Performance Upgrades

[Bigcuba]

I need some advice on something. I have a 95 Dodge Neon. I am going to upgrade to a crane camshaft and crane springs. Is upgrading the valves a must? I know they sell stainless steel ones but the only thing i can think of, is that they would be more for higher heat resistence. Like if i upgraded my coil pack and wires. Which will naturally produce a hotter spark but im probably not going that route any time soon. Wont my standard valves do just fine?

And has anyone stop using there power steering? If you have, do you just not use the belt or do you take it out all together? If you do remove the whole pump, how would you go about it? It might me a dumb question but im new in a lot of ways to high performance knowledge.

Im also going to install pacesetter short headers, mopar high performance pcm(computer module), bore throttle body to 55mm, bore and port match intake, rage cold air intake. Any advice on dos and dont are very welcome.

Big Cuba

[71RoadRunner]

Stock valves should be fine, but the stainless ones are very nice and better. The other valve issue is pressure, higher spring rate means more pressure against the valves when closed.

If you want manual steering, you can get it from one that came with it or purchase a new manual steering unit from many different places. The Neons could be purchased with or without power steering, the ACR Neons didn't have power steering. I would not just remove the belt. Swapping the power steering out for the manual steering will drop 70 lbs. off the weight of your car.

If it's a DOHC the stock intake manifold is very restrictive, so I would replace it with the Indy intake manifold, I'm not too familiar with the SOHC intake and if it's restrictive or not.

[Bigcuba]

Thank you very much roadrunner. I see you try and answer a lot of the questions posted. Thats very cool of you. I have a sohc. Now Ive read a few things since i posted this question. In another forum a guy was saying that the stock cam doesnt drop off until about 7200-7400 rpms and that the camshaft should be one of the last things to do. Even with the mods im doing, ill never go past 6800-7000 rpms. Right? I remember reading that allpar says that the stock cam drops off at around 6500-6700. Any input? Now im just thinking that i will change the springs because im around 100,000 and im not sure how worn the springs are. As far a the cylinder head gos that is. Modern performance gives a good list of the priority mods for the 95-99 neon and doesnt ever list the cam as a need. So why spend the money when i can put it else were.
As far as the power steering, i was really leaning towards taking of the pump off all together. So what does a manual steering unit consist of? And is it hard to switch? Thanks for you help. <img border="0" src=smileys/smiley1.gif border="0">

[71RoadRunner]

And Thank You. According to Sport Compact Car magazine with their SOHC project car, they said that the SOHC had the most pathetic cam they have ever seen in any car. I would have to go with allpar, but even if it last to the rev limiter(7,200 stock/7,400 MoparPerformance and trust me, you don't want to bouce against the rev limiter) the SOHC is plagued with a econo cam. The second gen. SOHC is lots better. I would wait until all the bolt ons are in place first then get the Crane cam, it should then make a night and day difference.

The steering swap consists of the rack and pinion assembly. I have never replaced one , so I cannot say how hard or easy it might be, but from the way it looks it shouldn't be too difficult.

Apparently they left out the cam change for the DOHC motor too and the also forgot about it in a turbo upgrade as well, very poor oversight. Here are their cams: http://www.modernperformance.com/dcx...s_for_1995.sht ml<edited><editID>71ROADRUNNER</editID><editDate>38000.2586342593</editDate></edited>