95 Neon sedan

Any good? Thinking Spec Neon or some endurance series (do Neon and Endurance go well together?).

I can get it for next to nothing and I kind of like it.

My random post of the month.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Aquafina &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">95 Neon sedan
(do Neon and Endurance go well together?).
.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Chrysler and endurance are rarely in the same sentence together.

 

Figured. How are they for Spec Neon? I didn't pay much attention to them at the one stinger race I watched.

 

My friend has an ACR Neon and drives/races the **** out of it. I personally like the car, it reminds me of a four door LS (driving wise).

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tornadom &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">My friend has an ACR Neon and drives/races the **** out of it. I personally like the car, it reminds me of a four door LS (driving wise).</TD></TR></TABLE>

I have a 98 Neon ACR twin cam and the car is a blast. It doesn't get driven now due to a rod knock after 100,000+ miles. I will fix it and sell it, but I really enjoyed the cars spartan race car like amenities and it handles very good for a semi-race car.

 

For the right price, they're neat cars. The SOHC version should be quick in ITA trim. The DOHC version gets too much lead, IMO. If you're not racing ITA, either would be fine. I seriously considered one before getting my Miata - actually would have bought one, but Laura wanted a Miata.

The original head gasket design is flawed, but I think they fixed it. If it hasn't had the fix, it will need it.

Front bearings wear out faster than some other FWD cars, so carry spares.

The suspension design isn't the best, but isn't the worst either - you can make them turn with some work.

Those are the biggies. Otherwise, with regular maintenance, they seem to make good track cars.

There are severeal factory hop-ups that can be used - I think Dodge has changed the parts listing to indicate the PT Cruiser valvetrain for all Neons (not sure of the difference, check the Neon forums). IIRC, the newer SOHC head can be made to fit the older SOHC engine, if you're running an open class or lapping.

 

Be careful... make sure you get one with 5-bolt hubs. Some early 95's had 4 x 100 mm hubs with tiny brakes designed to fit under 13-inch wheels. I used to own this model and the brakes did not cut it on the track, which led me to upgrade to the 5-bolt setup.

 

I have also heard of issues with the engine wire harness being fragile and wires breaking in the showroom stock racecars- not sure if this was the heat or excessive rocking motion of the engine...

 

It is 4x100 I believe.