alright guys, my friend and i raced and he beat me by a car length. i wouldnt normally be angry but he drives a '97 saturn sc1 1.9L SOHC and i believe its 100hp and 114ft-lbs of torque. doesnt the neon have like 135 hp and 135ft-lbs of torque. oh ya, we both have straight through mufflers and both automatics. i think i lost cuz i just straight up floored it. i've noticed that when i floor it i get lag point right after the shift from first to second. but, if i gradually press it so it will switch at 30 mph into second i dont get any lag and it seems faster. could this be correct. help me out guys. tell me how not to lose next time.

The SOHC engine is rated at 132HP, but having an ATX will hurt the performance. I have heard of some people saying that flooring the ATX is not the best way to pick up speed, as you mentioned. You are correct about gradually increasing it. You won't be alot quicker, but it should help. Remember, its not all about HP and torque when racing. Alot of other things play into it like, weight, temperature, tires, and so on...

now you need to go and beat that saturn.

now you need to go and beat that saturn.

Manually shift the car as well, if you were then theres a faster way to make it shift when you need to shift into 2nd push it up into 2nd on the shifter let your foot off the gas then go WOT again my ATX SOHC neon used to bark the gears doing that.... but I add that to my list of contributors of my trans being in peices on the road after a year. But You should defineatly be able to take the saturn if its an auto.

Manually shift the car as wellBAD IDEA....
http://halfahemi.com/fastatx/
Click the link, then go to Texts and then click on Why manually shifting an Auto Trans is BAD

Install a shift kit, the delay between the 1st and 2nd gear shift will be reduced to zero and the shifts will be much more abrupt. The trans will actually last longer b/c the time that the clutches slip during the shift is reduced. You will be able to floor it and it will slam thru the shifts like a pro without delay. Most kits have setting of mild, mid, and full race. I made the mistake of telling the mechanic full race and every time it shifted when I had 1/2 throttle or more it barked the tires.

k somebody in the past told me this could work try it out. if you floor it and watch the rpms, when it has about 4 grand let off the gas and hit it again. the atx doesnt like shifting when full throttle. i did this on a sunfire, (exes dads car) and it worked pretty well i'd say about a 20% faster get up and go.

thanks for all the help. i think i'll look into the shift kit. i have been saving money all during winter and i have about 700 right now. i was planning on getting and AEM CAI, MpX underdrive pulleys, i think a pacesetter header, a magnaflow cat, and then some lowering springs. besides for the springs you think these mods will yeild enough power to blow away the saturn?

i was planning on getting and AEM CAI, MpX underdrive pulleys, i think a pacesetter header, a magnaflow cat, and then some lowering springs. besides for the springs you think these mods will yeild enough power to blow away the saturn?AEM doesn't have a true CAI anymore. Their original one was but the one that puts the filter above the manifold isn't a great design. Get the Iceman or make your own 3.0L intake. The MPx pulley will help the ATX with acceleration quite a bit. The pacestter header is good for the SOHC neon but you will have to cut about 7" off the downpipe, after that have it welded up and your good. I would not worry about the cat, won't help you HP wise just yet! Here's how I would spend the $700 to try and get quicker:
1)Iceman CAI ($200) or 3.0L intake ($50)<--Similiar gains to the Iceman!
2)MPx pulley ($110)
3)Valve body (http://www.modernperformance.com/dcx/performance_vb.shtml) ($180)
4)Since you have a SOHC, put a stock DOHC muffler on it ($50)
5)Pacesetter Header ($135)
6)Prothane Motor Mount Inserts ($45)<-To help wheel hop...better launches!

This won't make your neon real fast, but it should be quicker!

AEM doesn't have a true CAI anymore. Their original one was but the one that puts the filter above the manifold isn't a great design. Get the Iceman or make your own 3.0L intake. The MPx pulley will help the ATX with acceleration quite a bit. The pacestter header is good for the SOHC neon but you will have to cut about 7" off the downpipe, after that have it welded up and your good. I would not worry about the cat, won't help you HP wise just yet! Here's how I would spend the $700 to try and get quicker:
1)Iceman CAI ($200) or 3.0L intake ($50)<--Similiar gains to the Iceman!
2)MPx pulley ($110)
3)Valve body (http://www.modernperformance.com/dcx/performance_vb.shtml) ($180)
4)Since you have a SOHC, put a stock DOHC muffler on it ($50)
5)Pacesetter Header ($135)
6)Prothane Motor Mount Inserts ($45)<-To help wheel hop...better launches!

This won't make your neon real fast, but it should be quicker!



thanks for the info das. umm what would i have to do to make an intake out of the 3.0L intake. i also already have a high flow muffler. its actually pretty much a fart can (sorry sorry i know) but it sounds nice. it has a deep tone not riceish. so i dont think i will have to get the DOHC muffler. also, im not
to good with car stuff so how hard is it to install most of that stuff yourself(except for the header). you seem to know your stuff so please feel free to drop off any advice you think i need to know.

thanks for the info das. umm what would i have to do to make an intake out of the 3.0L intake.Read this post for a how-to on the 3.0L intake...
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=433730&highlight=3.0L
im not to good with car stuff so how hard is it to install most of that stuff yourself(except for the header). you seem to know your stuff so please feel free to drop off any advice you think i need to know.All the parts I mentioned are basic bolt-ons. All you need are a few ratchets and you are good to go. It would good to have some type of manaul like the Hayne's or Chilton's to help you out. The pulley might prove to be the most difficult install, because most people don't get the correct puller. Search the forums, there have been some posts on it already. Even the header is a pretty simple install. Thats why they are called bolt-ons, for ease of installation.

das, i was lookin at the pics for the intake made out of the 3.0L intake and i noticed that it was showed in a first gen. neon. i have a second gen. neon. would i still use the same intake or not. and is it going to be harder to install. thanks for the help.

das, i was lookin at the pics for the intake made out of the 3.0L intake and i noticed that it was showed in a first gen. neon. i have a second gen. neon. would i still use the same intake or not. and is it going to be harder to install. thanks for the help.

das, i was lookin at the pics for the intake made out of the 3.0L intake and i noticed that it was showed in a first gen. neon. i have a second gen. neon. would i still use the same intake or not. and is it going to be harder to install. thanks for the help.I haven't seen it on a 2nd gen, but I don't think it would work. Since you have a 2nd gen then the AEM intake is better for you, than the Iceman.

you could always get srt4 but the stuff in other replies will help.good luck to you.also you get computer depending on year.

black 04 319hp 355torque