Plastic Muffler, underbody panels possible!
 

Plastic Muffler

Benefits:

* Cost Savings
* Lower CO2 Emissions
* Package Optimization
* Noise Emission Attenuation
* Increased Fuel Economy
* Elimination of Heat Shields
* Reduced weight
* Reduced restriction
* Plastic design allows more possible shapes & sizes
* Different vehicles can use a common design
* No heat shields required
* Fewer exhaust hangers required (doable in plastic)
* Due it’s cool outside surface, underbody panels possible
* Added value through lower overall system costs


Will we be seeing theses in the near future?

Interesting

Grill Shutters

How about the grilles that open and close automaticly!!!!!!

Looked at that page also. It's just the thought of a plastic muffler. Wonder how many gallons of oil that takes. Would be great if the could be made for recycled plastics.

Which is why the grill is intriqing.
car makers are already building grilles uot of plastic......
this product probalby only uses 10-15% more material to make it adjustable
the added benefit is 2 fold: aerodynamic improvement and engine effeciency.

I am wondering though, what if instead of a specific finished enduse grille for EACH car, the create a generic product in several sizes thart fit behind the factory grill?????
It could be trimmed and then 'formfitted' with some type of foam trim similar to the large foam trim that home depote sells for garage doors

The plastic muffler isn't a new idea; Larry Widmer mentioned building a free flowing glass pack type muffler using pvc, which has a high melt/deform temp, and is acoustically inert.

I would like to know more about these plastic exhaust pieces.

Im guessing they would be a specific vehicle mod?

thinking back to my youth late 80s mustang GT 5.0 even after a long drive the exhaust tips were still cool to warm to the touch. and even if they touched the plastic bumper they never got hot enough to melt it.

looking at my honda. 2010 2.4L after a drive the exhaust tips are too hot to touch. and they are hot enough to melt plastic. turned the chrome tips gold. the stainless seems to be holding up though.

I know for max power the scavenging effect of hot gasses is better but how about from an economy standpoint?

and also muffler being under the middle of the car would get more direct heat then one by the bumper.

as for grille shutters. my brother has a 2012 ford focus. that has the active grille shutter system. Il see if I can get some pics of how it works. from an OEM standpoint

http://pics.livejournal.com/ffocused...587zp/s640x480
http://pics.livejournal.com/ffocused...57es4/s640x480