I don't know if this is really a "tech" question but I need to find out what aftermarket cat-back exhaust systems will fit a 96 Civic HX with a rear eibach sway bar?

B/c I found out I really don't have the stock exhaust piping after looking under my girl's car. dang.

However, I absolutely do not want anything sounding like a fart can. No way. Just something mild. Preferably fairly inexpensive since this is my budget dd. But it HAS TO FIT the eibach rear bar b/c the piping on there now does not allow it to fit.

If worse comes to worse I guess I could just get a muffler chop to do a custom set-up, probably pretty cheap too...

thanks!

 

I got a Catback system, Dragonfire Muffler, and I wonder if an eibach sway bar will fit too! But Uhaul was able to install a Class 1 hitch despite my muffler. Now I have an awesome hitch type bike rack I use.

Hey, what mpg do you get for your HX? Mine's MT and last two tanks were 43 & 44 mpg!

 

Man, I love my HX. It has 258,000 on it, and with it throwing the infamous EGR code it still pulls 38 city, about 40 highway every time (MT too)! Not a fast car but definitely zippy in 2nd gear, fun to drive without killing the bank in gas.

If you search my last thread in the tech section I have a pic of the exhaust and it shows the problem with the bracket hitting the exhaust pipe - not enough clearance to get the sway bar over the exhaust.

Keep yall posted but I think what I"m going to do is go the custom route...

 

258,000 on original unrebuilt engine? Are you the 1st owner? How well and strong is it running at that mileage?

HX is an awesome car to have, and a little sporty when you do 4500+ rpm shifts!

My best nonhypermiled weekly tank was 44 mpg. I'm hypermiling now and getting 53.6 mpg.

 

Quote snosurfa7: I found out I really don't have the stock exhaust piping after looking under my girl's car. dang.


A similar thing happened to me with my girlfriends' 2000 civic EX. When we bought the car last fall, it had an aftermarket replacement muffler which hadthe outlet pipe too offsetto line up withthe bumper cutout, and it would rub/rattle on the rear bumper (which took paint off). I was lucky enough to find a salvage yard in CA selling anOEM onefrom a 1997 on ebay. Did you look into an OEM extension pipe and muffler? I am surethat eibach rear sway bar was designed to fit around the stock exhaust, so I am 99.9% sure that the barwill work withthe OEM exhaust.
All 1996-2000 Civics have the same muffler (#3) the 96-00 EX and 99-00 SIused the other ext pipe #18 instead. The reason for this is because the EX and SI had a VTEC motor, and the Catalytic converter is underneath the car instead of on the exhaust manifold like all other Civic models (LX CX DX HX).So check the salvageyards first, and if no one has one here are the Honda part#'s

[IMG]local://upfiles/29925/84D09925B84A42BD9FE146F039F996D5.jpg[/IMG]

8220-S01-C21PIPE B, EX.$117.90#17 in the picture

18030-S01-C21MUFFLER SET, EX.$131.84#3 in the picture

18231-SR3-J01 BOLT A $15.42 (7.71 ea 2 req'd) #23 in the picture

18231-SR3-A22 BOLT B $15.40 (7.70 ea 2 req'd) #22 in the picture

18229-SNE-A01 GASKET, EX. FLEXIBLE$20.34 (10.17 ea 2 req'd) #19 and #20 in the picture, theyare the same part# (you only need both if you got a used muffler, since a newmuffler #3 comes witha #19already.)

Total price from Honda dealer $301.44

http://www.slhondaparts.com/browse.asp

 

Thanks for the info about the exhaust parts. That is really expensive though...I only spent 80 bucks on the rear bar. I think I'm going to go to a muffler shop and see if they can just chop and weld some pieces back in that fit. Did that on my Jeep in the front near the headers and it was real cheap only about 40 bucks.

Yeah, 258,000 on original nonrebuilt engine. My girl's HX has 208,000 on it. Still pulls nice in and can still feel when VTEC kicks in. Trying to get at least 300K out of it (knock on wood please please last!).

I am actually the third owner, first owner was a middle age woman who put 200K on it driving country roads to work every day. That probably helped because then a high school kid had it for about 25K, and here I am the third owner.

Has had an oil pan seal seep about 1/4 qt loss b/t oil changes that has been that way ever since I bought it. On the list of things to do (needs new CV axles, tie rod ends). Sold me on hondas forever though! Just wish I had bought one sooner instead of racking up the miles and money on my jeep...Especially a newer one that might pull down those 45-53mpg numbers.

Now the question is, when the time comes, rebuild the d16y5 or swap? Take the 45mpg (assuming a fresh engine would pull this for me) or take the 30mpg on a b18...some might think that is crazy but with gas the way it is it sure is nice to fill up the tank for 20 bucks or so still...

 

I found an OE replacement complete cat back exhaust on ebay brand newwith gasketsfor $169.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/96-20...spagenameZWD1V

 

I'd say rebuild the engine, no swap. I typically used to get 42.5 mpg weekly tanks, then I did a synthetic oil change + PCV Valve change and my nonhypermiled mpg went up to 43 to 44 mpg.

 

Update for any of yall following this thread:

Went to local muffler shop - they cut off the old top tube and welded a new one in place. Was able to keep my muffler and pretty much all the original piping. Since they had to see if it would fit I said just go ahead and install the sway bar to make sure, already had the bracket in anyway.

total cost - $50

And the eibach - yeah! It really made a noticeable difference, my civic would always feel loose in the back -none of that today. Very happy with the bar - best suspension mod to date!

And oh yeah, I'll most likely rebuild the d16y5...

 

Hey, can you post complete front and rear pics of your complete eibach sytem? Maybe I'l put one on my 99 HX. Was it an easy do it yourself job?