I understand he used to hold an annual picnic on the grounds for invited guests but I think he has stopped for health reasons. You may be talking about the Lemay Museum or collection which is in Tacoma, WA or the Tom Cook collection which is in Midway, WA.
This collection included a concept car for the Pontiac Firebird, a 12 cylinder LaFrance racer that had an over 1600 CU engine and over 1,000 HP, built in 1918. There were Midget racers owned by Bill Ford built by Henry. There were Motorcycles from all over the world including a 1914 Indian. He had Elvis memorabilia, not stuff about Elvis, stuff owned by Elvis. Many many cars from the early 1900s all the way up to today's muscle. I only saw a couple buildings and that was mindboggling. The memorabilia was mindblowing. If this is where you are going you are in for a treat. I don't want to reveal too much as this is a private collection. His stuff rivals Lemay's in quality but Harold had more. If you want to send me PM with the name of whose collection you are visiting, I can confirm it privately. I have been a car guy for 20 years in the Great Northwet and had never heard of the guy although we have many friends in common.
Greg
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As a followup to my recent thread "Am I Nuts?", I did purchase my newest addiction yesterday. There are a few small details yet to be worked out but we have agreed on a price and they will be delivering the car in a few days.
The seller (much to my surprise) turned out to be an astonishing car collector with too many projects and not enough room. A friend and I spent an amazing afternoon being walked through on a guided tour of the gentleman's collection of Classic cars and memorabilia. We only saw a small part of his collection. The Reatta was one of his wife's driver cars that she only took out on sunny day outings. They were both quite elderly but very much active and a hoot to converse with. He opened his home to us and I saw cars I had never seen before or even knew existed.
The good about the car. It was a pace car for the Great American Race in 1990. His wife is the original owner and they are including the decals in the deal. The car is in excellent shape overall. The steering wheel has not a single blemish. The seats look like new. The car has been serviced its entire life at the Buick dealer. It has the complete folio including pen tire gauge and everything else. The Key fobs have no wear at all. There are aftermarket floormats covering the original ones which are like new. The car has been garage kept its entire life and it shows. It is white with a maroon interior and only has 87K. The brakes check out, the windshield is perfect and the top weatherstrips are in very good condition. It runs drives and stop great.
There isn't much bad to report. The top needs replacement. It has some small holes at the base which appear to be from putting the top up and down. The AC doesn't work so I will have to sort that out. One headlight doesn't popup all the way, a horn button is missing, the visor clips are broken (replacements included) and the passenger window is slow to rise. These are all things (other than the top) that I have sorted out in the past on my previous Reattas so they weren't a big deal to me. After an investment of a few grand more and I'll have a very nice car.
His employees are delivering the car to me in a few days. I will take some pics and post them up then. Back in the saddle again....
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Is the cubby bubble made of plastic? If it is then that won't work. My thinking is that if I can drill through some sheet metal for attachment point, I'd use some large fender washers to keet it from pulling out. Obviously that won't work with plastic. I get the car in a couple of days so I can check and maybe figure something out. I was hopeful that someone else had addressed this before.
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Rear facing seats are required for kids smaller than her. She is now in the forward facing seat. On my '99 F250 it has a keyed shutoff for the passenger airbag. Obviously that is not an issue with the Reatta. Barney, the car seat has a tether attached to the top of the seat which then fastens to the tie downs (usually on the package shelf or roof of an SUV)installed in all new vehicles. My thinking is that I could fashion this tiedown (probably in the cubby behind the seat) which would keep the seatback from coming forward.
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Has anyone done this? My Granddaughter is the "Joi de vie" for me. In a few weeks I will be transporting her a couple of days a week to preschool. She is 3 1/2 and is in a forward facing car seat. I don't remember seeing any seat tiedowns or even a tether strap tie down on any of my former Reattas. I think 1990 was well before they were mandated. The Reatta I am considering is a '90 Vert so that may complicate things as well. I'm thinking that I could mount a tether tiedown inside the storage compartment behind the passenger seat but now that I think about it, aren't there luggage tiedowns back there (but probably not on a vert)? Safety is very important so I want to make sure I do it right. As there is no airbag on the passenger side, that shouldn't be an issue. She will only be transported a couple of miles on country 2 lane road. Thoughts/advice?
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Woody, I've only been married a short time, 38 years, so I am still learning but there is one thing I have learned. My wife is much more accepting of my old car addiction as long as it doesn't intrude into her part of the garage.
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All great points Padgett. My thoughts are to go look and see if the car has other show stopper problems. If none are found, I thought the same as you as far as value. I was concerned that I was undervaluing it based upon my somewhat dated knowledge and the fact that it is a Vert which I know little about. The good news is that the car only has 87K on it so I am expecting to find a fairly nice car. If it has sat outside in the rain for a year with a leaky top, I'm just not interested and would probably pursue the low mileage coupe. I have the knowledge and the skill to repair my own "classic" car but my health severly limits my ability and that isn't expected to improve beyond where I am today. I can do small chores like replacing a window regulator as long as I take my time but the big stuff like top replacement is not in the cards. Also not crazy about a white car but I could be happy with it. At least it has the red interior but I was thinking a tan top would look less "Pimp" than a red one.
At this stage in my life I am not looking for an investment car which will bring me a ton of money when I sell it. What I want is something unique, looks sharp, brings a pride of ownership to me, and isn't something everyone else has. I want a car that will put a smile on my face every time I slide behind the wheel. A Vert would do that more than a coupe. It is also helpful financially to be in the know about these great little cars above and beyond the general car buying public. Thanks for everyone's thoughts and opinions so far!
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Thanks Gary, He doesn't give much info that a Reatta buyer would be interested in does he? I'll try to see the car sometime next week. Appreciate the ammo!
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Go for the white convertible that's for sale in Seattle! I too am in the great "North-Wet" (Portland area) and certainly enjoy my vert year around. As long as it's a secondary / fun car...who needs the top or for that matter, the A/C? It's been for sale for over a year...so I'm betting you could get a sweet deal.
Interesting news that it has been for sale for a year. Do you know what the price has been over that timeframe? He just lowered his asking price $100 this week. I can understand why it hasn't sold somewhat as I sent an email requesting info on the windshield and ABS and never got a response. A week later the seller changes his ad to read don't email him with "stupid" questions. The original ad never said anything about no emails. Funny how on CL where they don't charge by the word sellers often don't give very good descriptions (this ad has 2 sentences and 2 pictures). That leads us buyers to wonder what they are also trying to hide. Email to me is a great timesaver. It qualifies your buyer and the seller before time is wasted on the phone. I have sold a lot of cars over my lifetime and I sold everyone of them to the first person who looked at it. I attribute this to keeping my cars in great condition and supplying very descriptive info in the ad including price and mileage. Areas of concern for particular models are also addressed in the ad.
This one does have some interest if the top weatherstrips are in good condition as well as the windshield and brakes. The "stupid" comment will cost him some bucks if I make an offer though. I may go look at it anyway. Interesting also that the top with install is only $1300. I agree that if the AC needs just a charge they should do that. Non working AC gets a $1,000 discount from market price. New top minus $1300. Is $5200 a fair price for an 87K mile vert? That makes $7500 total after repairs. I'm thinking he needs to come down some more if he doesn't want to do the work. Opinions welcomed, further bulletins as events warrant.
Great day attending BCA Portland show Aug 18th, 2012
in Buick Reatta
Posted · Edited by ol' yeller
fat fingers on the keyboard (see edit history)
I'd like to go but I have a family vacation planned for that weekend in Anacortes. If you haven't been, you are about to enjoy the car guy's epitome of heaven. I have been to the Open House many times and still haven't seen it all. I have never been there with a Reatta.
For those who don't know about Harold LeMay, he made his fortune hauling garbage in Western Washington. Through hard work & dedication he owned & operated several waste companies. He then had the finances to pursue his true passion, automobiles. He became an icon of the collector car hobby. He would travel the country, with an Auto Trader in his hand, buying individual cars or entire collections. If he needed to, he would buy a barn or garage to house his newest acquisitions until he could bring them home. Cars would be packed in so tight that one had to crawl over them to get to a particular car. This caused some consternation for his family when he passed away as they had to locate all of these locations to bring the collection home. I don't know the actual number of cars he owned but my guess would be in the thousands, not hundreds. A multimillionaire, he owned several Classic Cars but the vast majority of his collection were the cars America drove, sedans, wagons, coupes and convertibles. Every August he would open his home and 2 other of his locations to the public to view his cars and memorabilia. If you can think of car from your youth, you could find an example of it at his Open House. He owned everything from Ramblers to Dueseys (yes, there is a Tucker). He would provide busses (several English double deckers) to transport people between the locations, the largest of which was Marymoor. Marymoor was a convent on beautiful grounds that Harold purchased to house his cars. All of this was provided and paid for by Harold, in the sleepy town of Spanaway. If you held a CDL, a prime job was volunteering to drive one of these busses during the event.
You'd never know that Harold was a rich guy. It was not uncommon for him to sidle up next to you at a swap meet and strike up a conversation about cars. He roamed the country with a friend or two in his rollback truck looking for his next purchase. He was carried to his final rest on the back of that same truck followed by a huge procession of collector car guys in their vintage autos.
Upon his death his family decided to honor his memory by creating a foundation to build the Harold LeMay Museum in Tacoma, WA. They sold some of the collection, donated money, cajoled the city to donate some land and solicited donations to build this tribute. The dream was realized last year when the LeMay Museum opened its doors. Some of the display are Harold's cars but many are owned by other collectors as well.
The LeMay family still honors his memory by holding the annual Open House in late August although I think they do ask for a donation to the foundation for an entrance fee. It is well worth the modest price. Harold's life is what every car guy would dream of if they hit the lottery or suddenly came into money. I belive it is classified as the single largest collection of automobiles in the country. If you go, you're going to have a great time!