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On September 4, 2003, Deyeme Racing purchased a 1990 Dodge Spirit 2.5L turbo, for use as a company car.
The purposes for this vehicle will be to run errands necessary to the daily work of the business,
and as a prototyping tool for broadening our product range. Up to this point, we offered parts for vehicles no older than the 1995 Dodge/Plymouth Neon. The AA Chassis Dodge Spirit, Chrysler LeBaron sedan, and Plymouth Acclaim were manufactured from 1989 to 1995. Upon finding this car in a new/used dealer inventory online listing, we had to check it out. A relatively low mileage 2.5L turbo Spirit is fairly rare and, after test driving it, we wondered how it might perform on the autocross course with the right modifications. Also, since many of the MoPars built during this time are all similar, who knows what we could add to our products list!. Given the age of the car and the fact that it is no longer in production, we weren't expecting much. When the salesman showed us the car, a general exterior and interior inspection proved it was at least worth a test drive to determine its performance and reliability. There were no major exterior blemishes, just some scratches and door dings on the burgundy paint. The upholstry is in rather good condition for a 13-year old car- no tears, just minor fading on the doors from sun exposure. Even the factory stereo cassette, factory floor mats that read "Spirit", and original owner's manual were included and intact! The engine bay was very clean, as to be expected from a dealer. The engine parts appear to be in good repair with no major oil leaks or apparent problems other than normal wear. The 2.5L turbo engine kicks in as if the car were a mere few years old, producing a very smooth ride with a little boost. I love a modest looking, small family-type car that can take off like a roadster, leaving offending Honda and Acura drivers wondering what could possibly be under the hood. The Spirit has a long way to go before it becomes race worthy, and at this time will only be raced to monitor performance. We'll also be tracking fuel mileage and maintenance closely. Travis and I have scanned over the engine and body to discuss what possible modifications could be made upfront that are simple and not time-consuming. Large projects that disable the car for days to weeks at a time will not be practical until winter. Travis will replace various steel brackets and bolts with aluminum or titanium ones. Check out the links to the right to see pictures of the car as purchased, and to see how it performs and what we've done to it. |
Pictures List Of Modifications     |