I have a 95 neon sedan with 2.4 liter SOHC. My engine is about done with and im looking into doing a engine swap with the SRT-4 engine. IF anyone here can tell me if it will fit/ price range of the swap please let me know.

 

sorry 2.0 liter

 

Yes, you can swap a SRT4 engine in there. I believe it takes quite a bit of effort to fit one in first gen, but it can be done. And good luck finding a SRT4 engine, they are hard to come by and it won't be cheap. You would probably be able to find a 2.4L or a 2.0L dohc much easier than the SRT4 motor. I've heard the 2.4L swap is good for mid 14s unmodded on its own in a neon.

 

sxt04 is on the right path, but it's all relative. They are out there. Use car-part.com and consider also using PT Cruiser turbo motors. (When the 180 horse versions come out they may be even cheaper from the right people). search nationally and go to the mid to low price ranges posted. Call and negotiate. I had several yards that basically "wouldn't allow" me to buy their 2.4 NA motors because they weren't worth as much as the shipping, but a turbo setup Complete for 2500$ plus maybe $300 to $500 for shipping ain't all that bad. And!. . . . yards are negotiable. Ask them about it sincerely. Ponder with them. Confirm all parts included that you want. Then make an offer: "How about $3000 shipped?"

Is $3000 expensive? Well, that's what I'd pay for a complete engine--controller, intake/exhaust, covers, etc. How much will it cost for a turbo kit? Probably $2500 or more. How much will it cost to rebuild your engine? Well, I did mine for about $800 with some valve work and the cam I ordered--stock pistons and rods. As a comparison, you can get a full pullout LS1 or a Northstar motor from GM for about $3000. In fact at the goodguys show in Pleaston CA last month there was a guy with a complete LS1 WITH a six speed tranny for $3000. So at a per/cylinder cost the SRT4 engine deals aren't all that great.

Shop around. I think for a VERY long time there was a Chula Vista, CA yard that had two PT Cruiser '03 turbo motors (so those were rated at 205 HP). I think they were right around $1700. Totally complete? Probably not--might want to sell pcm and wiring seperately, but again, negotiate.


Here's the difficulty you should really be considering: How are you going to address wiring it up for street use. I personally think the easiest is just to get a donor gauge cluster for your car, cut out the guts and put in a couple aftermarket gauges that will work with the SRT4 PCM.

Meanwhile--this has been discussed quite a bit at neons.org. Check them out and read/search through the swap forum. There's some info there about going from 8volts to 5 volts for the speedometer, etc., etc.

Also keep in mind that with the2.4 (turbo or NA) that it's a little taller, so the stock SOHC hood won't work unless you cut, or raise it. You will need a DOHC power bulge hood or something else. That being the case, it would be okay to use the PT cruiser version (who's 2.4 NA motor has a more awkward intake system to work with) because you're going to have to do something about under hood clearances anyway.

Oh ya. . . lastly---the extra 20% discplacement does add enough heat that the 2.0 radiator has a tough time keeping up. But a new OEM one so it's in good shape, or consider buying something aftermarket.

good luck.

 

Well srt-4 engines arnt hard to find for me. I have a uncle that owns a dodge dealership. BUt i read some where like over 75% of the srts bought have been wrecked. Probably due to inexperienced drivers. I was thinking of doing a 2.4 swap but i figured i might as well do the srt swap. Would make for a good sleeper.

 

Where did you read that?

 

My cousin told me bout it. He owns a srt-4.

 

Over 75%?!?!? I find that hard to believe considering how many I see on the road. Sure, most of them are driven by kids who speed around like they are invincible (no offense, but its true - and you know it!!!), but I find that real hard to believe... That's a lot of SRT-4s chillin in the junkyard... I might have to check that out...

 

Where do you live Klerrick? I live in a pretty big city and I have seen 2 different SRT4's cruising around on the streets. They are hard to find around here. I saw more 350Z's today than I have seen SRT4's in months (not that the 350Z has anything to do with it, just its a pretty expensive car so you wouldn't expect to see as many of them). I don't think there are that many SRT4s out there, but I could be wrong.

 

I actually have found about 15 wreaked srt4s within about a 100 mile radius of where I live. Most of them going for about 5k-7k dollars. In several cases all they needed was front sheet medal. Others were totaly destroyed. Its pretty easy for me to believe that 75% of them have been crashed.