Dodge Neon SRT-4?

[jimmyhyink]

Hey Jim,I think the guy you remember was John Becker,nice man. And yes he did drive the car to events,and slept on a cot next to the car. If I remember right he went three rounds at a IHRA div. race at Cordova. JImmy HYink

[6130]

Originally Posted by The Hawk

Don`t go with auto cross tires. Use only a drag type tire. We found that out the hard way a few yeas ago.

I appreciate that. Thank you.

[james schaechter]

Originally Posted by jimmyhyink

Hey Jim,I think the guy you remember was John Becker,nice man. And yes he did drive the car to events,and slept on a cot next to the car. If I remember right he went three rounds at a IHRA div. race at Cordova. JImmy HYink

That is him! Thanks Jimmy. John always had so much fun when he was at the track! He had a wood and canvas army cot and would literally unpack it and sleep next to his car on it! Here is a link to a race he was at,

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=191590

[stock1080]

What happened to Mr. Blossom car. That thing was "the Bomb" wouldn't mind driving that at our Alstar races. love being chased.

[Jim Wahl]

Yup, I had a 2004 SRT4 and finally sold it last year. My best was 12.82 @ 108 in AF/S. The car weighed 3048 with me in it. Not much done to it. Opened up the exhaust (biggest improvement) slick (short M/T) . The 2004 was the best choice as it had the best differential of the 3 years of production and the biggest injectors. Stock cam, never had the valve covers off. Had the stock OEM Turbo clutch, Sachs made them for MoPar. Had a short shifter and poly bushings. Changed factory tranny/diff oil to Mobil one "high mileage" 40wt. motor oil. Rated at 230hp but dynoed way more than that! That's about it. It was a little rocket and got 33 mpg on the highway! Jim


.

[6130]

Originally Posted by Jim Wahl

Yup, I had a 2004 SRT4 and finally sold it last year. My best was 12.82 @ 108 in AF/S. The car weighed 3048 with me in it. Not much done to it. Opened up the exhaust (biggest improvement) slick (short M/T) . The 2004 was the best choice as it had the best differential of the 3 years of production and the biggest injectors. Stock cam, never had the valve covers off. Had the stock OEM Turbo clutch, Sachs made them for MoPar. Had a short shifter and poly bushings. Changed factory tranny/diff oil to Mobil one "high mileage" 40wt. motor oil. Rated at 230hp but dynoed way more than that! That's about it. It was a little rocket and got 33 mpg on the highway! Jim


.

Okay, I did a little research...

Intact cars look fairly affordable and readily available.

I understand that Bogart will make (and has made) 15" drag race wheels for the SRT-4.

Mickey Thompson part number 3109 is a 22.0/8.0-15 ET Drag slick in their L8 compound, that weighs about 14 pounds.

I looked up the T-850 transaxle gearing, and with a 22" tire, a 3.53 final drive, and a .97 4th gear, it looks like it would go through at about 5,700 rpm in 4th gear at the 108 mph that you were running.

Energy Suspension makes solid urethane lower control arm bushings. Booger Racing makes solid urethane shifter bushings. BWoody Performance makes solid urethane engine/transaxle mounts.

Hurst makes a short shifter for it.

There are aftermarket tuners available to increase the boost and so on.

There are numerous 3" downpipes available.

How much stuff did you have to take out of it, to get it to that weight? How much more stuff would have to come out of one, to get it to the AA/FS weight if I wanted?

Did you run a wideband O2 sensor?

Were you launching it off a 2-step?

Would I need a line lock for the rear brakes, or could I just use the OEM parking brake? (I've drag raced a lot of things over the years, but I've never drag raced a front wheel drive car.)

What kind of suspension set-up (in terms of springs, damping, ride height, and alignment) would be best for something like this? Low and stiff, to minimize weight transfer?

[Philip Saran]

I've got a buddy back in SOCAL who has a 2004 that he used to Autocross and
I believe he has aftermarket axels in it.

[Jim Wahl]

Originally Posted by 6130

Okay, I did a little research...

Intact cars look fairly affordable and readily available.

I understand that Bogart will make (and has made) 15" drag race wheels for the SRT-4.

Mickey Thompson part number 3109 is a 22.0/8.0-15 ET Drag slick in their L8 compound, that weighs about 14 pounds.

I looked up the T-850 transaxle gearing, and with a 22" tire, a 3.53 final drive, and a .97 4th gear, it looks like it would go through at about 5,700 rpm in 4th gear at the 108 mph that you were running.

Energy Suspension makes solid urethane lower control arm bushings. Booger Racing makes solid urethane shifter bushings. BWoody Performance makes solid urethane engine/transaxle mounts.

Hurst makes a short shifter for it.

There are aftermarket tuners available to increase the boost and so on.

There are numerous 3" downpipes available.

How much stuff did you have to take out of it, to get it to that weight? How much more stuff would have to come out of one, to get it to the AA/FS weight if I wanted?

Did you run a wideband O2 sensor?

Were you launching it off a 2-step?

Would I need a line lock for the rear brakes, or could I just use the OEM parking brake? (I've drag raced a lot of things over the years, but I've never drag raced a front wheel drive car.)

What kind of suspension set-up (in terms of springs, damping, ride height, and alignment) would be best for something like this? Low and stiff, to minimize weight transfer?

OK, here goes as best as I can remember. The shifter was a "Mad Dog" short shifter with poly bushings. This is the best shifer out there for these cars. Travel is very short and the gates are positive. WOT shifter can be done with this shifter. No linelock. Be careful if you use the parking brake! It sometimes hangs up at the worst times! No wide band, no two step. I used an AGP boost device. Very nice unit. You MUST be able to adjust your boost. Stock axles. Stock SRT ones are pretty beefy. Suspension was stock except for poly motor mounts. All three. This is a must. Engine movement on launch can break the oil pan. Full 3 inch exhaust from turbo back. Stock SRT (Sachs) clutch works well. Don't lower the car! Stiffening the rear so it doesn't squat will help but I drove the car on the street so it was a harsh ride like that. Spare tire etc. out of the trunk was all I ever took out of the car. My car had the optional Kicker stereo system and a sun roof. (more weight).
That's about all I can think of. With wide band tuning and good race fuel I don't see why it couldn't have run low 12's with ease. Especially if it were a race only car. If you have any more questions don't hesitate to ask.

I absolutely loves that car but I had way too many cars. Had to downsize. Now I wish I had it back, but that ship has sailed. I won't tell you what it WHP dyno'ed but let's just say it would amaze you! Jim


.

[6130]

Originally Posted by Jim Wahl

OK, here goes as best as I can remember. The shifter was a "Mad Dog" short shifter with poly bushings. This is the best shifer out there for these cars. Travel is very short and the gates are positive. WOT shifter can be done with this shifter. No linelock. Be careful if you use the parking brake! It sometimes hangs up at the worst times! No wide band, no two step. I used an AGP boost device. Very nice unit. You MUST be able to adjust your boost. Stock axles. Stock SRT ones are pretty beefy. Suspension was stock except for poly motor mounts. All three. This is a must. Engine movement on launch can break the oil pan. Full 3 inch exhaust from turbo back. Stock SRT (Sachs) clutch works well. Don't lower the car! Stiffening the rear so it doesn't squat will help but I drove the car on the street so it was a harsh ride like that. Spare tire etc. out of the trunk was all I ever took out of the car. My car had the optional Kicker stereo system and a sun roof. (more weight).
That's about all I can think of. With wide band tuning and good race fuel I don't see why it couldn't have run low 12's with ease. Especially if it were a race only car. If you have any more questions don't hesitate to ask.

I absolutely loves that car but I had way too many cars. Had to downsize. Now I wish I had it back, but that ship has sailed. I won't tell you what it WHP dyno'ed but let's just say it would amaze you! Jim


.

Thanks, Jim. Sounds like it was a good car.

[craiger]

DIME ROCKET DIME ROCKET MAYBE I'll build one quick and dirty using the internet as guidance figure I could have it together under 8,000 dollars


crazy craig