2.4 swap in a 95 Neon

[83rampage]

Got a chance to buy a 95 Neon that threw a rod for cheap. Was thinking of getting a 2.4 DOHC from the local picnpul out of a spirit. Is this an easy swap? :eyebrows:

[turbovanman²]

I don't think it is but others do. I did it for a customer, friggin nightmare for me, anyhow.

[83rampage]

I don't think it is but others do. I did it for a customer, friggin nightmare for me, anyhow.

Can you elaborate? I know the block is a bit taller. If it's not worth the hassle, I'll drop another 2.0 in it.

[moparman76_69]

If you use the stratus passenger mount and buy the adapter from MAP to bolt it in the mounts are straight forward. I don't know about electronics or wiring differences, although I think pre 2000 all the sensors are compatible.

[Mopar318]

For wiring, you just have to swap the injector wires at the PCM. Everything else pretty much is plug and play. Power steering is the biggest issue to get working.

I used everything srt on mine and have no problems.

[turbovanman²]

Can you elaborate? I know the block is a bit taller. If it's not worth the hassle, I'll drop another 2.0 in it.

I think my biggest issue was the customer brought me swap sheet from the Neon's forum and it sucked, awful info. Doing it a 2nd time, I think it would be easier.

I had to redo the front mount, buy the passenger mount, slightly tweak the drivers tranny mount, reused the stock Neon 5 speed, reused his stock intake so had to redrill that, power steering was a royal PITA, after many attempts got it right and he had to get a new pulley made after all was said and done. Hood had to cut for clearance. You can't run a/c and its tight up front between the intake and rad.

If I ever did it again, I would go full SRT as it seems that's the easier route.

We went with a standalone but in hindsight, I would have stayed stock and adapted a SBEC/SMEC.

For me, it was all the little stuff that always seems to crop up, but if your doing it yourself with no time constraints, I say go for it.

[Mopar318]

How are you getting a 2.4 DOHC from a spirit?

---------- Post added at 05:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:23 PM ----------


I think my biggest issue was the customer brought me swap sheet from the Neon's forum and it sucked, awful info. Doing it a 2nd time, I think it would be easier.

I had to redo the front mount, buy the passenger mount, slightly tweak the drivers tranny mount, reused the stock Neon 5 speed, reused his stock intake so had to redrill that, power steering was a royal PITA, after many attempts got it right and he had to get a new pulley made after all was said and done. Hood had to cut for clearance. You can't run a/c and its tight up front between the intake and rad.

If I ever did it again, I would go full SRT as it seems that's the easier route.

We went with a standalone but in hindsight, I would have stayed stock and adapted a SBEC/SMEC.

For me, it was all the little stuff that always seems to crop up, but if your doing it yourself with no time constraints, I say go for it.

That could be your big problem. There was no good how to on doing a SRT swap, There are a couple but alot of the stuff I would not do. I ended up just doing everything my own way. Re-used the "Awful" srt power steering engine mount bracket. Welded in a insert and bolted it right to the neon frame mount. Ran all factory srt power steering lines, and bent to suite as needed. There is a lot of little fab stuff, and a few weeks worth of stripping complete harness, removing dash, etc...

Then after a few thousand miles you relize your axles, brakes, and bearings are in need of an upgrade from handling twice stock power levels. More machine work and fab for better spindles, axles, and brakes. It never ends!

[83rampage]

Thanks a bunch for the info.

I'll have a look and see what is in PnP right now and decide from there. I sold my DD so time is not on my side, so it may just get a decent looking shortblock for now, and bolt the head and accessories from the original on it.

That does bring me to another question. If I got a shortblock out of a 2nd gen, will the first gen head still bolt on? Seems to me there is a difference with heads at some point.

[moparman76_69]

On the 2.4s the block/head changed in 01. Not sure if the 2.0s got the same revisions or not.

[RoadWarrior222]

It's no easier to pull a PT cruiser drivetrain and drop it in?

Jus' wondering... I've got a Neon with a currently inop motor sitting in my driveway...

... hey though I've got a core 3.0 and broken A670 in the back shed... :D

[turbovanman²]

How are you getting a 2.4 DOHC from a spirit?

---------- Post added at 05:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:23 PM ----------



That could be your big problem. There was no good how to on doing a SRT swap, There are a couple but alot of the stuff I would not do. I ended up just doing everything my own way. Re-used the "Awful" srt power steering engine mount bracket. Welded in a insert and bolted it right to the neon frame mount. Ran all factory srt power steering lines, and bent to suite as needed. There is a lot of little fab stuff, and a few weeks worth of stripping complete harness, removing dash, etc...

Then after a few thousand miles you relize your axles, brakes, and bearings are in need of an upgrade from handling twice stock power levels. More machine work and fab for better spindles, axles, and brakes. It never ends!

Yeah, well after I did it, figured that out. BTW, did this swap about 4 years ago.

[rich tideswell]

is your neon currently a DOHC or SOHC?

The easiet way to do the swap is to get the 2.4l from the same year donor car yours is - in your case, you would need a 95 cloud car. this would solve most of the accessory nightmare. the stock electronics can run a stock 2.4l swap. start modding and thats where things get interesting

[83rampage]

is your neon currently a DOHC or SOHC?

The easiet way to do the swap is to get the 2.4l from the same year donor car yours is - in your case, you would need a 95 cloud car. this would solve most of the accessory nightmare. the stock electronics can run a stock 2.4l swap. start modding and thats where things get interesting


This is the info I was looking for, but I guess I phrased my original question poorly. I was thinking cloud car (not Spirit, my bad).

I'll have a look today what is available, but I think for now I'll stick to the 2.0 SOHC.