1997 Neon 4 door Stocker
 

I have been away from drag racing for about 5 years.. I was the 1997 Track Champion and Race of Champions winner in Div 3 at Indy in my rookie year. I ran a a hired gun for a few years and ran my own cars.. they stopped in 2005.

Now I think it's time to finish one of my "Bucket List" items.. to run a National Event. I only live an hour from Grand Bend Motorplex that holds an NHRA event every year.

What I have to run is my recently retired 1997 Neon 4 door Automatic. SOHC 2.0 litre

Looking at the NHRA site it shows the car has factored 18.22 lbs/hp. I'm not sure which class it would fit into.

I have a few questions.

- Can I run an aftermarket computer?
- Does anyone know if there is a "stocker" cam for the SOHC
- Can you get the stock converter loosened up for higher stall?
- Suggestions for increasing the gear ratio
- Can I got the dash as long as the factory instruments are in place to look stock?

I wish it was a stick... but this is what i have.. so this is what I'm gonna run..

Re: 1997 Neon 4 door Stocker
 

The 4 door sedan breaks at 18.49, making it a natural CF/S, if it's the 132 horsepower factory rated version. It can also run in BF/S and DF/S (sticks and automatics run together in FWD in NHRA, with the stick cars carrying a 100 pound weight penalty. In IHRA, it's a natural DF/SA that can also run CF/SA and EF/SA.

As far as the tech questions, I will defer to someone more knowledgeable than I. If you want, send me an e-mail and I can help put you in touch with some people that can help you.

"Full stock dashboard, including instruments, fresh air ducts and controls must be retained. Heaters/air conditioners may be removed; controls must remain in dashboard. Tachometer, pressure gauges, etc optional", per the NHRA Rulebook .

dragrace1302@verizon.net

Re: 1997 Neon 4 door Stocker
 

Thanks for the help.. I couldn't find that info about where the car fits on the NHRA website.. and can't find my old NHRA rulebook... (it would be outdated anyways).

Re: 1997 Neon 4 door Stocker
 

Nhra rule book is all on line now Nhra site. Good luck with the car.

Re: 1997 Neon 4 door Stocker
 

You can run any computer.
You can run any cam, you are allowed .430 lift there are no cams built for the SOHC that big. Crane and Cam Dynamics both make cams for that engine.
Forward Motion in Delaware can get you a custom converter. But it will not be "streetable", or cheap.
Gear ratio you can get a set of 1.22 side gears. They go for $100 to $200 used They haven't been made for 10 years. Or you can spend a lot more than you could imagine for a set of custom gears..
Try Neons.org to see how to lighten it.
The main problem with the Neon in stock is you have to run the turbo dodges And there is no way you can beat the speed screw. Without a ton of money

Re: 1997 Neon 4 door Stocker
 

Last time I knew Grand bend was IHRA

Re: 1997 Neon 4 door Stocker
 

sorry.. I meant that Grand Bend is IHRA.. fingers before brain...

I'm sure you can still get the side gears at Howell..

Where did you get your LSD Art?

Any suggestion on a computer?

I'll go digging on the NHRA site for the rulebook now...

Re: 1997 Neon 4 door Stocker
 

Don't bet on the side gears from Howell. See them before you buy them.
I use a spool Tim Kish had them made. I think he still has some.
I use a ViPec standalone. The Mopar performance is a lot cheaper, but it isn't going to help much

Re: 1997 Neon 4 door Stocker
 

Are you running the V44 or the V88...

What type of cost will the computer run me?... Will the tranny be computer controlled anymore?

Re: 1997 Neon 4 door Stocker
 

There are definitely thinks you can so with the trans and converter, you'll need as much as you can get.

PM me with questions or if you are coming to Indy stop by and chat.

Re: 1997 Neon 4 door Stocker
 

Thanks... I will definitely do that..

Re: 1997 Neon 4 door Stocker
 

I'm putting my combo together in Desktop Dyno..

The question I have is how many CFM the Throttle Body would flow and the pressure drop it would be measured..

I put it in at 300 cfm at 1.5 inHg..

Here is a dyno pull using the Crane Cam CHR-250-25R-8..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...th_CHR-250.jpg

Here is a pull using the Crane Cam CHR-262-25R-8

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...th_CHR-262.jpg

Re: 1997 Neon 4 door Stocker
 

I'm running the V44.I think you get get it up and running for less than $2000. The only thing that is linked to the ECU is the lockup part of the converter.
Try Neons.org there are a lot of guys there running SOHC engines with Mega squirt set ups. That would save you a lot of money.
Upon further thought I don't know if you can run the ViPec system because you need to use a crank trigger and I'm not sure if thats legal

Re: 1997 Neon 4 door Stocker
 

Art.. do you have a list of acceptable replacement pistons.. and the minimum deck height allowable? I didn't see it in the blueprint..

Re: 1997 Neon 4 door Stocker
 

I doubt there are any accepted pistons. You would have to get someone to make you a set. If you are going to do a whole motor you would be a lot better off with a manual trans.
instead. More bang for the buck. Tim and I use automatics. But a manual would be quicker.
The deck height would be in the blue print guide.
Tim and I both run highly modified motors, nothing on them would check legal in stock.
He runs a 2.0 I run a 2.4.

Re: 1997 Neon 4 door Stocker
 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...n/th_NHRA1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...on/th_NHRA.jpg

This is all NHRA provided for the blueprint..there is no mention of deck height..

So I suppose I can't throw in a set of KB241 pistons and be legal?

Re: 1997 Neon 4 door Stocker
 

Deck clearance is 0.0
Not unless NHRA accepted them.

Re: 1997 Neon 4 door Stocker
 

So what is the stock deck height so I can tell the machinist...

Would replacement pistons bought from the dealer be ok when I bore the block?

Re: 1997 Neon 4 door Stocker
 

I would try for a 2 to 5 thousanths down the bore. Oversize stock factory pistons are okay.
Not sure about the head gasket thickness though. Use the MLS The DOHC is about .040 thick.

Re: 1997 Neon 4 door Stocker
 

OK.. thanks..

Re: 1997 Neon 4 door Stocker
 

This might an obvious statement but...

Can I remove the air bags.. and when i remove the pass air bag.. what can i put in it's place to fill the hole.. ( I'm not sure how the passenger bag is held in)...

Re: 1997 Neon 4 door Stocker
 

I was looking through the IHRA Rulebook and 18.49 would put me in DF/SA..

I don't have an NHRA rulebook but I'm CF/S in NHRA?

Re: 1997 Neon 4 door Stocker
 

Have the dealer order you a Mexican Neon passenger air bag cover. The mexican versions had an insert for the dash to replace the US air bag.

Re: 1997 Neon 4 door Stocker
 

If you run a manual trans you will need the gear set from a 1.6 L car. They had a 4.12 FD.

Re: 1997 Neon 4 door Stocker
 

I will be running an Auto tranny

Re: 1997 Neon 4 door Stocker
 

I have a manual in my CF/S Daytona, no problems.

Re: 1997 Neon 4 door Stocker
 

Up until 2003, NHRA and IHRA had the same 16 FWD classes (AF to HF, stick and auto). IHRA still uses this format. In 2004, NHRA decided to go to four FWD classes. AF to DF, with sticks and auto's run together (sticks carry a 100 pound weight penalty). A few years ago, they added a new A class, and what was A through D is now B through E. It totally obsoleted my old car that I drove for Billy Nees. What was an HF/SA, 18.60 Index, 2,510 pound minimum weight in the 27.5 pound class, became a DF/S (now EF/S), 17.75 Index (that is now 17.45), 2,295 pound min wt, in a 25 pound class.

But yes, 18.49 makes your car a DF/SA in IHRA on a 15.60 Index, and it's an NHRA CF/S on a 15.15 Index.

Re: 1997 Neon 4 door Stocker
 

I'm gonna need some good ponies to get my neon under the index then...

Re: 1997 Neon 4 door Stocker
 

You can add/subtract weight, too, to move to a Class with maybe a better Index for that weight.

Re: 1997 Neon 4 door Stocker
 

NHRA CF/S, the top of the class weight break is 17.5. Minimum weight for C would be 2,480 pounds. 15.15 Class Index

IHRA DF/SA, the top of the class weight break is 18. Min Wt for DF/SA is 2,546 pounds. 15.60 Class Index.

If your car can not get that light, you could always run DF/S in NHRA and EF/SA in IHRA (19 pound class for both, 2,678 pound min wt in both. 15.60 Index for NHRA DF/S; 15.90 Index for IHRA EF/SA).

Re: 1997 Neon 4 door Stocker
 

The number one qualifer at Indy was a PT Cruiser convertible, GT, turbo charged and it ran in the 13's. you'll have a hard time competing with a turbo car with a normally aspirated engine.

JimR