racer's 2004 Neon SXT

glasswars · Post by **glasswars** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 5:08 pm

I love the rear mats. Why do you want a srt-4 acr cover so bad? What's so different about it?

Post by **racer12306** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 5:27 pm

the SRT-4 ACR came with a full size spare, dodge made a special cover so that it completely covered the spare

there are some pictures in this thread: http://forum.2gn.org/viewtopic.php?t=17 ... ht=srt+acr

Post by **racer12306** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 5:54 pm

I finally got the antenna finished.

I have also started on my udp/volt gauge project. JonnyMopar sent me a srt boost gauge housing and I figured I would mount that up this weekend since I had some time. Took me a little while so that I didn't over cut, but I think it came out well.

Post by **racer12306** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 1:10 pm

volt gauge has been ordered. i really hope the green in the gauge matches the stock green illumination

Post by **racer12306** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 2:30 pm

forgot to include that i will be painting the lettering on an injector cover to match the body.

and i think im gonna get a led 3rd brake light now and color match it graphite.

Post by **racer12306** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 10:21 pm

I finally got the side markers and the third brake light tinted. I was going to do a little photo shoot, but it was getting dark and I wanted to get home. Maybe I'll head over to Towson University tomorrow for a couple since they are all on spring break.

To my surprise the volt gauge came in about mid day on monday. So I spent the afternoon on Monday and the morning on Tuesday installing it. It wasn't your standard install because if turned out to be a very shallow gauge and I had to design and machine a custom spacer and another way for it to be held down for it to work in the srt boost pod. I got everything all wired up and ready to go, hooked it up and the gauge read wrong. I measured that it should be 13.9V at the lead wires for the gauge, so all voltage drop through the lines would have taken place, and the gauge only read 13.0V. So I sent the gauge back to JEG'S, and I am going to get an Autometer Phantom gauge in its place.

I didn't take any pics of the gauge on, but it was a nice green color that would have matched the stock illumination well. I did take a few pics of it mounted up in the gauge pod.

I also cleaned up one of my injector covers and installed the bolts for it. I tried using Scotch-Brite and a cleaner but the old paint wasn't coming off so I very lightly went after it with some fine grit sand paper and it came off well. Cleaned it with some cleaner, and it was ready for paint.

Before

(I put it on to see how it looked, never actually had one before)

After

The plan is to paint the lettering graphite and then clear it. I am a little worried about how the paint will hold up to the heat under the hood, so cross your fingers that it lasts.

I will be doing it a little differently than it is from the factory. Instead of painting the tops of the raised letters, I will also be painting the slopes as well. I tried to cut out just the tops after masking it off, and it didn't look too good, so instead of messing it up, I'm gonna give this a shot and see how it comes out.

I also made a couple of videos of me shifting. For those that don't remember it is a manual trans.

Automatic Stratus for comparison

Post by **racer12306** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 11:55 pm

Updated To Do List
* tinted side markers - DONE
* udp/voltmeter/srt boost gauge housing - udp here(install 3/23), pod installed, voltmeter in the middle of a warrenty return
* horn - changed mind, im a scardy cat of the police
* color matched 3rd brake light - led board ordered, paint matching will wait til summer
* full size spare - JonnyMopar looking for a 15" wheel/tire combo
* SRT-4 ACR spare tire cover - FOUND ON EBAY, ON ITS WAY
* new floor mats - installed
* make a new catch can
* make short antenna - DONE
* switch back to stock radio and get the adapter from crutchfield so my xm will plug into the cd changer port - stock radio in, probably order adapter at the end of may

TNK · Post by **TNK** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 1:00 am

wewt wewt! coming along good frank! but i still say you needa do the tails... and yoyu ned pics of the volts gauge on.... i needa get an SRT boost gauge pod....

Post by **racer12306** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 1:08 am

ill have pics of the new volt gauge. the one that was supposed to go in is on its way back to JEG'S. a little disappointing, but i didnt want to mess with it anymore so i just got the autometer phantom because its known to work and autometer is a reliable brand.

TNK · Post by **TNK** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 1:13 am

i love my autometers. i have volts and a/f. unfortunately, i crossed my wires on the volts gauge and i think i toasted it. btu it worked great before.

Post by **racer12306** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 1:13 pm

i got the underdrive pulley installed last nite. took me about 4 hours of taking my time and rigging up a pulley puller from a harmonic balencer puller. but it went pretty smooth. only have a blood blister and a busted knuckle, not too bad for working in tight areas.

i do think acceleration from cruising while at lower rpms is smoother. didnt feel anything during normal acceleration through the gears.

no pics, didnt take any of the install and its all back together now.

i decided to give the little bottle of touch up paint a try on my injector cover, rather than taping it all up and spraying it. i think it came out ok. might end up going back and stripping it again and spraying it so its even. ill post pics of it later.

Updated To Do List
* tinted side markers - DONE
* udp/voltmeter/srt boost gauge housing - udp/pod installed, voltmeter in the middle of a warrenty return
* horn - changed mind, im a scardy cat of the police
* color matched 3rd brake light - led board ordered, paint matching will wait til summer
* full size spare - JonnyMopar looking for a 15" wheel/tire combo
* SRT-4 ACR spare tire cover - FOUND ON EBAY, ON ITS WAY
* new floor mats - installed
* make a new catch can
* make short antenna - DONE
* switch back to stock radio and get the adapter from crutchfield so my xm will plug into the cd changer port - stock radio in, probably order adapter at the end of may

i think its coming along pretty well.

Chibits12 · Post by **Chibits12** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 11:21 pm

Your car's coming along nicely. Lol at the horn, cops ftl.

TNK · Post by **TNK** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 12:46 am

what horn were you gonna rock?

Post by **racer12306** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 12:53 am

a loud 130+dB air horn, pretty much the same one JRM___s was gonna run

TNK · Post by **TNK** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 1:25 am

you still got it... giveittahme...

hansken_yo · Post by **hansken_yo** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 1:33 am

I was considering doing something similar with my valve cover (before the accident) and, man, it is hard to do any contrasting color that won't stand out against the graphite.

The lettering looks good, but it is hard to see the difference with the black background (maybe its the picture.)

The tinted side markers look awesome btw.

Post by **racer12306** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 1:35 am

i never got around to buying it Mike

the injector cover does look better in person, just realized i never put pics of it here. gonna do that now.

edit: pics of the injector cover. i might just end up buying a new one. i will probably give painting it another shot first, but will tape if up and spray it. but if that doesnt come out well, ill just buy a new one.

TNK · Post by **TNK** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 1:43 am

where did you get your boost gauge pod? how much was it? where can i get one cheap

Post by **racer12306** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 1:44 am

i got it from jonnymopar for cheap.

i think they are normally available at the dealer for like $20. let me go check something.

Post by **racer12306** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 2:01 pm

got the volt gauge all setup, except my illumination isn't working right for some reason, so i have it setup so its on all the time, when the car is on.

i received the LED board from nitehawk this week, and its going in tomorrow.

Updated To Do List
* tinted side markers - DONE
* udp/voltmeter/srt boost gauge housing - DONE, except for illumination
* horn - changed mind, im a scardy cat of the police
* color matched 3rd brake light - LED board is here, install tomorrow
* full size spare - JonnyMopar looking for a 15" wheel/tire combo
* SRT-4 ACR spare tire cover - FOUND ON EBAY, ON ITS WAY (probably going to get screwed on it though)
* new floor mats - installed
* make a new catch can
* make short antenna - DONE
* switch back to stock radio and get the adapter from crutchfield so my xm will plug into the cd changer port - stock radio in, probably order adapter at the end of may

Post by **racer12306** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 7:50 pm

volt gauge pictures

01WhiteNe0n · Post by **01WhiteNe0n** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 12:29 pm

Coming along very nice .. I wanna put a oil pressure where ur volt guage is

or mayb on the pillar

Post by **racer12306** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 12:13 am

i talked to autometer today and they said the problem maybe that i am not using the correct ground. they said since its and incandesent bulb instead of an led, its different. so i will hook it up the same way that jonnymopar has his hooked up, the illumination and illumination ground on the HVAC cluster. they suggested that one too.

MY SPARE TIRE COVER CAME TODAY, WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.

i really thought i was going to get screwed on that deal

Post by **racer12306** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 3:09 am

led 3rd brake light was installed today. it was pretty simple. the hardest part was routing the wires but i gave up on that and i zip tied it for the time being to the trunk supports. im in the process of collecting a bunch of the plastic clips that dodge used to secure the wiring for the 3rd brake light and trunk popper. then im going to drill a few holes and use those. then it will look like it came that way. ill put some pics up tomorrow nite, maybe mon nite..

its pretty cool looking.

Post by **racer12306** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 12:44 am

pics and a vid

^this was when i only had the middle portion hooked up

crappy nite pic of my gauge

TNK · Post by **TNK** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 12:54 am

nice lights and voltage gauge. the phantom gauge is a good looking gauge.

Post by **racer12306** » Mon May 07, 2007 12:44 am

Figured I would give a little update

To Do List
* fix illumination on the volt gauge
* full size spare - JonnyMopar looking for a 15" wheel/tire combo
* make a new catch can
* get the adapter from crutchfield so my xm will plug into the cd changer port
* make custom LED underhood lights w/OEM-look and finish
* make a CA180 brace
* possibly make an aluminum skid plate (debating that now)

Completed
* make/install short antenna
* new floor mats
* switch back to stock radio
* SRT-4 ACR spare tire cover
* tinted side markers/third brake light
* UDP
* Autometer Phantom Voltage Gauge in an SRT Boost Gauge pod
* Pistol Grip Shifter w/boogers and JM bushings
* LED 3rd brake light

TNK · Post by **TNK** » Mon May 07, 2007 1:20 am

you're so gay frank.

Post by **racer12306** » Tue May 08, 2007 10:21 am

bump with a couple of updates to my to-do list

Post by **racer12306** » Thu May 10, 2007 5:07 pm

more changes, i just keep adding stuff

To Do List
* fix illumination on the volt gauge
* full size spare - JonnyMopar looking for a 15" wheel/tire combo
* make a new catch can
* get the adapter from crutchfield so my xm will plug into the cd changer port
* make custom LED underhood lights w/OEM-look and finish
* make a CA180 brace
* possibly make a skid plate (debating on material, might be lexan, aluminum or steel. lexan is looking good and cheap)
* try to make my own front and rear strut tower braces

Completed
* make/install short antenna
* new floor mats
* switch back to stock radio
* SRT-4 ACR spare tire cover
* tinted side markers/third brake light
* UDP
* Autometer Phantom Voltage Gauge in an SRT Boost Gauge pod
* Pistol Grip Shifter w/boogers and JM bushings
* LED 3rd brake light