Hello from Temecula, California

Arro · Post by **Arro** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 6:07 pm

Hi, I'm in Temecula, California, best known for wineries... it's between San Bernardino and San Diego.

I'm working on my friend's 2000 Neon SE automatic, but she just bought a 1990 Toyota pickup w/ a slight lift.. really slick lookin'... anyways the Neon is probably ending up with me.

So far I've just attended to the outside... when I was given custodianship, it had a silver door, a black fender, and a bondo-covered quarterpanel that could be best described as "terra cota" potery. The rest of it was still factory (dingy) red, with various dents and dings.

Since then the body was fixed, the car painted "Viper" red, the dingy headlights replaced w/ projector units, the taillights replaced with similarly-styled pieces to match the headlights, and an SRT-4 carbon fiber hood.

It rolls on reasonably light 16" chrome five-spokes, w/ Falken Ziex 205/55 grippy street tires. Inside the front wheels are a pair of stock-sized crossdrilled & slotted rotors... the originals were very blue lol.

I just bought SRT-4 struts/shocks and 2.25" cat-back exhaust, and will be buying the SRT rear disc conversion parts on Friday (well most of them for now). I'll be sleeving those SRT struts n' shocks, too.

My engine plans are (at the moment) a 2.4L SOHC swap, with an ATX to MTX swap, a Maddog 33% STS, and.... ??? Who knows? It's tricky to squeeze through smog testing with changes because of the damned mark II OBDII, which is why I'm limited to SOHC (as far as I am aware).

I started out in the early to mid 90's with turbo Chrysler 2.2/2.5 cars, graduated to DSM turbo, then to Nissan turbos. Now here I am again with a Dodge heh. I have lots of questions, of course. YES I know how to use the search feature, but that doesnt mean I still wont ask quick questions even if I could have spent three days searching for a two minute answer

I'll post pics of the car when I get home this evening.

welchspro · Post by **welchspro** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 6:26 pm

Welcome! you will find tons of useful information on this site.

Chibits12 · Post by **Chibits12** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 7:02 pm

Welcome! Enjoy the stay!

jckevns · Post by **jckevns** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 8:06 pm

Welcome and don't worry people here aren't as anal about the search feature as people on neons.org. I'm not saying don't search but don't be afraid to ask

And lets see the pics

03wingswestR/T · Post by **03wingswestR/T** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 9:18 pm

welcome! im new and this site is great!! you will enjoy it.

TNK · Post by **TNK** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 10:20 pm

welcoem to 2gn. sounds like tyouve got a good start as well as big plans. keep us posted on teh progress and get us pics!!

OB · Post by OB » Thu Apr 26, 2007 12:33 am

welcome check out the CA 2GN section in the regional boards. we're having a meet in july and all 2gn members are invited!

kc2005ptgt · Post by **kc2005ptgt** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 12:39 am

nice to see another oldie on this board

I am really 32, not whatever my age says I am now.

I use to live in vegas and spent a lot of time in San Bernie area, and my brother lives in Monterey right now, used to be in SD... nice too have you along!!! Sounds like you know a lot about cars too.

Arro · Post by **Arro** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 2:24 am

Thanks for the warm welcome

After a long discussion with a friend, I have reconsidered my engine options. A complete SRT swap-in, trans and PCM and all, is not only legal, but will get me the results i want. Plus I can turn up the boost a bit and in two years detune it back to normal for testing

Well, at least the CF SRT hood scoop will serve a purpose now lol.

Yeah, I'll try to attend something.

I have pics but I have to wait till morning! Sorry!

dblsg · Post by **dblsg** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 3:37 am

w00t w00t for the old guys

welcome to the site

OB · Post by OB » Thu Apr 26, 2007 3:40 am

yeah the srt swap is a killer idea if you have the cash and the means to do the job. pretty much everyone one here who has a regular neon would probably have that motor if they could afford it! check out the threads in the CA section and see if you can make it to an event!

fearingdark · Post by **fearingdark** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 10:10 am

!!WOOT!! !!IE!!. i'm in hemet moval and san diego. welcome.

check out the regional forums for the socal club and the meet

WykedHellFire · Post by **WykedHellFire** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 10:12 am

welcome, we come in peices..uhh, i mean piece!

graf AXEL · Post by **graf AXEL** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 10:13 am

welcome to 2gn. in the event of fire due to the faulty wiring or the fireworks factory upstairs, you will be incinerated, along with your valuables you have stored in your anus.

...uh.

WykedHellFire · Post by **WykedHellFire** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 10:14 am

graf AXEL wrote:welcome to 2gn. in the event of fire due to the faulty wiring or the fireworks factory upstairs, you will be incinerated, along with your valuables you have stored in your anus.

...uh.

QFT

biggrobb1995 · Post by **biggrobb1995** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 11:13 am

Welcome to the site. Plenty of info. Old guys FTMFW!!

Arro · Post by **Arro** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 11:29 am

fearingdark wrote:!!WOOT!! !!IE!!. i'm in hemet moval and san diego. welcome.

check out the regional forums for the socal club and the meet

Yup, I tend to organize stuff, so expect me to rally a local-yokel meet soon.

Ok off the top of your heads, what does a swap like that cost? That's engine AND trans. I'll deal with my own intercooler.

WykedHellFire · Post by **WykedHellFire** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 12:41 pm

ide say buy a totalled srt-4 fur bout 4k? i think thats bout right depending on how totalled it is. then swap everything from there. it's what i plan on doing. now if your talking labor too then idk...i will have to find that out myself when I start doing it.

Arro · Post by **Arro** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 12:50 pm

Yes, but FINDING one is gonna be a bitch. Labor? That's all me where possible

I have a hoist and a garage.

Here are some pictures as promised:

I'm going to mask off the front and spray a flat black inside the airdams. It was overspray from the cheapo Earl Scheib paint job, but it's far better than how it USED to look.

Badgeless:

Well, sorta...

I'll take some night pictures to show the tails and projector headlights lit up. I'll try to put them on here tonight.

We had the side rubstrips and the OEM spoiler removed and the holes filled when the car was painted, and there's some decision needed on a spoiler... I'm torn between the uber-expensive Kaminari spoiler and the Celica TRD spoiler. I think the latter is going to win out.

And here is the kit I want to go with (Kaminari):

kc2005ptgt · Post by **kc2005ptgt** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 1:07 pm

I go full on kaminari - looks like some Good potential!!

welchspro · Post by **welchspro** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 2:44 pm

check ebay for srt motors, i found some last night for around 2500...just a thought

OverDrive418 · Post by **OverDrive418** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 3:59 pm

Welcome!
Sounds like you got a hell of a plan for your car, keep us posted.
I vote whole Kaminari kit and wing. That particular kit looks so sweet in red. (funny how some kits look better in certain colors than others, anyone else notice this?)

NeonOn19s · Post by **NeonOn19s** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 5:15 pm

welcome to the site

TNK · Post by **TNK** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 9:56 pm

not a bad lookingcar.... but IMO it needs a drop adn some different wheels. and also put a stock grill back in between theheadlights, would look much better....

Arro · Post by **Arro** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 12:34 am

TNK wrote:not a bad lookingcar.... but IMO it needs a drop adn some different wheels. and also put a stock grill back in between theheadlights, would look much better....

Tyhe SRT struts/shocks are on the way in the mail, and I plan to sleeve them w/ coilovers and lower it 1.25" ONLY.

I verymuch dislike that chrome grille bar. I plan to spraypaint the radiator and hood latch hardware flat black, and I may use some kind of honeycomb grille material to cover it, but the factory grille bar isn't returning

FYI peeps, before the Kaminari kit comes the engine/trans.

Before that comes the coilovers.

OB · Post by OB » Fri Apr 27, 2007 4:23 am

sounds like a good plan. better start lookin for that engine!

Arro · Post by **Arro** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 12:58 pm

What's wrong with my wheels?

Okay, so at first I didn't like them either... I mean they weren't horrible to me... but they've grown on me. Besides, they're 16", and the tires are good tires, so I'm reluctant to change them until everything else is done.

Yeah, chrome has a little "bling" factor, but man, when I use the MacGuiar's wheel cleaner, they twinkle nicely. Besides, they'll prolly look fine with a 1.25 - 1.5" drop.

What I personally dislike about them is they show just how pathetic the stock brake system is. The wheels look virtually-empty compared to previous cars I've owned with reasonably-sized brake systems. And drums in the back? Ack.

And NO, I promise I WILL NOT paint my rear drums something ghey like red or yellow LOL

The conversion crap is on the way. SRT in the rear, and not long after, SRT in the fronts.

KrackstaR · Post by **KrackstaR** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 1:06 pm

Arro wrote:What's wrong with my wheels?

Okay, so at first I didn't like them either... I mean they weren't horrible to me... but they've grown on me. Besides, they're 16", and the tires are good tires, so I'm reluctant to change them until everything else is done.

there is nothing wrong with your wheels some people are anit chrome.. your wheels look good they arnt gawdy. Nice car.

TNK · Post by **TNK** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 9:42 pm

my MAIN issues with your wheels:
1. chrome.
2. too small.

they dont look bad, but there are better choices IMO

hansken_yo · Post by **hansken_yo** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 11:45 pm

Welcome Yo...

SRT brakes FTW!!! I can't believe how much better my braking power is compared to stock!

Goodluck man