The R/TErnie Neon Project log

New Build...

2008-01-20T18:30:00.000-08:00

I'm in the process of building my engine and prepping the car. The current list of parts purchased for the car is below

Engine Specs:
1998 2.4L Block
undersized and polished crankshaft
ACL coated main and rod bearings
SRT-4 Rod/Piston/Ring combination
ARP head studs
Cometic headgasket
SRT-4 tensioner/oil pump/pan/waterpump/etc
2.0L DOHC head with MPP lash adjusters and 2.7L rocker arms
TTI Street underdrive pulley
Setrab Oil cooler

Drivetrain Specs:
Clutchnet 4 puck custom clutch and aluminum flywheel
DSS Stage III axles w/hubs
3.94 .81FD 5 speed transmission

Engine Management/ Fuel System:
ver.3 Megasquirt 'n Spark (MSnS-Extra) w/upgraded ignitors and 3bar MAP
New RS-Autosport wiring harness w/ AIT, CLT, and Injector clips
PLX-300 Wideband
CBR Coil on Plug modules for COP conversion w/ Denso Iridium plugs
SRT-4 Stage 1 Fuel Injectors
Custom R/TErnie Fuel Rail
Walbro 255lph Fuel pump
-8AN Fuel lines
SX 1:1 Fuel Pressure Regulator
Surge tank system

Turbo System:
R/TErnie Top Mount T3 Turbo manifold
Garrett GT3582RLS Turbocharger
TiAL Sport GT35R SS V-band turbine housing
TiAL Sport 44mm V-band wastegate
TiAL Sport 50mm Blow off valve
2.5" Aluminum IC piping, T- bolt clamps, Black silicon couplers
25x9.5x3.5" Bar and Plate Intercooler
R/TErnie 3" Turbo back exhaust v-band
Greddy Profec B Spec II EBC
R/TErnie Race Intake Manifold
70mm Throttle body

Other:
Autometer CF Boost gauge
Autometer CF Water temp gauge
Autometer CF Oil pressure gauge
Gauge pod

I'm considering buying Brian Crower Connecting Rods and CP pistons, T850 transaxle with the quaife differential or a clutch type/OBX for the T350 gear box, Brian Crower Stage 3 cams w/springs and retainers, and Fidanza cam gears.

As of right now...I'm finishing up a few other projects before I dive into this one. However I'm attempting to get the block and the head to the machine shop so the process can begin. Decisions...decisions...decisions...

Starting the modifications...

2008-01-20T18:15:00.000-08:00

The car was quickly modified... receiving these parts shortly after its inception.
-Koni Adjustable Shock Absorbers
-H&R Race Springs
-Energy Suspension Bushings (only a few installed)
-Hawk HP+ brake pads
-Brembo Blank brake rotors
-Motul 600 brake fluid
-Falken Azenis RT-615 195-60R-14's

I fabricated a few parts including
-I welded 15mm bolt-head onto rounted out 1/2" drive tension hole for the powersteering bracket.
-Short throw shifter w/a threaded post and installed a skunk2 shift knob (jdm y0!)

Here is the car after the above modications were performed.

2007-09-17T15:09:00.000-07:00

My first car was a Red 2 door 1999 Dodge Neon R/T. It had a few bolt ons and ran a 14.9@92mph. After a few subsequent tickets and my desire to drag race a vehicle that the bank owned... my "parental funding" was discontinued. The car was sold in 2002 to a girl attending Eastern Oregon University...and I see it around here and there. Call it sentiment or whatever, I really enjoyed the car and I missed it. Here is a picture of the car at Woodburn dragstrip during 2002 Mopar Nationals.

Entering my freshman year of college I purchased a Red 2dr 1996 Plymouth "Sport Coupe" for 600 dollars. It was worth every penny! The car was completely beat and the sohc engine was on its last legs...as I found out. (lost oil pressure on a freeway on-ramp) I built a 2.4L srt-4 internalled engine for the car and equipped it with a 60trim Garrett Turbocharger along with a slew of goodies. SDS EFI, 1000cc injectors, AN fuel system, custom 3" exhaust, fabricated an intake manifold, 65mm mustang throttle body, yada...yada...yada... The car made 394whp and 387ft lbs of torque on 28psi. The transmission withstood one measly short-shifted pass at 11.80@124mph before it exploded into thousands of tiny bits of gnarled metal.

The fall of my senior year of college was closely approaching and money was tight...more parts were sold off the car to pay for books. During my 5th year at college (switched majors :P) I got the car back together with a srt-4 turbocharger setup. This setup made 267whp and 391 ft lbs of torque on 29psi. The car was daily driven to work at HorsepowerFreaks for another 8 months before the purchase of my 2000 Dodge Dakota SLT (fully loaded! and 36k miles to boot!) The car was then shuffled from shop to shop before being retired in 2007 to "parts storage."

This brings me to my current neon... In September of 2007 I flew to San Jose, California and bought a 78k original mile red 1999 2dr Dodge Neon R/T. Here are the pictures of the car when I got it home.

I didn't take too long and the car was up in the air receiving some much needed TLC.