I purchased a used '93 FD, and the black plastic trim piece that fits on the rear bumper cover is melted. It goes around the exhaust tip, and runs almost the width of the car.

Is this a common problem? How have you guys fixed this? I have called a few salvage yards with FDs, but they won't seperate the rear bumper cover from the trim piece. I am scared to even call the dealer to see how much it would cost new..

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks,
Patrick

 

Mine is melted to conform to the exhaust tips of my Apex N1 Duals.

I think it is a common problem, don't worry about it.

Mike

 

I've heard of them melting l lot. The Rx-7 has one of the hottest exhausts in the world. It gets really hot......I mean that rotary puts out a ton of heat....so I could see how **** melts.

 

Mine is slightly charred too. You can leave it off but there is a gap there.Don't woory about it.you will end up burning the new one anyway...

 

I zip-tied that piece to my cat-back hanger by drilling a lil hole in it. It kept it from melting :]
Ryker

 

i melted the **** outa mine when i installed my exhaust. to fix the problem i went to an exhaust shop and got a exhaust hanger that went lower so it wouldnt be directly under the plastic valance. you can order that piece from mazda and its really not that expensive...seriously! they should cost anywhere between 50 and 70 bones.

 

Well, my new exhaust is melting it worse than the stock one...

I might have to just push it/ zip tie it up out of the way. It is hot as crap!

Has anyone put like a little metal shield around the exhaust pipe? I seem to remember some VWs or Hondas with a little metal piece kind of shaped to the bumper to protect it. It kind of looks ricey, but it would actually be functional on our cars!

Later,
Patrick

 

The trick is to get the exhaust tips away form the plastic. I just bent the brackets on my Apex N1 dual and it has not melted yet. A more professional approach would be to install some 1" spacer blocks under the muffle hanger brackets. That should do it. I still have a main cat. Maybe this is more of a issue when you don't have that.

 

I burnt my leg several times just brushing up against the pipe.
Stupid-*** me, I even put a car cover on it one time while still hot and burnt a hole right thru the fabric. A bronze heat shield around the bumper opening would look pretty trick.