2002 Neon ACR

[turboshadow]

I picked this up a week ago a little east of Indy. All stock besides an SRT cat back (its a little on the loud side)
Its one of 76 Red ACR's with AC in 2002 and it still works:clap:
The car is showing 175k but drives solid, I plan on keeping it mostly stock and using it for Autocross duty.
I need to work on getting more pics...
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[contraption22]

Nice!
I parted a driveable but unrepairable one with under 30k miles on it out a few years ago. It was black. Now I wish I had kept the drivetrain for my rampage.
Man, compared to my SRT-4 that thing sounded like a tin can on the inside. Back then, ACR's really were significantly lighter cars.
How do the struts feel?

[turboshadow]

Nice!
I parted a driveable but unrepairable one with under 30k miles on it out a few years ago. It was black. Now I wish I had kept the drivetrain for my rampage.
Man, compared to my SRT-4 that thing sounded like a tin can on the inside. Back then, ACR's really were significantly lighter cars.
How do the struts feel?

Unfortunately the previous owner had just replaced the struts so they are gone, but I figured after 175k they were junk anyways.
I think I'm going to go with some Koni STR.T Struts down the road. The off brand ones on it now don't feel too bad on street duty.
I like the feel of the magnum engine a lot better than my old 95 NYG SOHC it seems to have more bottom end or it could be 3.94 transmission. :eyebrows:

[Vigo]

The trans makes a huge difference. I dont think the hp difference from the old sohc to the magnum even really gets ahead of the 2g weight gain, so it's probably ALL in the gearing. :p

[j4278h]

Was there a reason the previous owner only had it a couple of months? Saw this same one for sale by original owner in chicago area short time back.

[rich tideswell]

Unfortunately the previous owner had just replaced the struts so they are gone.

What a moron ..... The orginal struts are rebuildable. They were made by Dynamic Suspension (now Mulitmatic Inc. http://www.multimatic.com/index.shtml ) and are adjustable. Mopar # P5007389 front, and P5007443 left rear/ P5007442 right rear.

Also, the 2005 SRT-4 ACR Tokico Illuminia struts are rebuildable as well.

[Dodge Aries K]

I had a set of very low mileage ACR struts/springs on my old 2000. Those were so great... should have pulled them when I sold the car.

[turboshadow]

Was there a reason the previous owner only had it a couple of months? Saw this same one for sale by original owner in chicago area short time back.
He originally got it for his son for a first car but decided to buy a truck for him instead.

[jonnymopar]

Nice find. I'm a big fan of the 2nd gen Neons. I've had mine for over 9 years and it's never let me down. You've got about the same mileage as me too.

I still don't understand why Chrysler insisted on using the 2.0 Magnum. It's a pretty reliable little engine, but unless it was used in some other export applications that I don't know about, it only went into the 2nd gen ACR and R/T Neons. Between the cost of the special pistons/rods/head/active intake/header/tune, they could have just thrown a regular 2.4 in, used a PT Cruiser PCM as-is, maybe come up with a smaller intake to deal with space constraints, and voila: for nearly the same driveline cost as a base, you'd have the Dodge Neon Torque Edition.


Now I wish I had kept the drivetrain for my rampage.

I think any variant of the 2.0L would be absolutely perfect for a daily-driven L-body application.

[Vigo]

Now that you mention it, it IS pretty curious that the Magnum sohc exists at all. Good motor, though!

[turboshadow]

More Pics!!
First autox is tomorrow :nod:
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[Dodge Aries K]

Man, I really want a set of seats like that or the leather ones for my 2005. The seats they stuck in the 03+ SE and SXT models are pretty damn bad.

[jonnymopar]

Man, I really want a set of seats like that or the leather ones for my 2005. The seats they stuck in the 03+ SE and SXT models are pretty damn bad.

100% agreed. A couple years ago I picked up a set of R/T front seats locally that were like brand new. Big difference over my worn-out sucky base model seats.

[turboshadow]

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=M7B2sJoXA9k
Car is pretty tail happy so it's fun.

[Vigo]

I like those wheels on it, but it needs a 3" drop now. :p

Also that seemed pretty understeer-y to me, but maybe less than a typical non-sporty FWD. Any suspension mods planned? Trying to stay in a particular class?

[turboshadow]

I'm trying to stay in the stock class so the only suspension stuff I can do are struts and sway bars.

[Vigo]

I think struts and swaybars will get you a long way anyway.

[Gold85GLH-T]

Could always just sneak a little spring cut in their...

[jonnymopar]

I think struts and swaybars will get you a long way anyway.

I'm amazed at the difference that sway bars alone made on mine.

[Sgt Craig]

I would only get a 2nd gen neon, non srt if it where a acr or r/t.About the only way to toerate one.They sucked other wise.I worked on 2 2nd gen r/t's at last job.Hoping theyd want to part with one of them but they didnt.I wish Ikept my 97 acr.

[turboshadow]

:bump2:
The car has now been lowered on some srt struts with eibach springs!!!
Also have some sticky Bridgestone RE71 tires, so far I have placed 1st and 2nd in my autocross events this year.
Next up is a bigger rear sway bar and some camber bolts on the front.
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