- Joined
- Jan 26, 2017
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- 70
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- 1,100
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- Export, PA
- Website
- prlmotorsports.com
- Vehicle(s)
- 2022 Civic Si, 2023 Civic Type-R
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- #1
We've seen countless posts from FL5 Type R owners removing their wings, only to uncover an unsightly, rough-cut opening in the plastic hatch. Finally, FL5 owners have a clean, reversible solution that lets them run a wingless look without leaving exposed holes or swapping to a different hatch.
We are genuinely excited about this product because the FL5 looks fantastic without the wing. The PRL Wing Delete offers a cost-effective, easy, and fully reversible way to dramatically transform the appearance of your car. Its sleek form is designed to follow the body lines of the FL5 and visually tie into the shark-fin antenna on the roof. Before landing on this final design, we tested countless 3D-printed prototypes with varying upper-surface shapes, including simple flat plates, until we found the balance of form and function we wanted.
Why Isn’t It Flush?
We know the biggest question we'll get is obvious: “Why Didn't You Make It flush?” There are a couple of very straightforward reasons why a flush-fitting design would actually be worse.
1. The Factory Hole Is Not Precise
Figure 1 shows the hole in the hatch that accepts the wing risers. This slotted opening is cut into the plastic by a router after molding, and the result is:
- a rough, uneven cut
- burrs and sharp edges
- non-precision placement
The sheet metal opening underneath is smaller, and the wing riser base is designed to cover the variability in size and location. The slack is taken up by a foam seal and the footprint of the riser.
If we made a flush delete plate, it would have to be undersized to avoid contacting the rough plastic edges. That would create a noticeable gap around the outside of the plate while also exposing the ugly cut underneath. There is no clean way to make a flush design that accounts for this inconsistent geometry.
2. A Flush Plate Would Create Water-Ingress and Corrosion Risks
Both the OEM risers and our wing delete use a closed-cell foam seal that compresses between the hatch and the base of the riser. This is a proven sealing method that works with the thickness and variability of the factory plastic.
A flush-fitting plate would require a completely different sealing method, and any alternative would need to seal against the sheet metal, not the plastic, due to the thin outer skin and variability of the hole size.
While sealing directly to the metal could stop water from entering the cabin immediately, it would allow water to pool between the metal and the outer plastic skin. That trapped moisture would eventually:
- accelerate corrosion
- compromise the hatch structure
- likely lead to water finding its way into the cabin over time
Simply put, it would introduce avoidable long-term problems.
The Bottom Line
A flush-fit design would be objectively worse for two major reasons:
- It would require an undersized plate, creating a visible gap and exposing the rough factory opening.
- It would introduce water intrusion and corrosion risk by exposing inner sheet metal and relying on an inferior sealing method.
, but to each their own.
