Dodge Neon SRT-4?
 

Billy? Mark?

The 2003 car is an 11.46 pound car, and the 2004 car is a 10.59 pound car. The 2003 car will run AA/FS at 2656 pounds, and the 2004 car will run AA/FS at 2865 pounds. 13.50 index. They reportedly run high 13s, stock.

Your thoughts?

Re: Dodge Neon SRT-4?
 

I don’t remember which exact year it was, but there was a local guy that ran the points meets occasionally at Cordova and Earlville that could go a second under. I think it had the mopar perf ecm and slicks. Add a lineloc and you are good to go. Not sure how long they can take the abuse stock, but I would think you could make most any solid used one run the index with some tweaking. Good news is that they are all stickshift I believe. Probably the only reason there are not more of them racing

Here is qualifying for Earlville with chuck blossoms entry inAF/s. I am sure Chuck flogged his a bit, but I know the other guy was not sciences out and still was fast. I know chuck passed away. Maybe his car is for sale?

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=145185

Re: Dodge Neon SRT-4?
 

Remember a red neon SRT-4 that was driven several times to the Earlville Divisional & qualified well. The owner would camp beside it at the track. Told me he worked as a concrete finisher.

Re: Dodge Neon SRT-4?
 

Jim Wahl had one so did Charlie Blossom but he pasted away.

Re: Dodge Neon SRT-4?
 

Wasn't that the same combo in Charlie's wife's PT cruiser he also raced time to time? It was fast.

Re: Dodge Neon SRT-4?
 

The '05 isn't listed in the classification guide, and there are different engine specs for the '03 and '04 car.

I'm just spit-balling here, but I'm guessing if you swapped the front tires for the shortest slicks or autocross tires that will fit, along with removing the spare tire, jack, lug wrench, trunk mat, floor mats, and exhaust system, you'd probably be under the 13.50 AA/FS index, on pump gas, even if it was still overweight.

But it might be a challenge to go rounds with three pedals and an H-pattern shift.

Are there any auto-trans cars that are similar to these things? I probably wouldn't want a PT Cruiser.

Re: Dodge Neon SRT-4?
 

Don`t forget that you would have to run a NHRA approved race fuel, does NHRA have any unleaded fuel on the list? Would a car like that also need to have a SFI dated clutch assembly, if it is a stick car?

Re: Dodge Neon SRT-4?
 

vp-c 10

Re: Dodge Neon SRT-4?
 

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

Re: Dodge Neon SRT-4?
 

That would be a driver problem , not a car problem. ;-)

Re: Dodge Neon SRT-4?
 

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

Re: Dodge Neon SRT-4?
 

I appreciate that. Thank you.

Re: Dodge Neon SRT-4?
 

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

Re: Dodge Neon SRT-4?
 

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

Re: Dodge Neon SRT-4?
 

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


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Re: Dodge Neon SRT-4?
 

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?

Re: Dodge Neon SRT-4?
 

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.

Re: Dodge Neon SRT-4?
 

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


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Re: Dodge Neon SRT-4?
 

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

Re: Dodge Neon SRT-4?
 

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