Hey all, I just recently bought a '97 neon. It has a 2.0 SOHC and a 5 spd, and is a 2 door. I was wondering if anyone can give me some ideas as to what kind of mileage it should get when I get it back together. A list of mods that will help the mileage would be nice too. It is a 97 block with a 95 head on it.
rice_eater
09-24-2005, 12:20 PM
Stock a SOHC MTX neon should get 30-32mpg in town and 38-40mpg highway... but its all in how you drive. These cars really drink gas if you spend time in the upper rpm range. My DOHC MTX averages 28-30 mpg around town normally, my last tank I took advantage of lower gas prices (under $3.00/gallon) and had some fun with it... I averaged 23.8mph.. hehe. It wasnt like i was mercilessly beating it either, just winding out gears every now and again. I do have a bigger throttle body on it though, and that seems to drop my mileage when i open it up.
As far as mods to improve gas mileage... funny thing about modding your car, your right foot tends to get heavier. If you do manage to keep your foot out of it (a rather big IF) a header, CAI, and hotter spark plug wires will (in theory) improve your mileage. SOHC neons also have a very restrictive muffler. swapping to a good flowing chambered muffler, or better yet, a straight through muffler will help. It will give the car a better sound as well.
dodgeneonACR98
09-24-2005, 08:40 PM
Most definately got to do something with the SOHC exhaust. A CAI would be a good mod.And some people say they get a few more mpg with the Mopar Performance PCM.
A larger T/B can cost you a few mpg, the PCM detects more air so you get more fuel.
Good luck.........
RadarLove
09-25-2005, 04:56 AM
Larger TB won't affect closed loop driving or even idle, just WOT. Stock muffler has got to go though.
I typically get 32-34 around town, 36-38 if there's no traffic. Last trip to Cali (75-90 mph) got 42 mpg in some parts, still averaged near 40. This is with the 3.94/0.72 tranny. If you've got the 3.55, you should get better mileage in theory. Of course, you'd have to shave 400+ pounds off... :D
Best of luck!
Lew360
09-26-2005, 01:16 AM
My driving is around half and half. I get 30mpg. It has gone as high as 32 and as low as 26. I don't take long trips in it and it is just my daily beater.
user_error
10-02-2005, 11:40 AM
Larger TB won't affect closed loop driving or even idle, just WOT. Stock muffler has got to go though.
I typically get 32-34 around town, 36-38 if there's no traffic. Last trip to Cali (75-90 mph) got 42 mpg in some parts, still averaged near 40. This is with the 3.94/0.72 tranny. If you've got the 3.55, you should get better mileage in theory. Of course, you'd have to shave 400+ pounds off... :D
Best of luck!
Can you substitute any of the the dodge rear ends into the mtx/atx tranny housing?.... 3.55/3.94/4.11 ????
tchase
10-02-2005, 01:13 PM
Can you substitute any of the the dodge rear ends into the mtx/atx tranny housing?.... 3.55/3.94/4.11 ????
If only it were that easy. No parts interchange between the ATX and MTX. Also even to change a 3.55 MTX to a 3.94 MTX requires changing not only the diff ring gear, but the transmission output shaft as what would be your pinion gear in a conventional diff is permanantly affixed to the output shaft. I believe you do have a few choices in an ATX by means of changing the "transfer gears", but it's still limited to what the factory offered for those transmissions.
RadarLove
10-03-2005, 12:00 AM
Pretty sure that an even tighter final drive was available in the mtx trannies overseas, want to say it was 4.11. Not sure if it was from a Neon or another of the New Venture Gear projects (Cavalier, etc.). There was a guy a few years back that was drumming up interest to see about importing the trannies over, but the cost was quite prohibitive, and not many people saw the advantage of going from 3.94 to 4.11 for either drag racing or track events.
