HCH-I owners - lower engine cover questions

[lindermant]

regarding the HCH-I lower engine cover (item #6 on diagram below):

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/500/14s5b01_b50.gif

How close does this cover come to the exhaust? Are there any provisions for heat insulation on the part or is it just plastic?

I'm looking to fashion a lower engine cover for my non-hybrid 05 Civic (using coroplast), but have concerns where it would come near the exhaust:

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/500/Dsc00883.jpg

I've seen examples that leave a space around the exhaust, but I'd like to avoid that if feasible.

I'd love to see your HCH-I undercarriage pics (with and without lower engine cover installed) to get a feel for how it compares to mine.

[SVOboy]

Basjoos solved the exhaust problem by leaving an inch and then covering the gap with aluminum flashing.

[lindermant]

thanks SVO!

basjoos, you have pics you could share?

[basjoos]

I don't have any good pics of the underside since my car is so low to the ground, but here is a photo taken from the front. You can see the central silver stripe of the aluminum flashing following the exhaust pipe down the center tunnel of the car. I used a heat resistant metal tape to cover the join between the coroplast and the flashing.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/MikeMariettaSC/80MPG%20Honda%20Civic/Civic2.jpg

[basjoos]

Don't know why it won't show the pic, it appeared in the preview, but here is the URL:

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v417/MikeMariettaSC/80MPG%20Honda%20Civic/?action=view&current=Civic2.jpg&refPage=&imgAnch=imgAnch8

[lindermant]

thanks for the pic basjoos!

[SVOboy]

Fixed the picture, :)