whats the difference between the sohc engines on normal neons and the r/t neons. There both sohc and what not but what makes the r/t have 150 horses and the normal neon have 130?

 

the r/t has a magnum 2.0 compared to just a 2.0

 

The Mangum engine in the R/T and ACR is essentially the same. Differences are:

- The exhaust ports on the head are raised slightly and are significantly larger.
- The camshaft is much more aggressive, and the valvesprings are designed to handle it.
- The intake manifold is a dual runner design for a broader torque curve.
- The exhaust manifold is a very basic shorty header, instead of the log-type the rest of us got.
- The exhaust piping is 2.25" compared to the rest of the 2nd gens at 2.0".
- The muffler is (slightly) less restrictive.
- The PCM is programmed with more agressive fuel and spark tables and a higher rev limiter.
- They kept the 9.8:1 compression ratio when the rest of the Neons dropped to 9.3:1 in 2003.

Additionally, the 5-speed that comes with the car is a close ratio 3.94 final drive, compared to the 3.55 in the rest - better acceleration.

Best of luck!

 

So do you think if say for example if i find that r/t sohc engine, i will be able to swap it in into my neon easily, as if it was a normal neon's engine? thanks.

 

Yes the swap would be easy, but if your going to the trouble of doing an engine swap why not save more money and look for a 2.4 or of an SRT or PT?

 

Im sure its much cheaper to swap the magnum 2.0 than a srt or pt's 2.4 right? I dont want to go all out with this neon. Though in the future im planning to purchase the srt-4.

 

Maybe a $1,000-$1,500 difference at most...plus R/T engines are a very rare find in a junk yard b/c they didnt make all that many of them.