Honda Del Sol partial bellypan

[Ecky]

Last week, I posted about my accidental boat tail in Success Stories. Shortly after I started on my aeromods, and gave the first of them a few days' testing to make sure they wouldn't catch fire before posting. Although I've had some warping around the exhaust, it doesn't look like it's going to spontaneously combust on me.

Materials:

2x 6'x3' coroplast sheets from Home Depot - $14 each
2 cans flame retardant insulating foam spray - $5 each
7' aluminum "strap", ~$12
2x hose clamps
2 self-tapping screws + washers

In retrospect, I probably should've used exhaust wrap, and might yet if the coroplast deforms too much around it.

Underbody pictures:







Because the previous owner replaced the exhaust with a large diameter straight-pipe, the exhaust hangs a bit lower than the rest of the undercarriage. I had to find some way to allow the coroplast to rest against it without bursting into flames.

I had the idea of using expanding fire-retardant insulating foam spray, and wedged some spacers between the coroplast and the exhaust to hold them apart while it expanded and dried.





Fearing the aluminum strap wouldn't be strong enough to prevent the wind from ripping off my partial-pan, I also filled the gap at the leading edge with foam.



From behind:



7 days, mixed city and highway driving, and so far so good. Tested to hold at up to 100MPH.

The data I collected suggests that my gains are about 6% at 65-70MPH, which is just over a third of the gain I got from my "boat tail", but it's something.

Earlier today I took some of my scraps and made a partial grill block (to be remade more aesthetically later if it works) and covered a small strip in the front under the transmission. At some point I'll probably buy another sheet of 6'3 and just do the entire front, with one cutout to allow for easy oil changes and a second to keep space around the exhaust.



After seeing my finished product, my father scratched his head and asked, "how much longer are you planning on keeping that car? You've already got 220,000 miles on it", to which I replied, "Till it falls apart".

[Mista Bone]

I suggest removing it all and double wrapping the exhaust piping, This will keep heat in the exhaust which promotes better EGV as well as prevent the gas in the tank from boiling.

Some reading, where I started getting ideas in 1997, Hondata B16 CRX

Landspeed information

[jedi_sol]

Of course the undertray and front grill block work! check out my old del sol





This is the old girl in her heyday (averaged 45mpg...best tank ever 49.1mpg) with an Acura GSR motor.

[Mista Bone]

That grill opening looks a little refined compared to my old setup, same color car though

[jedi_sol]

i noticed the b18b swap

[Ecky]

How does this wrap look?

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Racing-Fiberglass-Exhaust-Header/dp/B00DP9MXZS/ref=sr_1_56?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1394845082&sr =1-56&keywords=exhaust+wrap

Given a 9.5" circumference (3" pipe) and a needed run of ~50" if I stop at the U bend before the muffler, or ~62" if I include it, and assuming I overlap so that it's double wrapped, one 50 foot roll ought to do it, or two if I want to do the entire length of the pipe. Will 1000°F rating be fine all the way up to the motor, or would it be wise to get some 2000° rated wrap for the header?

EDIT: @jedi_sol, where did you put your jack to lift your 'Sol up enough to get the jack stand under it in the back?

[jedi_sol]

I don't.recall exactly, it was so long ago. Based on my picture, I must have jacked up one side, place a jack stand there. Moved the jack to the other side, jacked it up. This made the rear bumper high enough to slide the jack stand under the rear tow hook.

Edit: I forgot, your car is the si vtec model. I'm not used to seeing del sold in that trim, so I just assumed dual cams in a del sol is an engine swap.

[Ecky]

You called it right though. I have an LS motor mated to the stock Y21 tranny, which IMO, is possibly the worst combination for fuel economy, though it's pretty peppy around town.

EDIT: 100' of 2" exhaust wrap on the way.