The Oldsmobile Connection

88delta88 · Joined: 09 Jun 2003 Posts: 2400 Location: Canada

Any one who owns a late 80's style delta88 should know what I mean about arm rests on the driver & passenger door panels breaking. Mine are attached quite well at the back of the arm-rest, but the front plastic attachment has snapped.

I think its a common misconception that those are the handle that you pull the door closed with. That, mixed with cheap plastic manufacturing meant it wouldnt stand the test of time...

Anyways, I am thinking of ways to repair this problem so that it does not happen again. I have attempted in the past, but failed. Has anyone already done this, and if so, how did you solve the problem? Just want some input before I start glueing, epoxying and possibly making the situation worse??? :-)

netta johnson · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2003 12:17 pm Post subject: hi

hi, I just bought a delta 88 hurse, and there is some damage on the side pannel doors, when you do find out Id love to see how it works out!

Primer Death · Joined: 08 Jun 2003 Posts: 102 Location: Maine

those straps are cheap... my Poncho has them too

2 hurses here now! Wanna race?

Hans · Joined: 28 Aug 2003 Posts: 156 Location: Pocatello, Idaho

Those handles are designed to pull the door closed with. But GM sucks at how they make stuff. I know what you mean.

The bigger problem is the fact they used cardboard for the entire door panel, and the plasic clips that attach the cardboard panel to the metal come out of the cardboard......

Soluition:

replace with machine screws

85cieraholiday · Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2004 11:41 pm Post subject:

On my car, the door straps are getting a little weak. The drivers one feels like it wants to fall off. GM sucks at maken small stuff like that.

86Delta · Joined: 06 Nov 2003 Posts: 281 Location: NJ, USA

hey 88, that happened on my car too, i went the junkyard, tore off a door panel and took off the armrest. it screws on from the back. it was pretty easy for me considering my interior is blue, which most of them are i think, might have a hard time finding a tan interior witha good armrest. i say take off the door panel, unscrew the armrest, unscrew the broken part and JB-Weld it back together. that stuff works great.

Brando · Joined: 06 Jun 2003 Posts: 3051 Location: Michigan, USA

86Delta wrote: it was pretty easy for me considering my interior is blue, which most of them are i think

I'd say that maroon is a pretty popular interior color too.....blue and maroon...those are pretty popular :shock:

TOC Admin
Brando

Cutlass95Ciera · Joined: 27 Jun 2003 Posts: 433 Location: Portage, Michigan

Anyone with a 90 up ciera with power windows will notice that after a few years, and about 8 different owners, the panel for the power windows and the door opener on the driver door will break off. IMPOSSIBLE TO REPARE. I ended up screwing it to the door. But that was my old car, and I'm very careful with my new ciera :lol:

PhethawateInAn88 · Joined: 24 Feb 2004 Posts: 3 Location: Kansas City, MO

I know exactly what your talking about. My car had that problem when i got it. I tried Duct tape, Super glue, and Super glue and duct tape. They only held for a few weeks to a month. Then after I crashed it I was gonna steal the armrest off of the parts car I got and paint it to match the rest of my interior. But when I pulled it it seemed to of had the same promblem but it had a better fix someone bent a piece of scrap and drilled holes and attached it to the door and where the angled screw under the window switch console. I just took the metal piece and put it in my original armrest. that was almost 2 years ago and i haven't had a problem with it since. If you can figure it out I'd recomend that over glueing of any kind.