I'll be putting a neon together for my local dirt oval track (single cam/must be NA). My question is.....whats the best year(s) car to have. I was kinda thinking the first gen (95-99)...less weight. Also what kind of power upgrades can i do to this thing to make it scream....Oh, must remain stock (so its going to have to be hidden). Any info will help (don't know much about the cars). Thanks!

 

I would go with the 95 neon as it has the more agressive cam than 96-99 neons and you can put a throttle body from an auto to help throttle response and put on a DOHC muffler from a neon as well.

 

Definity 1st gen, good idea to use a neon, it's something I've always wanted to do with my old one.

I would recomend for performance first off is definitly a good air filter system to deal with all the dirt. I'd go with a K&N system.

Good Luck!

 

You can also polish bore & debur the inside of an allum intake man for some good gains

 

He said SOHC...they are plastic not aluminum.

 

MOST are plastic. There were a handful of aluminum ones made.

I would definitely pick a first gen Neon. If you can only find a '96+ you could always swap in a '95 cam, as it won't be lopey enough to be noticed as a non stock cam.

 

What is your price range because if you have a good amount of money to spend, there is a HUGE number of options you have. Also, by remain stock, does it have to look stock or does it have to be all stock under the hood (no superchargers, turbochargers, etc.)

 

hey i race dirt track with a 96 DOHC , where are you from? PM me & ill give you my AIM screen name & we can talk
if you have to have a single cam you at least want a cam from a 95 engine to help , every little ounce of power makes a difference
theres alot of tricks to get a neon to go good on a dirt track and theyre all legal as far as rules go for 99% of mini stock class cars
rules meanin "stock" means no mods to the engine or driveline whatsoever - no CAI, no headers, no aftermarket PCM - nothing - gut it , cage it, go beat the hell out of it

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MOST are plastic. There were a handful of aluminum ones made.

I would definitely pick a first gen Neon. If you can only find a '96+ you could always swap in a '95 cam, as it won't be lopey enough to be noticed as a non stock cam.
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a 95 cam is still a "stock" cam, it came in a neon, it can be used, its a factory chrystler part, my neon i race had an auto, i took a 5 speed from a 98 r/t - thats still a stock part from a neon, it dont have to be the original, just a factory part, you can mix & match anything as long as its a factory part
also remember 95 neons were 4 lug and those dont last long at all on a dirt track, and you want to run aluminum rims on the right side at least, not steel, the steel ones tear the center out of the right rear wheel constantly

 

Good luck finding one that is aluminum though