Correct me if I'm wrong ,but a dodge neon engine looks a lot like a mini engine.

 

Because the engine was developed by BMW and Chrysler.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tritec_engine

 

Was installed in some 3rd world markets where dodge wanted a smaller engine...but export cars was a tiny part of dodges business... So they partnered with rover to codesgin a motor for small cars to be used in small volume....the"neon" version of the motor was ever more basic and lower hp then the cooper.....tri-tec made 3 versions main versions.. So I bet that car was so slow...heck about HALF the hp of a us base neon.....about 90hp....less to wheels after drivetrain losses...
Funny thing... Fiction is stranger than fact....dodge was bought by one German company...mini by another....the partnership was allowed to expire.... The factory crated up and moved from Brazil to China where it was used in various brands.....cherry...and few other forgettable cars unknown in north america....then again..so is the tri-tec powered neon.

 

Wikipedia and Google is great....
Much less troop like too!!

 

Wonder if any of the parts interchange?

 

If i reacll, you said you bought a" basket case" CVT cooper...
My suggestion...
if you want to get it back on the road...
fo a 5 speed conversion...will be the best way to go in the longer term..the CVT was a nightmare....
and remember...the MINI is MUCH SMALLER and TIGHTER than a neon..that is WHY they picked the CVT...small size. AND IT IS STILL AN AMAZINGLY TIGHT FIT....
Besides....USED COOPER MOTORS OUT OF CARS WITH BLOWN CVT trannys are CHEAP!! The cost of the tranny is MORE than the VALUE of the car...so many get JUNKED....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_Neon...doubt it...but you have a 1 in 3 chance...if you find the right 1.6 liter neon in a Mexican junkyard...and it is salvageable...but considering the fact they tend to drive everything till it "no goes" then keep on going a bit longer....

 

Yea it's a basket case,but was just wondering on the inter change because I still have the partial engine. I bought a complete engine with 90 k from another cvt mini. My cvt I already committed myself to rebuild it. The new parts are on the way. I may convert down the road.

 

Depending on how much that cvt install and rebuild would be, aside from what you already spent, a 5 speed conversion would absolutely be the way to go. The CVT was plagued with problems not the engine. Mate it with the right transmission and you should be set for a long time

 

true. If and when my cvt dies again. I will look in to a swap to manual. The cost of the parts alone were over 1k and I did the rebuild myself.