what does sohc and dohc stand for?? which do i have??

I just bought a '95 4 dr sedan with 24k original miles from a friend for $800 bucks. it has no body damage at all and i really like this car and i have been thinking about modifing it but i have a couple of questions

1:what does sohc and dohc stand for??? i know that my neon is 2.oL and 4 valves. Which do i have??

2: im more interested in body mods than in speed cause its already pretty quick but i would like to add a little more hp, any suggestions?

3: is it worth dropping a couple of grand on this car that cost me 800?

Single overhead cam, and double overhead cam. Double overhead cam motors have more power, and I am pretty sure 4 valves per cylinder. My wife's 98 Neon had SOHC motor, ran pretty good(until a drunk totalled it). The engine should have the type writtten on it, can have the vin number checked to be sure. Do not know much about fixing them up but Ebay is s good source for body mods. Seems to be a lot out there for them.

1:what does sohc and dohc stand for??? i know that my neon is 2.oL and 4 valves. Which do i have??All neons have 16 cylinders, the difference is DOHC=150 HP and SOHC=132HP. Easiest way to tell, take off your cam gear cover and see how many cams you have. 1=SOHC, 2=DOHC.
2: im more interested in body mods than in speed cause its already pretty quick but i would like to add a little more hp, any suggestions?Most people add a CAI (cold air intake) for around $199 or make one yourself you about $50, UDP (underdrive pulley) for around $100, and exhaust for around $200-$400. You could also add a Mopar PCM for about $150-$200 if you have an MTX (manual transmission. Modern Performance (http://www.modernperformance.com) and Howell Automotive (http://www.howellautomotive.com/) are the two leaders in aftermarket parts for the neon. I deal with Modern because they are located in Houston, where I am. Stay away from the eBay stuff, only because their parts usually seem to have fitment problems. Oh and if you didn't know, you have a first generation neon.
3: is it worth dropping a couple of grand on this car that cost me 800?NO, but hey you will have fun doing it. Be warned, MODDING IS ADDICTING :p

Quickest way to solve DOHC/SOHC question, you don't even have to raise the hood.
Flat hood = SOHC
Bubble or "power blister" hood (looks like a small dome on hood) = DOHC
Another way to tell is the exhaust.
Singe outlet = SOHC
Dual outlet = DOHC
Now you know what every 95-99 (stock) neon has without looking inder the hood.

Quickest way to solve DOHC/SOHC question, you don't even have to raise the hood.
Flat hood = SOHC
Bubble or "power blister" hood (looks like a small dome on hood) = DOHC
Another way to tell is the exhaust.
Singe outlet = SOHC
Dual outlet = DOHC
Now you know what every 95-99 (stock) neon has without looking inder the hood.You can easily put a DOHC exhaust on a SOHC neon for a cheap upgrade and my DOHC neon has a flat hood (preferred by me) as opposed to the "power" bulge hood. So those are not sure fire ways to tell what a neon has. I have seen SOHC neons with DOHC hoods and vice versa.

The intake duct over the top of the engine should also say whether it is a DOHC or an SOHC

All neons have 16 cylinders, the difference is DOHC=150 HP and SOHC=132HP. Easiest way to tell, take off your cam gear cover and see how many cams you have. 1=SOHC, 2=DOHC.
Most people add a CAI (cold air intake) for around $199 or make one yourself you about $50, UDP (underdrive pulley) for around $100, and exhaust for around $200-$400. You could also add a Mopar PCM for about $150-$200 if you have an MTX (manual transmission. Modern Performance (http://www.modernperformance.com) and Howell Automotive (http://www.howellautomotive.com/) are the two leaders in aftermarket parts for the neon. I deal with Modern because they are located in Houston, where I am. Stay away from the eBay stuff, only because their parts usually seem to have fitment problems. Oh and if you didn't know, you have a first generation neon.
NO, but hey you will have fun doing it. Be warned, MODDING IS ADDICTING :p

All neons have 16 Cylinders?

You can easily put a DOHC exhaust on a SOHC neon for a cheap upgrade and my DOHC neon has a flat hood (preferred by me) as opposed to the "power" bulge hood. So those are not sure fire ways to tell what a neon has. I have seen SOHC neons with DOHC hoods and vice versa.

Yeah, he did say stock not altered............Just an observation.

All neons have 16 Cylinders?Yep, 4 per cylinder.

All neons have 16 cylinders, the difference is DOHC=150 HP and SOHC=132HP. Easiest way to tell, take off your cam gear cover and see how many cams you have. 1=SOHC, 2=DOHC.
Most people add a CAI (cold air intake) for around $199 or make one yourself you about $50, UDP (underdrive pulley) for around $100, and exhaust for around $200-$400. You could also add a Mopar PCM for about $150-$200 if you have an MTX (manual transmission. Modern Performance (http://www.modernperformance.com) and Howell Automotive (http://www.howellautomotive.com/) are the two leaders in aftermarket parts for the neon. I deal with Modern because they are located in Houston, where I am. Stay away from the eBay stuff, only because their parts usually seem to have fitment problems. Oh and if you didn't know, you have a first generation neon.
NO, but hey you will have fun doing it. Be warned, MODDING IS ADDICTING :p

I know its an old neon but its practically new with 24 k mi it gets good mileage and it takes off alot faster than alot of cars i see on the street. I put 17" chromes on it already and am planning to give it a nice paint job this week. Ive seen a few modded neons and they looked better than some hondas ive seen. i guess its worth modding it rather than spending more money on a newer car when i lucked out on this one but thanks for the advice. and by the way to me '95-'99 all seem like the same

Yep, 4 per cylinder.

I understand that it is 16 valves 4 per cylinder.

I know its an old neon but its practically new with 24 k mi it gets good mileage and it takes off alot faster than alot of cars i see on the street. I put 17" chromes on it already and am planning to give it a nice paint job this week. Ive seen a few modded neons and they looked better than some hondas ive seen. i guess its worth modding it rather than spending more money on a newer car when i lucked out on this one but thanks for the advice. and by the way to me '95-'99 all seem like the sameThose 17" chrome rims will slow your acceleration down. The 95-99 neons are pretty much the same except for some sensors and odd stuff in the engine.The 95 has some parts that only fit the 95, same for the 96. 97-99 pretty much have all interchangable parts.

I understand that it is 16 valves 4 per cylinder.Then why did you ask?

I don't know just bored had nothing else to do.

Those 17" chrome rims will slow your acceleration down. The 95-99 neons are pretty much the same except for some sensors and odd stuff in the engine.The 95 has some parts that only fit the 95, same for the 96. 97-99 pretty much have all interchangable parts.

why type of tires should i get then

Yeah, he did say stock not altered............Just an observation.The DOHC hood and exhaust are stock :p

why type of tires should i get thenIf you want speed and acceleration, you should go no bigger than 15" rims and tires. The 17" chrome rims you have are big and heavy. A 15x7 rim with 195/55-15, 205/50-15, or 215/50-15 will also give you better handling.

I agree with das2123. SCCA racers actually run on the OEM 14's with 205/60 -14 tires. The 14 and 15 inch wheels may not look the coolest but they work well on 1st gen neons. For every 1 pound you add to the tire/wheel combination, it will slow you down an equivelent of 4 pounds of dead weight. Put those 17's on there and add 10 pounds per corner (4) for a 40 pound increase multiply by 4 (rotating mass multiplier) and you get a 160 pound disadvantage to someone who knows how to race a Neon. Also cornering is degraded compared to the smaller wheels (technical disussion to long to post on this thread).

I agree with das2123. SCCA racers actually run on the OEM 14's with 205/60 -14 tires. The 14 and 15 inch wheels may not look the coolest but they work well on 1st gen neons. For every 1 pound you add to the tire/wheel combination, it will slow you down an equivelent of 4 pounds of dead weight. Put those 17's on there and add 10 pounds per corner (4) for a 40 pound increase multiply by 4 (rotating mass multiplier) and you get a 160 pound disadvantage to someone who knows how to race a Neon. Also cornering is degraded compared to the smaller wheels (technical disussion to long to post on this thread).Agreed! I know alot of people want to argue the point that overall diameter will be the same and blah, blah, blah...Truth is, it's the inertia that is affected by the bigger rim.

First mod I would do is exhaust headers and lose the stock muffler. Then you have cams and cam gears, pcm upgrade, underdrive pulley, plugs&wires, cold air intake. BUt if you want to go really just add nitrous for around $600 you could run in the 14's

First mod I would do is exhaust headers and lose the stock muffler. Then you have cams and cam gears, pcm upgrade, underdrive pulley, plugs&wires, cold air intake. BUt if you want to go really just add nitrous for around $600 you could run in the 14'sDid you realize how old this thread was?

VIN Decoding

POSITION INTERPRETATION CODE = DESCRIPTION

1 Country of Origin 1=United states (Sic)
3=Mexico

2 Make B=Dodge
P=Plymouth

3 Vehicle Type 3 = Passenger Car

4 Pass. Safety E = Active Restraints,
Driver & Passenger Airbags

5 Car Line S=Neon/Neon Sport (sold in U.S./Canada)
6=Neon/Neon Sport (sold in Mexico)

6 Series 2 = Low Line
4 = High Line
6= Sport

7 Body Style 2 = 2 Door Pillared Hardtop
7 = 4 Door Pillared Hardtop

8 Engine C = 2.OL 4
Y = 2.OL 4 Cyl. DOHC

9 Check Digit

10 Model Year S = 1995
T = 1996
V = 1997

11 Assembly Plant D = Belvidere
T = Toluca

12-17 Vehicle Build Sequence Assembly Sequence

You guys crack me up ;) If it's a 99 it's probably DOHC. However--isn't it printed on the plastic cover on the air intake? I know it was on the stock engine of my 98. Just tryin to help :)

You guys crack me up ;) If it's a 99 it's probably DOHC. Why? There were more SOHC's built then DOHC's.

Why? There were more SOHC's built then DOHC's.

I don't know the # of SOHC vs DOHC built that year---however I've never seen a DOHC that was a 99. I'm not sayin that they don't exist. Maybe the DOHC have more trouble...lol. Cause that's the majority of what I see in the shop.

I don't know the # of SOHC vs DOHC built that year---however I've never seen a DOHC that was a 99. I'm not sayin that they don't exist. Maybe the DOHC have more trouble...lol. Cause that's the majority of what I see in the shop.
SOHC=54%
DOHC=46%

Close, but the SOHC wins!!!:grinyes:

SOHC=54%
DOHC=46%

Close, but the SOHC wins!!!:grinyes:

OMG!!! LOL!!! Do you live in your Neon?!? How do you know all this stuff....you crack me up!

Fem

OMG!!! LOL!!! Do you live in your Neon?!? How do you know all this stuff....you crack me up!Been around and working on neons since 97, so that gives me alot of time to read and research!