During the winter, when I was using the civic for a snow plow, I took a little too much snow up behind the plastic fender liner. It's bent all to hell now. Anytime anything gets behind it (Driving through deep puddles, snow, etc.), it falls and rubs the tire, I have to push it back up again. Once, I didn't notice it and my wheel melted through a little of it. Is it really necessary? It's the passenger side, but the driver's side is starting to do it too.

Also, is the T looking pipe (L with a box to the left side.) in front of the air box necessary, or the boxy looking thing inside the fender, attached to the pipe? I think without these things, the engine would get a lot more air and it'll be cooler air as well, not coming from behind the radiator.

 

yea you need it, but it's not absolutely neccessary. it prevents water from being splashed on your intake, but seeing as you have the stock airbox, it really doesn't matter. you can take out the bottom piece, but it helps your engine draw cooler air. so i would leave it in, just by another fenderwell.