Binky the Civic Build Thread

[freebeard]

Beyond that, any ideas of modifying my exhaust to make the underbody sleeker without getting me ticketed?

Maybe with emphasis on the maybe, you could wrap the exhaust pipe with basalt tape.

[Stubby79]

I intend on using my rolls of aluminum flashing to cover the exhaust portion under my car...won't have to worry about it melting.

Raising the exhaust would probably be a PIA, and might rattle against the under body when the engine is under load or using the engine to brake, but could theoretically be done. A flatter - probably wider - muffler could potentially be substituted. The muffler probably won't get hot enough to melt the chloroplast, if you're not doing long trips...but at some point you probably would want to and then it would go on you.

I've seen nice, neat trimming done around the muffler, keeping it maybe 1/2" from touching it...air would flow over the muffler quite smoothly with that, assuming it's relatively smooth.

[JacobLeSann]

I’m actually worried less about airflow and more about salt “flow” right now. Any openings would pack right up with the stuff. The big problem area is where the exhaust works it’s way to the right and over the suspension arm. Impossible to panel it gap-free, and it leaves a gap right in the rear wheelwell.

That brings me to my nutcase idea: cut the pipe right in the middle and have it dump downward onto the road, ahead of the gas tank. I’ll customize a bullet muffler I found and fit it in the exhaust tunnel. That way all I need is some flashing down the middle, nothing beyond that. If that’s a bad idea somebody lemme know.

Aluminum flashing should work, I used steel simply because it was free for me. I bet you can make the flashing much skinnier in width than on my first underbody panel.

[JulianEdgar]

Originally Posted by JacobLeSann

That brings me to my nutcase idea: cut the pipe right in the middle and have it dump downward onto the road, ahead of the gas tank. I’ll customize a bullet muffler I found and fit it in the exhaust tunnel. That way all I need is some flashing down the middle, nothing beyond that. If that’s a bad idea somebody lemme know.

Yes, it's a bad idea. You shouldn't discharge your engine exhaust under the car. Carbon monoxide is a particularly invidious, extremely dangerous gas.

[JacobLeSann]

That’s why I hadn’t done it before, but if everything is covered with paneling, where will it enter the cabin?

[JulianEdgar]

Originally Posted by JacobLeSann

That’s why I hadn’t done it before, but if everything is covered with paneling, where will it enter the cabin?

I don't think I would risk my life on the underside of the car being air-tight.

There's a good reason why cars have their exhaust exits where they are.

[JacobLeSann]

Never mind, I can see how it could come up through a window if you’re idling at a stop light. Then again, my brother ran his Legacy like that for years and never had an issue.

[Fat Charlie]

Originally Posted by JacobLeSann

That’s why I hadn’t done it before, but if everything is covered with paneling, where will it enter the cabin?

From the bottom.

[Piotrsko]

You'll be very suprised how leaky a car or pickup is to outside air intrusion. If it was truly sealed, you would die from lack of oxygen on a 1/2 hr drive. I recently went on a hunt to find why only the heated air in the F250 had exhaust smell in it and discovered many sources of outside air vents

[j-c-c]

Originally Posted by freebeard

The conversation is already in the weeds.

OP is only nineteen and this is their first post. (Hi again. Did you lurk much?)

We all however, should not forget IMO:

1. The thrill of being 19 again
2. Most of us would not recognize a future Einstein in the making
3. Einstein is said to have been only 16 when he was forming the early foundations for his "miracle" theories only a few years later
4. And if the OP can find his way thru the weeds here, I'm impressed and offer only encouragement for the young man