DIY Network

SRT-4 Engine Upgrade: Oil-Catch Can Show-Car Engine Dress-Up, Part 1 of 4 From "Tricked Out" episode DTRK-306

The project car: 2003 Dodge SRT-4

Ever wonder what it takes to turn a regular sport compact engine into a show stopping masterpiece? One way is with plenty of silicone, chrome and carbon fiber. In this Tricked Out project, Andrew Totolos pumps up a Dodge SRT-4 up by taking the already-hot engine and prepping it for show car status with some eye-catching additions in red and chrome.

Under the hood Andrew installs an oil-catch can to take care of any spills at the track, and a red valve cover is added to the engine to create a splash of color in the bay. Other additions include a hotter coil pack and carbon-fiber fuel-rail cover. Next Andrew fabricates a custom aluminum finishing plate to cover the large open area in the front of the engine compartment, creating a tighter look. Finally the air intake gets dressed up with a shiny steel wrap that improves the appearance without having to replace the part. The factory hoses also get covered with steel braided lines and some bright red silicone hoses are added to the mix.

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	Before
	After

In addition to standard auto-mechanic's tools (wrenches, ratchets, extenders, screwdrivers, nut-drivers, cordless drill, torque wrench, etc.), tools and materials used to complete this entire project include:

oil catch can kit
measuring tape
aluminum stock
hacksaw
punch
drill with bits
vice and mallet
wire cutters
file
pipe thread
silicone hoses
hose clamps
rubbing alcohol and cleaning rags
billet dipstick
Allen wrench
coil pack
spark plugs
spark plug wires
fuel rail cover
rags
gasket scraper
valve cover
standard shop tools, including pliers
poster board
marker
scissors
utility knife
piece of scrap wood
tape
sanding sponge
sandpaper
steel wool
polishing paste
liquid polish
heat shield wrap
braided wraps
split loom
silicone tubing

Safety Alert: Always wear eye protection and ear protection, and follow proper safety precautions, when working with power tools or pneumatic tools. Also wear eye protection any time you are working underneath a vehicle.

DIY Difficulty Rating for This Project: We gave this a difficulty rating of 2 on a 5-point intermediate-level scale. The project involves fabricating some parts out of aluminum and changing vital components on the top of the engine but, if you're comfortable with that, you should have no problem with this project.

The Project Car: 2003 Dodge SRT-4

When Mopar puts an "SRT" badge on a car, you know it's packing some heat, and the SRT-4 is no exception. It's one of the best bang-for-your-buck sport compacts available. This one features screaming yellow factory paint, matching yellow eyelids and a rolled rear bumper.

Behind the factory alloys, drilled and slotted rotors prevent brake fade, while performance lowering springs provide tight cornering characteristics and an aggressive stance.

Inside, updated gauges show how the short-throw shifter pushes through the gears and a turbo timer helps to make sure that the engine receives a proper cool down after a hard run.

Under the hood, the engine keeps pace with a 3" short-ram intake feeding through a high-capacity aluminum intercooler to an upgraded T3/T4 turbo. From there the charged air runs through a 60mm throttle body into a ported intake manifold, where intake air is met with a fuel charge from the 650 cc injectors inside the ported and polished head. a tubular turbo header routes exhaust through a 3" custom exhaust system to the rear through a single tip conversion exhaust.

Want to see how the engine upgrade gets underway with some racing modifications for the oil system? Read on.

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