parabola's project log-New oil pan

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NEON PARABOLA
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parabola's project log-New oil pan

Post by NEON PARABOLA » Fri Dec 30, 2011 8:45 am

My car is a black 2003 neon sxt.

I purchased her June 24th 2008 from plaza pontiac buick jmc in Omaha,nebraska with about 120,000 miles on her.

Plans for Le Future:
Radiator brackets (powder) -DONE
upper motor mount (just spray painting that gloss black)-DONE
Radiator fill cap (spray gloss black)
Radiator shroud (powder gloss black)
Oil fill cap (buying a billet one from MP, powdercoat red)
VALVE COVER (powder gloss red)-Done
rear sway bar
CORRECT front sway bar bushing kit
get a fuel rail to powder coat-DONE
paint hvac bezel same red color
POSSIBLY get lower controll arms installed-Done


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The day i drove her home (I only had a learners permit)

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This is about 6 months later, I had gotten some depo tail's and did some pin striping.

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Then we JUMP two years to last summer

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as you can see, new headlights,tail lights,markers,eyelids,stripe,srt seats and other small stuff I was able to do on my own.

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about a year later the car was down due to over heating and In that time,I decided it was time to tone it down a bit and I removed the side mouldings and 99% of the stickers/stripes.

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It looks kinda plain.....

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I'm contemplating going back to how it looked in june of '10 but I wana know what you guys think 1st before I order the vinyl :P

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Well,
Sarah got me a eBay CAI for Xmas, and last night I had time to put it on. It was fun and took me a few hours (I clean everything I take out, and clean all parts I can get to when I remove something)

I had to go get two breather filters since the hose they included was a joke. They cost me 10 bucks each, but look kinda cool IMO.

Im glad I had that powder coated battery tray I did laying around, since that is MUCH more visible without that air box. The tray that came on the car will now be stripped and PC'd and probably given to d-railed or sold.

I am a bit nervous however that the filter will fall off and I will suck crap into my engine, I pulled on it and it seemed tight,but I worry wayyyyyy tooooooo much
_____________________________________________________
New struts were put in on Saturday with the help of Daryl (d-railed neon) and friend Rob. The day started out at noon ( it's the weekend) and with the help of some beer things got started quickly. Old struts were out and new ones in rather quickly. The plan was to replace the lower control arms as well but we decided to make that a project for another day. After the new struts I drove home and the ride was nice but I knew something was wrong as my steering was sloppy and downright scary at times ( pulled to left and right randomly) After a front end alignment the problem was still there and the mechanics suggested new tires..... ( uhhh....no) so Today I left work with the goal of tearing the front end apart and checking every bolt to make sure nothing was loose. sure enough I had loosened a bolt on the lower control arm and had thought that I hadn't loosened it. In fact I had backed it out by a 1/4" or so. After tightening that I decided to FINALLY address the motor mount issues (needed replaced) So new motor mounts and inserts later, and the car handles beautifully! as a side note, I was finally able to powder coat my cold air intake today. A nice deep red to match the battery trey.


PICS!


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Old ones OUT!

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The sun makes it look orange but its realy same color as the battery trey

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removing sway bar bushings....
(come to find out, I got sent rear sway bark bushing kit instead of fronts.....sad day :( )

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strutless!


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on the stands

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realizing I had got the wrong bushing kit....fml

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The end of a great day! :)


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thanks for the help Daryl!
_____________________________________________________
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Closeup-
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and my next project......

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UPDATE!

Powder coated the spare tire hold down hardware:
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and did an injector cover 9I do NOT like this plastic with liquid paint crap...)
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and color matched grille trim again. thank god!
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The valve cover is clean and ready to be masked and powdercoated, excited! I hope to do that tomorrow (Friday) after work!


_________________________________________________________
5/4/2012

so! do you hoes remember this!?

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well now it looks like this!

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cant wait to put it on!!!!

next plan:

possibly a coil pack cover
lower controll arms
rear sway bar



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woohoo! was a very fun project!!!

___________________________________________________'
9-10-2012

God damn is my neck soar, I replaced the oil pan over the weekend, I was planing on doing a regular oil change, and installing an oversize drain plug rather than spending the moneys for a whole new pan and gasket. Well, I went to start the oil change and the plug nearly pulled straight out! I DODGED A HUGE bullet! thing could have easily lost grip while driving and left me with a blown engine. I thank GOD that it did not. I fudged around with the oversized drain plug and I finally said screw it, and me and dad ran to the parts store. I'm here to tell you, oil pan replacement is a breeze. I ran into no snags, and it was done within a hour from the time i got back with the new pan.

Now I need to find the source of this damn vibration. Only does it in the mornings after it's sat all night. does it when i accelerate, and at stop lights it has a real choppy idle. Goes away completely in neutral. after it has been driven, it goes away and it wont do it on the way home from work. My upper and lower torque struts are torqued to spec. I'm not sure what to make of it.

:banghead:
Last edited by NEON PARABOLA on Mon Sep 10, 2012 10:32 am, edited 13 times in total.
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-Sean
Official "I'm driving my neon till' it dies #28

BLK 03' NEON SXT 150,000 MILES

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NEON PARABOLA
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Post by NEON PARABOLA » Fri Dec 30, 2011 9:47 am

:twisted:
Last edited by NEON PARABOLA on Thu Apr 26, 2012 9:26 am, edited 1 time in total.
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-Sean
Official "I'm driving my neon till' it dies #28

BLK 03' NEON SXT 150,000 MILES

ianguilly
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Post by ianguilly » Fri Dec 30, 2011 9:53 am

I liked the red graphics, I think it would look good lowered aswell.
-Neon #3 1999 Neon R/T coupe,DOHC MTX
-Neon #4 1998 Neon Alpine green coupe SOHC MTX -daily shit box

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DodgeEvo
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Post by DodgeEvo » Fri Dec 30, 2011 5:46 pm

Looking good and keep taking pics.
Patrick

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NEON PARABOLA
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Post by NEON PARABOLA » Fri Dec 30, 2011 6:35 pm

Thinking of going to home depot and buying a nice shiny black hose to connect where the breathers are. is there any benefit to one of the other?
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-Sean
Official "I'm driving my neon till' it dies #28

BLK 03' NEON SXT 150,000 MILES

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NEON PARABOLA
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Post by NEON PARABOLA » Sat Dec 31, 2011 12:55 pm

So I think I need to focus on the front end 1st,the bumper is cracked to hell,I'm missing the grille inserts and a badge and my eyelids are craacked.......it makes me sad. I wana do the 02 swap real bad but geting a new 03 bumper is cheaper......idk
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-Sean
Official "I'm driving my neon till' it dies #28

BLK 03' NEON SXT 150,000 MILES

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sidepipe87
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Post by sidepipe87 » Sat Dec 31, 2011 2:38 pm

should have put a vacuum cap over that nipple on the pipe between the filter and the throttle body instead of a breather filter... leave the breather filter on the valve cover

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NEON PARABOLA
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new struts!!!!

Post by NEON PARABOLA » Mon Mar 12, 2012 11:25 pm

:rockon:
Last edited by NEON PARABOLA on Thu Apr 26, 2012 9:27 am, edited 2 times in total.
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-Sean
Official "I'm driving my neon till' it dies #28

BLK 03' NEON SXT 150,000 MILES

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D-Railed_Neon
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Post by D-Railed_Neon » Tue Mar 13, 2012 12:43 pm

you are quite welcome sir :thumbup: However, MOOOOAAAARRRR PICS! :twisted:
MY PROJECT LOG My Old 2002 ES AND My 2003 SXT

It is not that we cannot be friends, it's that you are a zombie, and I am almost out of ammo. -Someone

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Public Disturbance
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Post by Public Disturbance » Tue Mar 13, 2012 1:05 pm

Looking good sir looking good

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NEON PARABOLA
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Fuel rail

Post by NEON PARABOLA » Thu Mar 29, 2012 10:28 am

:thefinger:
Last edited by NEON PARABOLA on Thu Apr 26, 2012 9:28 am, edited 1 time in total.
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-Sean
Official "I'm driving my neon till' it dies #28

BLK 03' NEON SXT 150,000 MILES

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D-Railed_Neon
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Post by D-Railed_Neon » Thu Mar 29, 2012 4:33 pm

Looking sharp!. That pic honestly doesn't do that fuel rail justice. I saw it firsthand last night and its absolutely gorgeous. Thing freaking pops!. Somebody help this guy out with getting a magnum high output injector cover. Those wires drive me crazy, and the natural black and red would finish that area up imho. Otherwise, nice work brother! :rockon:
MY PROJECT LOG My Old 2002 ES AND My 2003 SXT

It is not that we cannot be friends, it's that you are a zombie, and I am almost out of ammo. -Someone

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NEON PARABOLA
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Post by NEON PARABOLA » Thu Mar 29, 2012 4:35 pm

I found a rattle can from rust-olium, and the red is nearly a exact match for the powder, so i THINK if I can get my hands on a injector cover, i will paint the entire thing and do the letters black....

I'm posting better pics tonight hopefully :rockon:
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-Sean
Official "I'm driving my neon till' it dies #28

BLK 03' NEON SXT 150,000 MILES

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MyNeonSaysHi
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Post by MyNeonSaysHi » Fri Mar 30, 2012 12:35 am

AWesome work, that engine bay is coming together nicely. Its also good to see active 2gners near me! Check your local junk yards! I am sure you can find a 2.0 injector cover from a 2gn.. PRetty common, then paint the lettering red.

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NEON PARABOLA
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Post by NEON PARABOLA » Sat Mar 31, 2012 1:31 pm

:beatstick:
Last edited by NEON PARABOLA on Thu Apr 26, 2012 9:28 am, edited 1 time in total.
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-Sean
Official "I'm driving my neon till' it dies #28

BLK 03' NEON SXT 150,000 MILES

Spaz
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Shift knob

Post by Spaz » Tue Apr 03, 2012 4:42 pm

I got a red shift knob from here. I love it and now my friend and his wife have two for there 1st gen one purlpe one blue and my younger brother has a black one.

http://www.custombilletstore.com/Billet ... /10065.htm

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NEON PARABOLA
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Post by NEON PARABOLA » Tue Apr 03, 2012 4:47 pm

Pretty sexy stuff, a little on the $$$$ side tho....
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-Sean
Official "I'm driving my neon till' it dies #28

BLK 03' NEON SXT 150,000 MILES

Spaz
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Post by Spaz » Tue Apr 03, 2012 6:09 pm

yeah it is thats the only downfall.

loroku@aol.com
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Post by loroku@aol.com » Fri Apr 06, 2012 1:44 am

what no performance parts???? the earlier vynls lookd good needs different wheels tho. the muffler looks pretty good
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NEON PARABOLA
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Post by NEON PARABOLA » Sun Apr 08, 2012 2:16 pm

loroku@aol.com wrote:what no performance parts???? the earlier vynls lookd good needs different wheels tho. the muffler looks pretty good

what performance upgrades would you recommend for a daily driver with a ATX and 145,000 miles? lol
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-Sean
Official "I'm driving my neon till' it dies #28

BLK 03' NEON SXT 150,000 MILES

loroku@aol.com
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Post by loroku@aol.com » Mon Apr 09, 2012 12:26 am

low boost turbo :rockon: 230whp :beatstick:
you could jack all the parts from an atx gt crusier :D
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pm me for all your HID retrofit needs
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NEON PARABOLA
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Post by NEON PARABOLA » Fri Apr 20, 2012 10:58 am

:cussing:
Last edited by NEON PARABOLA on Thu Apr 26, 2012 9:29 am, edited 1 time in total.
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-Sean
Official "I'm driving my neon till' it dies #28

BLK 03' NEON SXT 150,000 MILES

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D-Railed_Neon
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Post by D-Railed_Neon » Fri Apr 20, 2012 4:16 pm

Those brackets look awesome man! And that valve cover is gonna be all sexy and what not lol. Keep up the great work man :thumbup:
MY PROJECT LOG My Old 2002 ES AND My 2003 SXT

It is not that we cannot be friends, it's that you are a zombie, and I am almost out of ammo. -Someone

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NEON PARABOLA
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Post by NEON PARABOLA » Thu Apr 26, 2012 9:58 am

bump for update in post #1
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-Sean
Official "I'm driving my neon till' it dies #28

BLK 03' NEON SXT 150,000 MILES

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NEON PARABOLA
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Post by NEON PARABOLA » Fri May 04, 2012 7:58 pm

friday freeky bump
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-Sean
Official "I'm driving my neon till' it dies #28

BLK 03' NEON SXT 150,000 MILES

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RobsProjectSOHC
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Post by RobsProjectSOHC » Sat May 05, 2012 11:16 pm

boooo, i wanted to see it on.
so far so good though, lol
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NeonNick925
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Post by NeonNick925 » Sun May 06, 2012 2:15 pm

coming along nicely man!
2000 Plymouth Neon ACR/T hybrid 3 speed auto•now a 5 speed•




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NEON PARABOLA
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Post by NEON PARABOLA » Mon May 07, 2012 9:24 am

RobsProjectSOHC wrote:boooo, i wanted to see it on.
so far so good though, lol
next weekend my friend, gasket kit is on it's way :)
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-Sean
Official "I'm driving my neon till' it dies #28

BLK 03' NEON SXT 150,000 MILES

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NEON PARABOLA
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Post by NEON PARABOLA » Mon May 14, 2012 10:24 am

got the valve cover installed! looks schweet!
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-Sean
Official "I'm driving my neon till' it dies #28

BLK 03' NEON SXT 150,000 MILES

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D-Railed_Neon
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Post by D-Railed_Neon » Mon May 14, 2012 10:54 am

looks freaking sweet indeed! nicely done sir :thumbup:
MY PROJECT LOG My Old 2002 ES AND My 2003 SXT

It is not that we cannot be friends, it's that you are a zombie, and I am almost out of ammo. -Someone

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