What a Horible Shame

[89RedDarkGrey]

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/08/junkyard-find-1988-buick-reatta/

[kiwigram]

Well, to continue this topic.  I have a 1990 Reatta that has come to the end of its life.  I purchased this car about 6 months ago with the intent of making it into a show car.  This I did after spending some $6000 on it.  It took 1st place at a well known show and I was the proud owner.  A couple of mornings later, I walked out to drive the car and found the brake fluid on the ground.  The pipe from the master cylinder to the rear splitter has corroded out.  I took it to the shop to have it repaired but they wouldn't touch it and they quoted me $1500 to replace it and repair all of the other rotten pieces.  They also stated that the engine cradle almost fell out when they put it up on the hoist as the mountings for the cradle were also rotten.  So it comes down to; who wants it.  The junk yard offered me $100.  Anything better than that?  The car is located in Beaumont, TX.

[fordrodsteven]

3 hours ago, kiwigram said:

Well, to continue this topic.  I have a 1990 Reatta that has come to the end of its life.  I purchased this car about 6 months ago with the intent of making it into a show car.  This I did after spending some $6000 on it.  It took 1st place at a well known show and I was the proud owner.  A couple of mornings later, I walked out to drive the car and found the brake fluid on the ground.  The pipe from the master cylinder to the rear splitter has corroded out.  I took it to the shop to have it repaired but they wouldn't touch it and they quoted me $1500 to replace it and repair all of the other rotten pieces.  They also stated that the engine cradle almost fell out when they put it up on the hoist as the mountings for the cradle were also rotten.  So it comes down to; who wants it.  The junk yard offered me $100.  Anything better than that?  The car is located in Beaumont, TX.

If you've done that much to the car why would you take that HUGE loss? I know you cannot get out of it what you have put into it but..... you can easily fix the items that you mentioned and have a very nice driver. The "other forum' is reattaowner.com and you will also find tutorials there regarding repairs on many items and specifically on the bushing / bolt repairs for the cradle. If you're trying to make a concours correct restoration you will have trouble finding "original" parts and then you will have to empty your wallet for some certain parts. If you want to have a very nice driver it is easily within your grasp.

[DAVES89]

I had a brake line break just as you describe. I took it to "Car-X" and they cherged me $10.00 a foot for repairs. I also had to pay for a brake fluid flush so the entire bill was less then $200.00. The cradle bolts you will need will cost less then $300.00 plus labor. I would say about $1000-$1200.00 for all the repairs you listed including parts.

 If you were within 500 miles of me I would be on my way with a car dolly and a couple of $100 dollar bills, but Beaumont is just too far..

[ChrisWhewell]

Sorry if I upset anyone, i realize people are a lot more "sennnnsitive" than back in my day. Good luck !!

[kiwigram]

I bought the car out of Columbus OH.  The underside of the car is not repairable unless the car is stripped and rolled over and the entire underside of the car replaced.  If no one wants it, I will just junk it.  The repairs that I have done to the car include; new engine mounts, entire ignition system, the cat converter, the windshield, ($1500 with repairs to the window surround), service manuals, Harmonic balancer and a myriad of other bits and pieces.  To replace the brake line entailed dropping the fuel tank to get at the rear splitter.  To reinstall the tank required fabricating new straps, and then the existing mounting nuts to be cut out of the rusted floor and new nuts and flooring installed.  The same needs to be done to the engine cradle.  The floor is so rotten it all needs to be replaced.  If I had somewhere to store it, I would part it out, but as I live in an apartment complex and the only place I can find to store the vehicle is to cost me $160 a month, the Hurricane and after effects have not helped that situation, junking it becomes the only reality.

[harry yarnell]

I feel your pain. I had a beautiful '93 Riviera that was perfect, inside and outside; except for the underside. The whole underbelly was rotten. Brake pipes were replaced, air ride sensors dangled from their wires, as the mounts had rotted away, the suspension looked like it came off the Titanic.. Scrapping it was done to put it out of its misery.

 

I've got a '07 Escalade that too has major rust issues in the engine bay and underneath. Trans cooler pipes rotten, exhaust manifolds rotten to the point of leaking, power steering pump rotten.

Perfect body.

Back in the day, rusted bodies were a big issue. Somehow they (GM) got that fixed with better steel coatings, but they didn't follow thru on the underbelly.

[89RedDarkGrey]

6 hours ago, harry yarnell said:

Back in the day, rusted bodies were a big issue. Somehow they (GM) got that fixed with better steel coatings, but they didn't follow thru on the underbelly

 

The market for "Car Care Products" has nearly tripled over the "Maintenance" category for +20 years now, and Manufacturers have caught on; GQ Public cares more about looks- than function.

 

Everyone wants a clean, shiny car. The choices for wash, wax, polish, scrub, dust, vacuum, shampoo, freshen, etc. are as huge and as numerous for choices as breakfast cereal.

 

Yet- underneath- what do we have? On your back, media blast, wire brush, and POR-15 or something similar to a "truck bed liner" product, which is black, and mostly "unseen". Bare steel brake and fuel lines, and drain holes that haven't seen a drop of water since creation.

 

In my professional years- I'd see beautiful cars, trashed underbody, scared to lift it. Beater, daily drivers- that were rock solid where it counted.

 

People are the same way.

[kiwigram]

The car is the usual red collar with a "tan" interior.Pretty common by Reatta standards.  Harry Yarnell, didn't I used to see you on Tom Rohner's Allante site.  I've had three of them and should have bought another rather than this.

[harry yarnell]

That's me. Had 4 and sold 3. Still have a '91 that I should sell...just lost interest.

[padgett]

Haven't been very active lately, totally occupied with life and my pair are both on collector's policies now. Very little cost to keep in garage but probably should keep the 88 since I consider it a landmark car and sell the 'vert. Just no motivation.

 

Spent my college years in Indiana/Michigan and remember a 67 Eldo that said No Parking on the driver's floor and "70 MPH" on the passenger side. Now live in Central Florida where "rust must be imported".