Project Dodge SRT-4 - Tech Project

Appearance
Turning the Neon into an AAR Cuda look-alike is a job we knew we could only leave to professionals. Santini Paint and Body undertook the job with the enthusiasm necessary to turn a Neon into a Cuda. AAR Cudas were available in multiple color options but we knew only Hemi Orange would truly complete the transformation. Santini covered every critical inch on the SRT-4 with the hemi hue, including the underside of the trunklid and inside the door jams.

While they were at it, Santini's crew shaved the antenna and removed the basket handle wing. In its place, we put a small, flat-black lip spoiler just like, well, you know where we get our ideas now.

The moment of truth. SRT-4 becomes AAR Cuda.

Finding the old-school lip spoiler wasn't easy, so we asked Extreme Dimensions in Irvine, Calif., to make one for us. The piece in the pictures is actually the solid fiberglass buck that will be used to make the mold for the real deal. In a month or two, Extreme Dimensions will bust out a lightweight, carbon-fiber version. We'll show you more details when we get it.

With an ass only mother Mopar could love, we knew the Neon's bulging backside needed some visual slimming. After much debate, we accomplished this by blacking out the trunk panel between the taillights. This makes it look ever so slightly more like a Cuda, and breaks the orange monotony. While we were back there, we decided to ditch the functionally offensive dual exhaust. News flash: the SRT-4 is a four cylinder. You don't need two pipes for a four cylinder.

In our continuing tribute to the AAR Cuda, we decided to fabricate a side-exit exhaust. We haven't actually done that yet, but we did have Santini work some urethane magic on the exhaust cutouts in the bumper. After many hours of cutting and sanding, the dual exhaust outlets vanished.

Completing the AAR theme was left to the vinyl experts at Permanent Impressions. They allowed editor Oldham to hold their hands through a micro-managed vinyl design session that makes the neurosis of autism seem like a mild case of gas. However, this attention to detail produces inarguably striking results. The strobe stripe down the SRT-4's flanks is replicated perfectly, down to the last obsessive line break. And the AAR logo, which adorned the rear quarter panel of the original Cudas, has been gracefully transformed to incorporate the requisite SCC letters. Dan Gurney would be proud.

RH Evolution GT5 wheels sized 17x7 in a 40mm offset were selected for their flat-black finish and polished lip. Dazz Motorsports, importer of Racing Hart wheels claims the GT5 weighs 18 pounds. However, with as much power as the SRT-4 makes, weight was not a primary concern. Plus, the black spokes and machined lip serve our retro look well. OK, technically, the AAR Cuda had silver wheels, but black looks better and you wouldn't have known about the silver if we didn't tell you. The GT5 is also available in 18- and 19-inch sizes and can be had in bronze, gunmetal and silver in addition to flat black.

Nitto NeoGen radials in 225/45ZR-17 were also an appropriate choice for the SRT-4. They're not the stickiest tire available, but they're cost effective and available in a large range of sizes, starting at 16 inches. We figured since we'd be smoking through a set or two of these every month it was best to start with a reasonably priced tire, and at about $110 each, the NeoGen provides an excellent smoke-volume-per-dollar ratio.

We have yet to try any real driving on the NeoGens since every spare second was spent leaving ribbons of rubber from the tire shop to the photo location. However, when we do get around to busting some curves on the new rubber, we'll let you know what we think.

Achieving the proper stance is vital in the looks of any musclecar. Doing so in this case meant getting rid of the SRT-4's ass-in-the-air stock ride height. However, doing this while still retaining proper handling balance is a must. We figured the Mopar boys probably knew the best way handle this situation, so we installed a Mopar coil-over kit, which is built by KW Suspension. The details of the installation, as well as handling testing will be included in the next installment. Until then, let it be said that the SRT-4's looks alone are much improved by the suspension-not to mention the smoke from its Nittos.

By Josh Jacquot

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