About to pick up my first neon. HELP!!!

cruzecontrol88 · Post by **cruzecontrol88** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 7:29 pm

Watsup guys. So im about a week away from picking up my first neon from the used car dealer i bought it from. I was wondering what are usually the first mods you do to youre car when you get it? My neons a 98 expresso with all the options, black paint with tints, spoiler, custom sound.

Any suggestions on what i should do first???
Any help would be appreciated!!!

ricker91878 · Post by **ricker91878** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 10:37 pm

Mainly up to you dude, what you want to do first and what kind of budget you have.

cruzecontrol88 · Post by **cruzecontrol88** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 4:50 am

budgets kinda small.. i was thinking of stiffening up the body first but i was wondering if itd be smarter to do the engine work t it first so i dont have to keeep removing the bar. im definitely going to change out the headlights bc the ones on my car are all sorts of fogged out. i was jsut wondering whats a good jumping off point as this is the first car ill be doing custom work too.

cruzecontrol88 · Post by **cruzecontrol88** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 5:08 am

also i bought it with only 54k miles on it. so im notreally sure the body even need stiffening yet

schoolhouseneon · Post by **schoolhouseneon** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 11:03 am

id go with plugs and wires so you know their fresh and give you a better spark

laneholt · Post by **laneholt** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 2:59 pm

I recommend changing the headlights first ... the stock lights are terrible

cruzecontrol88 · Post by **cruzecontrol88** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 5:59 pm

laneholt wrote:I recommend changing the headlights first ... the stock lights are terrible

yeah lol i already have aftermarket headlights on order.

What spark plugs do you recomment? i want performance ones but am a noob at this

08kgraves · Post by **08kgraves** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 7:00 pm

i got some NGK plugs and newer oem wires. i dyno'ed before and after at my college and actually gained a little over 1hp from it and a much smoother power curve all the way up to 7,000 rpm's. just so you know

cruzecontrol88 · Post by **cruzecontrol88** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 7:45 pm

ok awesome! im definitely putting flowaster 40s on them. mostly for sound. but does it help out the car perfaormance wise?

08kgraves · Post by **08kgraves** » Fri Sep 09, 2011 4:40 pm

A better flowing exhaust will always help for performance. But if you go to WWW.modernperformance.com and get a full exhaust from them it will make way way more of a diffrence than just a muffler any day. Do that then the 3.0 intake setup and it will give u great gains. I ordered my filter already just need the tube. If u go to the how to section look for the 3.0 intake one. I can't post link from my phone but if u can't find it just let me know and I can post it from my computer for u

cruzecontrol88 · Post by **cruzecontrol88** » Sat Sep 10, 2011 1:18 am

thanks 08 i appreciate it!! this forum has been really helpful and welcoming for me. i really appreciate the help guys!

08kgraves · Post by **08kgraves** » Sat Sep 10, 2011 2:13 am

no problem man, were all here for the same reason bro. some just know more than others so we help eachother out when we can.

cruzecontrol88 · Post by **cruzecontrol88** » Sat Sep 10, 2011 2:35 am

thanks! also i was wondering, what are the real advantages of adding front and rear strut bars?

cruzecontrol88 · Post by **cruzecontrol88** » Sat Sep 10, 2011 2:36 am

are the differences in handling really that uch more noticeablee?

BaLLisTiK · Post by **BaLLisTiK** » Sat Sep 10, 2011 8:55 pm

cruzecontrol88 wrote:thanks! also i was wondering, what are the real advantages of adding front and rear strut bars?

You probably won't notice a drastic difference, unless you have driven with them before, or done any road racing or AutoX.
Now if you upgrade to struts to something like Coilovers, or a nice lowering spring/strut combo, Sway bars, and all new poly bushing suspension, ALONG WITH the strut bars, you will probably notice a big difference in handling, even daily driving.

Do you live in a state with Emissions? If not, My personall opinion would be to do a Header with a No-Cat downpipe. Stock DOHC muffler already has great flow, and the rest of the exhaust is 2.25" which is plenty big enough for an N/A 2.0L with bolt ons. if you DO have emissions, Header with High flow cat.

3.0" Intake tube from a Caravan, Lebaron and other Chrylser vehicles (Someone probably knows the years, but I know the Lebarons were early 90's and up)

As for spark plugs, the factory replacement Champion RC9YC Copper plugs are perfectly fine. I had Autolite Platinum plugs, I dynoed my car with them and then changed my Oil and plugs to copper Champions and Gained 5hp.