Budget Track Neon....Totalled....Got a SC Miata Now!!

patiofurnituregt · Post by **patiofurnituregt** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 3:13 am

I have a 2000 Neon that was kinda a frankenstien OEM Neon, cuz it came w/ rear disc brakes and the white guage cluster w/ tach, traction control, and cruise control...but had no power options and it was an ATX, so its a kinda weird neon. Since I've had the car I've done a bit here and there as far as suspension and handling goes...along with some grass roots budget modifications. (I'll have pictures of it as is soon)

But this sunday I'll finally have a chance to swap out my ATX for a T-850 from a friends SRT-4. Along with the swap I hope to get the front knuckle/ hub assembly with rotors and calipers. And if time allows to install a new header and do a custom side exit exhaust. That way I can later work on making a rear diffuser for when I get to areodynamics tuning.

INVUJerry · Post by **INVUJerry** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 4:03 pm

Be warned, the SRT transmission weighs around 200 lbs, where the regular t-350 weighs about 85-90 lbs, but if its cheap or free, do it.

patiofurnituregt · Post by **patiofurnituregt** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 1:15 am

Well, the plan is to also do an SRT-4 motor swap as well...just dont have the funds for it right now. But atleast it'll be ready for the motor!

And I've been thinking that the extra weight in front for now isnt a bad thing...in terms of handling, because Im thinking it will help to reduce understeer and make the car feel more direct or "point to point" kinda thing. Plus I should also get the front bake setup for free as well

patiofurnituregt · Post by **patiofurnituregt** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 4:27 am

So its taken a lil longer than I expected due to lack of access to the shop I work at but in a week I've got the tranny in and the pedal assembly/ slave master cylinder and shifter/ cables. SRT-4 steering wheel. I also got my MTX ECU ordered in a couple days a go. And today I did the brakes,hub, brake line swap, the SRT calipers clear the snowflakes by like a millimetter its insane, but I think I'm gonna use a 3mm spacer lol. Any ways heres some pics

Next I need to work on making an adapter from the intermediate shaft brace to the block, since the 2.0's never came with equal length half-shafts.

Tranny pulled

New tranny in! and came with a bonus AGP tranny mount!

Slave master cylinder mounting location

The sweet SRT shifter

As the car sat w/ ACR BBS's

J-Villa · Post by **J-Villa** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:10 am

i love those bbs's! too bad reg neons didn't come with them

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:33 am

Coming along nicely! Well done

NeonOn19s · Post by **NeonOn19s** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 6:23 pm

lookin good!!!!

MyNeonSaysHi · Post by **MyNeonSaysHi** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 1:24 am

Damn straight, looks sick with those BBS's. Good luck with your "Budget track car" Show those Honduhs and imports whats up for me.

patiofurnituregt · Post by **patiofurnituregt** » Fri May 02, 2008 11:55 am

So the ATX to SRT MTX swap is done, finished it at 4am this morning....it was a long night.

I'll have somew pics up soon, the biggest hassles of the whole swap was the CMC alignment through the firewall and getting the "angle of the dangle" right, Next I had to fabricate an intermediate shaft brace since the SRT one does not bolt to the 2.0 block for obvious reasons, Lastly my intake manifold hit the starter with the SRT tranny installed, so I had to fabricate a new plastic intake manifold, it's a

ghetto blaster

but it works great and doesnt look to bad either.

Other than that today I need to get an alignment and bleed the brakes again.

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Fri May 02, 2008 5:59 pm

Damn, can't wait to see the pics!

patiofurnituregt · Post by **patiofurnituregt** » Sat May 03, 2008 10:32 pm

So here are some pics from the tranny swap..

The SRT steering wheel and center console

The snowflakes just barely clear the calipers, I cant even fit my fingernail between the wheel and the caliper, it's nuts, but it doesn't hit!!

I had to have the plastic piece monted upside down, because the CMC fork was broken off the tip so I had to weld a fabbed piece and it was a lil crooked, but you get the idea as far as "the angle of the dangle"

My ghetto blaster, I had to fab one because the 2g manifold hit the starter, but I overkilled on making the runners short because now I have like 3 inches of clearance. Also my relocated MAP sensor and brake booster vacum line...Ghetto I know but did want to risk ruining the manifold I spend 3 hours making.

The bare trunk area..100lbs shaved

The SRT power steering rack

I will try and get pics of the intermediat shaft brace I had to make when I go to work tomarrow.

patiofurnituregt · Post by **patiofurnituregt** » Wed May 07, 2008 3:08 am

Alright so my car died the other day, I left to go to a friends house and then went back home, then when I went to start my car to leak again it would not start, I double checked the relay, the starter selenoid and every thing worked but for some reason it would not want to turn over, even though the fule pump would kick on and everything else worked......So I finally decided to fix this problem I would just go directly to the source and make sure the starter turned over when I wanted it to....I decided to do a push button ignition, and it worked like a charm. So now just key on, and push button and we have lift off.

It was also super easy to do!

Mazda787b · Post by **Mazda787b** » Thu May 08, 2008 12:49 am

Did you use the S2k, or Ignited button? Or just a regular Momentary Push-button switch?

patiofurnituregt · Post by **patiofurnituregt** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 3:05 pm

I used a momentary push button...

I Just got in AGP solid motor mounts and booger bushings. They will be installed this weekend when I get to put the tranny back in my car after the clutch disk came seperated from the center. It also wasnt the stage 1 clutch that I had ordered so it was warrantied. Its just sucks to have to replace it...

Pics soon

patiofurnituregt · Post by **patiofurnituregt** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 6:39 am

So my head gasket decided to go a few weeks ago, so looks like I have that and some other preventative maintainence to do...Went and bought:
-MLS HG
-Timing belt
-Head bolts
-Water pump
-Acc. belt
-Alt. belt
-Exhaust gasket
-NGK Iridiums
-Oil filter
-Coolant
-Mobile 1
-Brake cleaner

I will try and log the work and steps I take if peopel are interested!!

I decided against replacing the Timing belt tensioner because the car needs to be able to run until mid-summer. Once, I have had a few pay checks from my engineering internship, so afford to finish my SRT-4 swap.

And once I get some of my scholarship checks I will be able to buy my BC coilovers in February from PT performance or possibly modern perfromcance...Can't wait..

sullivan · Post by **sullivan** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 9:40 pm

nice car man, ill definaatly be striiping my trunk also!... could you also post a pic of the full car with the painted snowflakes!

patiofurnituregt · Post by **patiofurnituregt** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 1:40 am

I'll make sure to do a lil photoshoot once I get it fixed. But these are the only pics I have right now.

^The hood isn't messed up, its just propped.....

^Wheel Close-up

sullivan · Post by **sullivan** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 5:26 pm

nicee i like it!

Speeder · Post by **Speeder** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 9:10 pm

i'm lov,n the painted rims

jake_tim · Post by **jake_tim** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 9:53 pm

Car is coming along nicely. However, from a track standpoint I am not sure stripping your trunk was the best thing. A front wheel drive vehicle already has an extreme weight bias to the front end. Further reducing the weight in the back makes this bias even more pronounced. Maybe you should relocate the battery at lease to the truck; it should help the imbalance.

just my $.02

sullivan · Post by **sullivan** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 10:26 pm

^^^ but it all depends in his driving style... if he drives faster "loose" then it may actually be to his advantage.

patiofurnituregt · Post by **patiofurnituregt** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 11:24 pm

Well the headgasket is replace along with the water pump, TB, alt belt and assec. belt., and a new T-stat since the previous one managed to break somehow during use! lol

I do plan to reloctate the battery to the trunk, but haven't really felt like doing it until I get my engine and harness for the SRT swap.

I am planning on order some Ksport coilovers tommorrow and think I may stick with the 8k and 6k setup, with 8k in front. I thought about going stiffer but I don't want to stress the valving too much and have them go out prematrely. With this setup I think it will be pretty decent. The WC SRT's run like 10k front 12k rear with no front swaybar, so I may ending switching the front sway from 26mm to stock, but we will see. The car drives pretty well it has really good turn in and rotates well, the car is definatly under dampened though and could stand to be ALOT stiffer

Also for auto-x spec I will be removing my A/C. I don't really care about the class I'm going to be in I just want to have fun..

patiofurnituregt · Post by **patiofurnituregt** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 3:43 am

Correction!!....Just bought coilovers $\:D/$ .

Ksports should be here next week!

Will have some pics of the headgasket overhaul.

patiofurnituregt · Post by **patiofurnituregt** » Sat Jul 25, 2009 5:51 pm

So I haven't been on here in forever! and thats cause I actually totaled the neon a couple weeks after I installed the coilovers. It happened to be very late at night just finished studying a Sh*T ton for an exam the next day dropped off a friend and was unfimiliar with the road...it was dark and wet and I thought I was going at a reasonable speed when a sharp 90 came out of nowhere it seemed like and understeered of the road and over a curb.

patiofurnituregt · Post by **patiofurnituregt** » Sat Jul 25, 2009 6:06 pm

However, I did end up buying a new car a month ago for $4k! Its a 94 Mazda Miata with 90k original miles and super clean, clean title. IT had been raced and came with a lot of stuff!!

It had a Jackson Racing M45 supercharger, header and cat. Magnaflow catback exhaust. Tokicko Illuminas with GC sleeves and a Hard Dog double diagnal roll bar.
Although I HATED the paint job it was in such nice shape and qaulity that I said fuck it more go fast parts!!

Heres what it looked like when I bought it:

I have since bought Sportmax 002's with RT-615's, AEM EMS w/ map sensor, AEM water/ Meth injection, Megan coilovers, Custom intake, Throttle body relocation and Turbo XS BOV, Energy suspension bushings, and I'm sure more stuff I can't think of..

My friend at the shop I got tuned at hooked my up with some used couplers I needed free, and they happened to be red and white..LOL

After my tune I managed to make probably the highest numbers for this Supercharger at 5psi

It's a blast to drive handles amazing and quick as hell!

neonslg09 · Post by **neonslg09** » Sat Jul 25, 2009 6:11 pm

sick miata.

03wingswestR/T · Post by **03wingswestR/T** » Sat Jul 25, 2009 6:13 pm

where are the neon coilovers? still got em?

neonslg09 · Post by **neonslg09** » Sat Jul 25, 2009 6:20 pm

03wingswestR/T wrote:where are the neon coilovers? still got em?

even if he did, one is sure to broken.

03wingswestR/T · Post by **03wingswestR/T** » Sat Jul 25, 2009 6:23 pm

so ill rock 2 lol

patiofurnituregt · Post by **patiofurnituregt** » Sat Jul 25, 2009 6:27 pm

They went with the car I think they were all okay actually but I didnt want to risk finding out that one was bad! I could have bought the car back for 500, but the coilovers new were 800 and I didn't want to bother dismantling the car, I just ripped off what I could.