My new hooptie daily

"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678) 09/24/2017 at 10:08 • Filed to: None

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1998 Dodge Neon RT. This thing is pretty sweet. ITS SO 90S! And of course racing stripes are worth 10hp each easy. Nice little 5spd manual shitbox. Now I just have to make it somewhat reliable!

So the biggest issue I have with it now is a pretty annoying overheating problem. Fans work at least but it leaks coolant like a sieve. Gotta baseline it today after I get home from autocross (not driving or racing the neon lol). Hoping to solve some of the leaking and attack other problems.

List of other problems include: No AC (not fixing it), leaky exhaust, overheating due to the coolant loss, random misfire code, fuel gauge isn’t working, temp gauge isn’t working, and power steering reservoir is cracked and hose leaks but i removed the belt and went manual steering. I’m going to be compression testing and change plugs and wires along with oil and attempt to fix exhaust leak today. Also doing some hoses and the coolant reservoir, unfortunately I can’t find a water outlet/thermostat housing but I ordered one shipped since I know that leaks a lot. I might try sealing it somehow temporarily.

First day of ownership has gone so well! It will certainly be an adventure.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 09/24/2017 at 10:19

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Hopefully there aren’t any major problems! Looks like a fun little ride :)

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 09/24/2017 at 10:21

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If the compression test is acceptable, I’m not worried about it then. But that will be the fun thing to find out about!

Otherwise I’ll be having a fun time doing a head gasket. Might still need to do a timing belt just to be safe anyways. It’s at 160k and no history.

itschrome > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 09/24/2017 at 10:40

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Honestly its such an easy car to work on, have you thought of just doing a rebuild?

someassemblyrequired > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 09/24/2017 at 10:51

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The question everyone is asking: Did it come with the glow key?

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > itschrome 09/24/2017 at 11:14

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You probably don’t want to, but I’d do the timing belt just in case - you never know if it was done for sure and better safe than sorry!

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 09/24/2017 at 11:42

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who needs airco when your car comes with fully functioning awco (all windows can open)

Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 09/24/2017 at 11:46

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I like it. The only thing offsetting for me is how high the suspension is

Dave the car guy , still here > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 09/24/2017 at 11:53

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Sort it out and then

euro it

or battlecar it

AC2 - The Now 15 Year Old Jalop > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 09/24/2017 at 12:00

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Huh, you went through with it. Now SRT-4 swap it

Khalbali > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 09/24/2017 at 12:21

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I think these had head gasket issues, so hopefully compression check some back good.

Captain of the Enterprise > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 09/24/2017 at 12:28

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There’s a purple neon of similar vintage near me that I love. It has steelies and a big off center white stripe.

CB > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 09/24/2017 at 12:58

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Congrats on your purchase, as well as the being the fastest Oppo to go from “I think I’m gonna buy this car” to “I’m gonna buy this car”.

I have another burner, try to guess it! > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 09/24/2017 at 17:37

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What did you buy it for? Are you flipping it or keeping for yourself?

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Khalbali 09/25/2017 at 00:08

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180+ on all four! 3+4 were both 180, 2 was 190, and 1 was 200. Pretty darn good for a 19 year old car.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > itschrome 09/25/2017 at 00:09

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If I was keeping it, sure. This thing is pretty solid though, it should last

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 09/25/2017 at 00:10

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Yeah I want to autocross it and if I want to actually be even mildly competitive I’m gonna have to do the timing belt. I’ve been keeping it below 5k rpms mainly until I get the parts and just swap it out. Will make it easier for resale anyways.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Dave the car guy , still here 09/25/2017 at 00:11

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Gonna keep it stock so that I can sell it more easily. My Miata is the one to keep modding.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > CB 09/25/2017 at 00:11

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When the price is $1000, its hard to pass up. Especially for how solid of a car it turned out to be.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner 09/25/2017 at 00:12

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Yeah the struts were just changed so maybe it will settle in? There is a tag hanging from the suspension that says something about that. I had more pressing things to deal with first though lol.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > someassemblyrequired 09/25/2017 at 00:12

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Hmm Im not sure what that is

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > farscythe - makin da cawfee! 09/25/2017 at 00:13

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Well this time of the year sure. But midsummer? Fuck that, Im happy to have AC even in my Miata. There are just some days where if Ive been outside all day, airconditioning is the best thing since sliced bread. But for a short term car in mild fall months? Its perfect, I wouldnt use it anyways.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > AC2 - The Now 15 Year Old Jalop 09/25/2017 at 00:15

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This powerplant is pretty decent. Its got NO midrange but the low/upper stuff is sweet. Its at least faster than a NA Miata I would say. But its slower than my NB for the most part, but thats mainly because of VVT. This is probably quicker on the high end.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > I have another burner, try to guess it! 09/25/2017 at 00:16

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I bought it to save money on a rental car lol. My Miata is getting body work done that will take 2-3 weeks. Rather than spend $600 on a rental, I figured I would get a cheap craigslist car and sell it for around what I bought it for with some minimal maintenance. I also plan to autocross it a bit and enjoy the 90s while I can.

AC2 - The Now 15 Year Old Jalop > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 09/25/2017 at 00:32

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No car is faster than Miata, except a Rental

Khalbali > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 09/25/2017 at 03:53

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Yeah that’s awesome I’m glad, I remember these having head gasket issues or something so I was worried, that would suck lol.

someassemblyrequired > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 09/25/2017 at 07:25

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Some first gen neons had a glow in the dark ignition key in neon green. Not sure if the R/Ts got them.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Khalbali 09/25/2017 at 09:13

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Yeah it would have just made this much more of a headache than I wanted. But I would have just gotten all of the parts and swapped it out, no matter how painful and annoying it was. I am much happier being able to just drive it though instead!

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > someassemblyrequired 09/25/2017 at 09:14

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It could have originally but it does not have the original key, only one aftermarket key of some sort. I need to run down to home depot at some point and make another spare. Its nice that the car is old enough to avoid chip crap so it will only be like $5 for another key. Maybe I will spring for $10 and get one of the nice ones.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > AC2 - The Now 15 Year Old Jalop 09/25/2017 at 09:16

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Rentals are certainly the fastest car in the world. Except for Nissans with CVTs those things wont go fast no matter how hard you try. The HOONDAI Accent I had this weekend was decidedly fast. True race car!