UDP: - reduces amount of power lost to accesories. all UDP's provide *about* the same amount of power increase. go wichever one you want.

CAM: lets more air/fuel into the cylinder. For the most power on the SOHC, go with the Crane 0014 (#3). it doesn't need longer valves as stated some places, and will work just fine even with stock compression. It will also be better suited if you decide to go to high compression later. to save money, go with the 2001 Magum CAM, from Forum Motors. it's aprox. as powerful than the Crane 0012(#2), but is much cheaper. For the DOHC, there is no "Magnum Cam" available, and you're stuck with the higher priced Crane cams, the #0014 or #0016 are good choices for stock compression, the #0018 if fine if you are high compression or plan to go that way in the future.

CAM Gear: the cam gear allows you to "slide" the power band up and down. advancing the valve timing moves the power down, retarding the power moves it up. in an auto you want to advance the timing, to make more low end power. this also moves the peak power down
lower, (below the rev-limiter) if you're still using a stock PCM.
*NOTE: stay AWAY from the Fidenza Cam gears, they're crap. i recommend the AEM, i have it and it's much better quality

Header: in this department, you get what you pay for. for low mod engines, a short tube design will suffice. for hi mod or those wanting the best performace a long tube header is in order. a long tube header will increase high end pull as well as increase torque all over the powerband. Both Blackdog and Howell Auto sell very good long tube headers. (check back here later to see a dyno comparison between the two headers)

Exhaust: on a SOHC, simply switching to the DOHC is good for a few HP. on a stock system or one with a short tube header, this is fine. with a long tube header, you should really move to a big pipe. getting a 2.5" or 3" (depending on header collector size) with show noticible increase. just remember that if you want to still run a cat with you exhaust, to get one that's teh same size as the header and exhaust. a standard 2.5" or 3" cat will flow more air than a high flow 2.25". After you've got the bigger pipe, what ehxuast you use is up to you. just remember that the sound of a muffler doesn't have anything to do with how well it works.

PCM/ECM: right now, the only PCM available for the Auto, is the AF/x PCM. get the AF/x race as it provides the best power gain. the Street/Strip isn't worth the money. (in my opinion) if you have a 95, the only way to get a AF/x, is to upgrade your wiring harness to the 97+
style. (you can use a MTX (Mopar Performance) PCM, but you will loose lock-up function, which will degrease your highway gas mileage, and increase your trans temps)

Valve Springs: you'll need these with either a PCM, or the #3 cam. this will keep your valves from floating from the increased lift and higher rpm's. i recommend either the Crane Springs, or the MOPAR Magnum Springs.
*NOTE: Do Not get MOPAR Performance valve springs, everybody that i know who runs these springs has had them fail. (including myself) to see what happens to a MPP Valve spring, click here.

Motormounts: Solid motor mounts will reduce wheelhop (which reduces breakage of parts) and increase traction on the launch. for regular street neons, the Deyeme Racing Flex Mounts are very nice, i have a set and like mine. for more serious racers, i'd go with the AF/x Solid front. (and if you're even more serious, switch to an MTX K-Frame and use a AF/x rear bobble strut)

PORT and POLISH: porting and polishing the head, espically the SOHC, will show good gains. (some people have reported a gain of 25HP on a SOHC head, but i cannot confirm this) two places i recommend to send your heads to, are Howell Auto, and Blackdog. both do exceptional jobs.

Port & Polish Intake: this mod, allows more air to flow into the head. i recommend a hand porting service over Extrude Hone. EH only smoothes the inside, while hand porting will massage the ports and shape them for optimum airflow. for even more power, cut the 90º elbow off the intake. Howell Auto just does DOHC manifolds, while Blackdog has a special manifold for the SOHC.

Bigger Throttle Body: being the auto, we got the better flowing TB from the factory. but once you start modding the need for a bigger TB becomes apperent. for a stock head/intake, and/or the SOHC, a 58mm TB will be fine. for a ported Head/intake, a 60mm will flow better.