A Little Help Please...
#1
10-15-2008 | 11:06 PM
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From: Oshawa Ont. Canada
A Little Help Please...
I've just recently purchased a 2003 Neon with a 2.0L and am wondering a few things about how to help this engine out. I'm not looking to go nuts as I already have a Hemi equipped Charger but this Neon will be my daily driver and I want to do the basics to it like CAI and exhaust. From reading this board I'm confident to go with one of the eBay type CAI's and put a K&N on the end of it.
As for the exhaust side of things I'd like to know what is the best most reliable header and system out there? I don't want to put a fart can on it as I can't stand the sound and my fellow Hemi enthusiasts will never ever let me live it down, but the complete Magnaflow system seems to be for me so any thoughts or suggestions will be greatly appreciated, just keep in mind I don't want to go all out on this little car.
Dave...
PS: Any good info on plugs would also be appreciated too.
As for the exhaust side of things I'd like to know what is the best most reliable header and system out there? I don't want to put a fart can on it as I can't stand the sound and my fellow Hemi enthusiasts will never ever let me live it down, but the complete Magnaflow system seems to be for me so any thoughts or suggestions will be greatly appreciated, just keep in mind I don't want to go all out on this little car.
Dave...
PS: Any good info on plugs would also be appreciated too.
Last edited by 3Dave3; 10-15-2008 at 11:11 PM.
#2
10-15-2008 | 11:46 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
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From: New York
The best header out there right now is this:
http://www.modernperformance.com/pro...oducts_id=1635
I really wouldn't buy the full exhaust system, since you should already have 2 1/2 in piping. You could save about 200 bucks if you get just a rear section.
I along with other people on this forum have had great luck with ngk's that are sold at modern performance.
http://www.modernperformance.com/pro...oducts_id=1635
I really wouldn't buy the full exhaust system, since you should already have 2 1/2 in piping. You could save about 200 bucks if you get just a rear section.
I along with other people on this forum have had great luck with ngk's that are sold at modern performance.
#4
10-16-2008 | 03:38 AM
Champion
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,519
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From: Cedar Rapids, IA
srtgtr34 has some good info there... I agree 100% on the stock exhaust. Leave it alone. If you don't have intentions of putting some serious money and time into your engine, you are better off sticking with the 2 1/4" factory exhaust.
As far as a cheap CAI, I would suggest that anything that has a half-decent looking mandrel-bent tube is okay. I recommend K&N filters. I know, there's a lot of others out there now... but the best quality ones out there IMO are still K&N.
As far as the exhaust... honestly, you could remove the factory muffler, and throw a nice basic glasspack in there with a nice stainless tip out the rear section of the car, and probably be more than happy with it. Unless you plan on gaining 50 hp in serious modification, stock exhaust + glasspack or similar will work just fine.
Plugs - I recommend the Champion coppers or NGK copper or iridium. I am not a fan of Champion, but they seem to work better than most in the Neon engines. NGK is my preferrence however. Stay away from platinum if you can... not a huge rule, but there is NO performance increase with platinums. So keep the money in your wallet on that one.
Wires - Honestly, MSD wires are very decent. But to be truthful, in the real world, a decent $20 set of new OEM replacements from your local parts store will probably yield a great result as well. The resistance levels in the wires change, but given the nature of the 44,000-volt snap running through them... you will not notice any major difference between the new OEM-type wires, or MSD's... not in a relatively stock 2.0.
As far as a cheap CAI, I would suggest that anything that has a half-decent looking mandrel-bent tube is okay. I recommend K&N filters. I know, there's a lot of others out there now... but the best quality ones out there IMO are still K&N.
As far as the exhaust... honestly, you could remove the factory muffler, and throw a nice basic glasspack in there with a nice stainless tip out the rear section of the car, and probably be more than happy with it. Unless you plan on gaining 50 hp in serious modification, stock exhaust + glasspack or similar will work just fine.
Plugs - I recommend the Champion coppers or NGK copper or iridium. I am not a fan of Champion, but they seem to work better than most in the Neon engines. NGK is my preferrence however. Stay away from platinum if you can... not a huge rule, but there is NO performance increase with platinums. So keep the money in your wallet on that one.
Wires - Honestly, MSD wires are very decent. But to be truthful, in the real world, a decent $20 set of new OEM replacements from your local parts store will probably yield a great result as well. The resistance levels in the wires change, but given the nature of the 44,000-volt snap running through them... you will not notice any major difference between the new OEM-type wires, or MSD's... not in a relatively stock 2.0.
#5
10-16-2008 | 10:19 AM
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From: Oshawa Ont. Canada
Thanks guys, as I said I plan on going with an eBay special CAI with a K&N stuck on the end but it seems that if I go with just a muffler and header I'll be paying the same price just as if I got a full exhaust system instead. I can't see these cars ever needing anymore than a 2.25" exhaust unless you were pushing 325+ hp. Have the stock cats ever been an issue or do they flow enough that they don't hurt performance?
Dave...
Dave...