87WE2 Posted May 26, 2003 Share Posted May 26, 2003 Hello! I am another proud new member to the world of Reatta. I am not new to Buick though! Been around them since I can remember. I've owned a 1987 GN new, and GNX #509. I am a member of the Central Florida GN Club, and regularly on the Turbo Buick sites. My Grandfather's Electra Limited (now mine) is the most documented (history) car I've ever seen. He got me hooked on Buick. He bought one new every few years since WWII. Anyway, don't want to ramble, but I am clueless about Reatta. If anyone knows where I can find a parts number list (not RPO codes) that I can use to replace worn parts with real GM ordered parts I would be grateful. I got my Reatta from a 17 year old student that got fed up with it after the water pump went last week. Some days you step in it... really! Thanks in advance for any future help! Paul.VIN# 1G4EC11COJB902340 (05/88). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest kennyw Posted May 26, 2003 Share Posted May 26, 2003 first thing is a factory final edition shop manual. Next thing is to talk to Padgett. He is the local Reatta guy for you. One of the best........k Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87WE2 Posted May 26, 2003 Author Share Posted May 26, 2003 Wow, that didn't take long! The shop manual will be first on my to do list. Then I will talk to Padgett. Thanks again, Paul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nittany Posted May 26, 2003 Share Posted May 26, 2003 Welcome!!You've come to the best site for a Reatta owner/caretaker!! After all, we don't really own them, we're just privileged to take care of these wonderful little cars for a period of time.As mentioned above, acquire a final edition service manual specific to your vehicle. More importantly, learn to use the "SEARCH" function on this site. Almost any issue or concern has been previously addressed by someone and often times the solution has already been offered. Hint: if nothing comes up on your first try, think of another name or way to say it. Congratulations on purchasing one of the best Buicks ever manufactured . . . enjoy the ride!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87WE2 Posted May 26, 2003 Author Share Posted May 26, 2003 Thanks! Glad to be among fellow Buick owners (again). This is a great site, set up similar to the Turbo Regal site. I am well versed there. Now if I could only find a club for my 1983 Electra Limited, I'd really be happy. I appreciate the emails, and tips, keep them coming. Knowledge is power. I've sent Barney the email with my vin, to add it to the registry.Paul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest wally888 Posted May 26, 2003 Share Posted May 26, 2003 Welcome! The site below has tons of info, FAQ, and maybe more than anyone wants to know, thanks to Tom Jenkins. While waiting on the FSM read the Brakes section and give the car the brake tests then flush the system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelby Posted May 26, 2003 Share Posted May 26, 2003 Welcome to Group Theropy. If you got your Reatta because of a bad water pump, You are the luckiest guy there is. That is a very easy fix. Put in new hoses, thermostat, Gasket and check for cracks in the radiators plastic tanks.Check the A/C and compressor. It save a lot of timt to replace the A/C Compressor with the Radiator out. Just acouple of things I learned along the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87WE2 Posted May 26, 2003 Author Share Posted May 26, 2003 Group therapy? That's too funny! Look, I don't want to brag, or come off sounding like that, I'm not that lucky... Now with that said, I want to tell you the story behind how I got this car (Parents w/teens listen up, this concerns you too). I know nothing about the car prior to my coming across it last week, but it runs/drives as it is (enough to get it on my truck). I work for AAA Auto Club South here in Orlando, Florida. I handle Emergency Road Service for AAA Fleet (we have our own equipment/employees now). This High School Senior broke down in the school parking lot, had his mom call AAA. I went out there to tow him home. I felt bad for the kid, being in this spot once myself. He had the car for about a year, and loved it. Band-Aided whatever broke because he didn't have any real money to fix it.After the water pump went, he wanted to junk the car for $100. I had no intensions of taking it, but jokingly said I'll give you $200 for it! His mom said $250? (seriously) so what else could I say, but where's the title! The cars at the shop now waiting for after the holiday to fix the water pump/pulley/belt (it broke the pulley off when it went). So that's the story up to this point! Comments always welcome, sorry for going on, and thanks for listening!Paul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howard Posted May 27, 2003 Share Posted May 27, 2003 Man, you have to be kidding about the price! The Reatta was made from the 1988 model year to 1991 model year. The first two years the car was produced only as a coupe. In 90, 91 both coupe and convertiable were produced. Total production is around 22,000 for all models and body styles. Each car was hand built at a special plant in Lansing Mich. called Reatta Craft Centere. For more information about the Reatta, do a search in the forum under the topic of Automobile Quarterly. In November, I and another member retyped a whole article from that publication discussing how the Reatta came to be. As for GM parts. Bad news on that front. While most powertrain items can be picked up without a problem, anything having to do with body and trim, GM no longer services. There are a few parts, but they are few and far between. Never fear. There are a few people that visit on a regular basis that can provide used or rebuilt parts at reasonable prices. In addition I have had some luck with a firm on the net, http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/ . I would say the weakest part on the Reatta is it's braking system. That goes double for the Teves equipped units. The brake system is not really bad, it just needs to have clean fluid every so often. A laspe, well, that could mean the loss of braking without warning. Not good! Check out Wally's post. Enjoy your car. Welcome. You've come to the right place for friendly and helpful information. Howard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Greg Ross Posted May 27, 2003 Share Posted May 27, 2003 <span style="font-weight: bold">Well, there goes the neighborhood!</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold">$250. Reattas, the bottom just fell out of the Market!</span>Seriously Paul, welcome aboard, matters not how you got here, just enjoy.Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87WE2 Posted May 27, 2003 Author Share Posted May 27, 2003 Hi Howard, and Greg. I've learned alot in the last 24 hours about this neat car. I think it's #2340/4708. It's always been here in Florida, and there were three owners before I stumbled upon it. And the price is true (like I said, what are the odds)! GM parts direct is a great site, used it many times for my Grand National. They kill you with shipping, but what can you do. I just need to find the time to put into the car. It needs to be fixed up right. There aren't a whole lot left after 15 years. I took some pics and put them on my website. check it out when you get a chance.Thanks again, and very glad to be here, Paul. http://community.webshots.com/user/87we2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney Eaton Posted May 27, 2003 Share Posted May 27, 2003 Paul....as a Buick owner, I think you will appreciate the Reatta as a modern collectable. Many owners of old Buicks are buying Reattas because they can have a unique modern Buick that their wife will ride in because it has air...in fact, some of the wives are taking over the cars soon after the purchase.I received your note with the vin. Now keep your eyes open for a nicer, low mileage Reatta, there are lots of them in Florida. The cars are out there, in the last two days, I have received notes about two low mileage 1990's...3782 miles in Louisville and 4255 in Mass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted May 27, 2003 Share Posted May 27, 2003 Looks like you have a nice, mid-production (no suede, black horn center if the wheel is original which it may not be - looks like a tan interior married a black interior there) 88 in about #4 condition. Good thing you bought it because my wife would be very unhappy if I brought another home, but for that price... <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />E-mail if you would like to chat BTW I consider the Reatta a toy, a hobby, a life style, and a stress reliever from work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87WE2 Posted May 27, 2003 Author Share Posted May 27, 2003 Hi Barney,First, Sent you an email concerning your request. As for the car, my wife liked them for years before I got this one. I saw the two you mentioned above, their on ebay. Great site, use it daily, but bad for selling cars. Anyway, I need to fix this Reatta before I think about another one. My wife will have my butt! Thanks for the input.Hi Pagett, I would like to answer you in the same thread.I will send you an email directly concerning matters of mutual interest.Thanks everyone for the warm welcome! The water is warmer here then on other Buick websites, that's for sure!Paul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87WE2 Posted May 27, 2003 Author Share Posted May 27, 2003 Padgett,I Tried to email you directly. Came back "The following addresses had permanent fatal errors". Can you email me directly, so I can reply to it.Paul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyByNite Posted May 27, 2003 Share Posted May 27, 2003 Did you delete the "_removemefirst_" from the email address before you sent it. It's just a webmaster trick to make an email address useless to spammers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87WE2 Posted May 27, 2003 Author Share Posted May 27, 2003 Ok, Now I feel stupid. I didn't eaven think about that. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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