Emily's Carlisle postmortem

Kelevra · Post by **Kelevra** » Mon Nov 01, 2010 2:33 pm

Through the years I've done minor things to my car and I didn't deem any of it worthy enough to make a project log over. But now that my car is 2 months away from being paid off it's time to take some drastic steps towards obtaining what I have always wanted to do.

I've toyed around with the Idea of boosting my car but on the 2.0 I find the idea kinda iffy. I've always been a proponent of doing things right and I feel that the only right way to turbo a neon is to swap in a 2.4L. Sadly I don't have the funds to do so at the moment, what better way to boost the power other than a mag head and intake swap?

Currently on the car

96,xxx Miles (bought 4 years ago with 40,123 Miles)

Engine/Drivetrain:
New short block; replaced under warranty @68,xxx mi
Rebuilt transmission; replaced under warranty @68,xxx mi
CAI w/ K&N filter and solid 'bellows tube'
60mm Throttle body
R/T axle back exhaust

Suspension:
Kazera 1.4"F 1.5"R drop

Appearance:
Black Mopar lip kit
Color matched fiberglass eyelids
Black SXT/RT spoiler
Injector cover ('custom' painted by myself)
Interior LEDs

Sound:
Sony Xplod head unit
Sony Xplod 6x9s

But that's all blowing smoke compared to my upcoming mods. the parts need to be worked and I'm starting this thread to document my progress.

r/tguy02 · Post by **r/tguy02** » Mon Nov 01, 2010 3:40 pm

Looks like you're on your way, just a piece of advice if you're gonna leave that head sit around, take the valvetrain loose so the valves can sit up in the head instead of sticking out. Reduces the chance of messing up a valve or a seat that way.

btw what year head is it?

Kelevra · Post by **Kelevra** » Mon Nov 01, 2010 4:09 pm

r/tguy02 wrote:Looks like you're on your way, just a piece of advice if you're gonna leave that head sit around, take the valvetrain loose so the valves can sit up in the head instead of sticking out. Reduces the chance of messing up a valve or a seat that way.

btw what year head is it?

I was letting the head warm up to room temp before I did anything since it was sitting in my car for a few days. and it's an 03 head

r/tguy02 · Post by **r/tguy02** » Mon Nov 01, 2010 4:31 pm

ah ok, i was just wondering if you were lucky enough to find an 01

Kelevra · Post by **Kelevra** » Mon Nov 01, 2010 5:02 pm

r/tguy02 wrote:ah ok, i was just wondering if you were lucky enough to find an 01

I don't think there was a difference in the heads, just the cams? either way comp 400 is going in

Kelevra · Post by **Kelevra** » Mon Nov 01, 2010 5:44 pm

I took the valvetrain off and all I have to say is DAMN it looks immaculate. I will get pics up in a bit after dinner

Kelevra · Post by **Kelevra** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 2:21 pm

Time for an update!

I got the top 1/2 of the intake sandblasted and the bottom got a nice acid bath

Before:

After:

next comes the paint!

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 2:46 pm

Wow. An update after a year and a half. Slow down you crazy man!

Kelevra · Post by **Kelevra** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 2:52 pm

Danteneon wrote:Wow. An update after a year and a half. Slow down you crazy man!

a year and a 1/2?! no wai! it's only been.... *counts on fingers* THIS MANY MONTHS!

lmao. no, really it's been 7 months since I got the parts in. This log is pretty much focused on the engine though... I should expand it, shouldn't I?

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 2:59 pm

Yeah, I exaggerated a bit. But that was a really long dinner you had...

Kelevra wrote:I took the valvetrain off and all I have to say is DAMN it looks immaculate. I will get pics up in a bit after dinner

So, what color are you going with?

Kelevra · Post by **Kelevra** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 3:05 pm

Danteneon wrote:Yeah, I exaggerated a bit. But that was a really long dinner you had...

Kelevra wrote:I took the valvetrain off and all I have to say is DAMN it looks immaculate. I will get pics up in a bit after dinner

So, what color are you going with?

Yeah. I kinda slipped on that one

I'm gonna go a nice black. I didn't want it powder coated I don't want it too shiny. plus I kinda like the rough texture it has

Any idea how I should prep it for paint?

NEON PARABOLA · Post by **NEON PARABOLA** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 3:11 pm

I realy would powdercoat it, You can get flat textured blacks in powdercoat, or you can do a super high gloss pink. There are as many options with PC as there are with liquid paint process.

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 3:22 pm

Juan had his done in matte red winkle finish, and his valve cover is a matte black wrinkle. It looks damn good.

Kelevra · Post by **Kelevra** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 3:24 pm

Just called the shop. 30 bucks gets it done. gonna have it done next week. will have it all ready by Carlisle!

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 3:26 pm

To give you an idea.

Kelevra · Post by **Kelevra** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 3:29 pm

mmmm that's pretty.

Now.. I'm trying to think if I should have it done in another color o.o

Kelevra · Post by **Kelevra** » Sat Jun 25, 2011 9:39 pm

MMMMM new parts

MSD window switch

And look what showed up today!

Before:

After:

I couldn't get the last AEM coupler to fit on the 60mm TB so I had to buy a crappy autozone one

but I think it looks great and the new, clean, filter makes one hell of a difference!

Oh. And the long awaited picture of the head without the cam or rocker arms (now a little dirty from sitting)

I also got my R/T intake manifold back from powder coating. Pics sometime later this week (Hopefully tomorrow)

kneon1996 · Post by **kneon1996** » Sat Jun 25, 2011 10:14 pm

neontj · Post by **neontj** » Sun Jun 26, 2011 2:30 am

Looks good man.

Kelevra · Post by **Kelevra** » Sun Jun 26, 2011 8:35 pm

And as promised! Pics of the powder coated intake manifold

Kelevra · Post by **Kelevra** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 12:36 pm

Post Carlisle update: The good; The bad; The ugly!

The good:

I got a DC rear strut bar installed, thanks to Jonnymopar! She handles great, was well worth it

The bad:

I didn't get my LCAs installed will be taking heed to the warnings and letting a shop take care of them.

The ugly:

The top plenum on the R/T manifold has a crack on the #1 cylinder runner where the runner meets the mounting flange. I'm not sure what the best route is but as I see it my options are:

1: Scrap the top and sell the bottom plenum with butterflies and actuator and use that money for an AMM one

2: Scrap the top and buy a new top plenum.

3: JB weld the crack or take it to a competent welder who can fix it.

What do you guys think?

r/tguy02 · Post by **r/tguy02** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 7:54 am

dont forget to get those two bolt holes on the IM to head retapped larger so they dont strip out. thats why you still have a high idle. As for the mag IM i'd just put a good bead of JB weld on it.

Kelevra · Post by **Kelevra** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 11:38 am

r/tguy02 wrote:dont forget to get those two bolt holes on the IM to head retapped larger so they dont strip out. thats why you still have a high idle. As for the mag IM i'd just put a good bead of JB weld on it.

My idle is fine now. though I have 2 codes P0325 (knock sensor circuit malfunction) and p0508 (IAC) I have yet to check them out throughly. but I've asked a few people and they said JB weld won't fix it

gilly02le · Post by **gilly02le** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 11:48 am

i bet money jb weld Will fix it. just make sure you sand it smooth afterwards.

You should check to see if you forgot to plug the knock sensor back in. it's one of the plugs you have to disconnect to get the old manifold off.. mounted in the block next to the starter

r/tguy02 · Post by **r/tguy02** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 12:00 pm

gilly02le wrote:i bet money jb weld Will fix it. just make sure you sand it smooth afterwards.

agreed

Kelevra · Post by **Kelevra** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 12:53 pm

I hope you guys are right about the JB weld

INVUJerry · Post by **INVUJerry** » Fri Jul 15, 2011 9:31 am

I wouldn't jb something on the intake path.This bolts to the head of the car. The expansion rate of aluminum and jb weld are vastly different. However, I wouldn't scrap the intake all together. Someone could put it to use, like getting it welded then porting it.

r/tguy02 · Post by **r/tguy02** » Fri Jul 15, 2011 11:45 am

INVUJerry wrote:I wouldn't jb something on the intake path.This bolts to the head of the car. The expansion rate of aluminum and jb weld are vastly different. However, I wouldn't scrap the intake all together. Someone could put it to use, like getting it welded then porting it.

and welding has its negatives as well, if you warp that flange you're screwed. at least with the jb weld you dont risk warping anything. its going to be sealed from the outside anyway, you cant put a big gob of jb weld inside the port, it would flow like ass. The crack isnt all the way around the runner so expansion/contraction should be minimal. This thing doesnt have to hold boost. I'm willing to bet money it will hold with jb weld.