ARK Grip Type 2 - Review + Pics

detroadster · 12-21-2010, 03:55 PM

OK, how about now? I just noticed the album was checked private instead of public.

daisuke149 · 12-21-2010, 04:01 PM

now i see...

detroadster · 12-21-2010, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daisuke149

now i see...

Sweet. I thought you guys were all blind or something. Could not figure out why folks kept asking for pics when I could clearly see them. This thread must have sucked without the pics. Sorry guys!

zpower86 · 03-23-2013, 01:28 PM

How many bolts did the system come with? Just got mine and its missing 4 bolts/washers/nuts.

Vicster · 03-24-2013, 09:06 PM

Does it come with a materials list? I'm thinking about picking up this exhaust but want to make sure I have everything before going to get it installed.

zpower86 · 03-25-2013, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vicster

Does it come with a materials list? I'm thinking about picking up this exhaust but want to make sure I have everything before going to get it installed.

It came with the right amount of bolts. I didn't realize the stock cat had studs.

It did not come with a materials list. And the instructions are pretty weak. Needs a simple diagram calling out each part.

The exhaust sounds amazing. I did/do have fitment issues tho. The y-pipe will is only 1-2mm away from the cross brace and rattles at certain rpms. Seems like a design flaw bc there is plenty of room on the top side. In case you're wondering, I did jack up the pipe as high as possible when I aligned the flanges and torqued the bolts. Pipes still nearly touch the cross brace.

Vicster · 03-25-2013, 03:22 PM

Damn, now I'm starting to seriously wonder if holding off might be better. I was hoping that with the amount of time this exhaust has been on the market that a lot of these issues would have been worked out already. I really like the Ark exhaust but fitment and the lack of rattle is very important not just for looks but since I daily my Z.

Kinda wish I had statistics on problems people have had. Sometimes all you hear about are the problems because people complain about problems and don't always praise. Maybe we should get an Ark Grip poll going... I'd be curious to see how many people have had no problems what-so-ever vs specific problems.

JollyGoodChap · 03-26-2013, 01:54 PM

that misalignment would bother me. Glad you like the sound though.

zpower86 · 03-26-2013, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JollyGoodChap

that misalignment would bother me. Glad you like the sound though.

I'm going to come up with a solution this weekend or send it back. It rattles too much to be acceptable. Already contacted ARK and they are going to get back to me.

detroadster · 03-26-2013, 10:42 PM

Wow, I completely forgot about this thread. Sucks that 2.5 years later folks are still fighting fitment/alignment issues. It really is a very nice system but damn if I don't curse that misalignment of the two cans, every single day of my freakin' life.

I can tell you guys that after 2.5 years of daily use, (a year of that in road-salt plagued New England), this exhaust still looks like new. Cans polish right up to a mirror shine with a quick wash of soap and water. No signs of corrosion. No rattles. And still has the best sound of any exhaust system I've heard to date on a 370. Totally biased opinion on that exhaust note but whatever.

If ARK has fixed the can misalignment problem and now it's just a matter of a finicky install, I really don't think you can go wrong with this exhaust. Not for the price. Yes their instructions are lacking. Yes the install is tricky. But once you get it dialed in and fire it up, OMG you'll never know how you lived without it.

I have a buddy that used to do all the chassis welding for a top fuel team. I'm seriously thinking of having him cut the left can off, rotate it 15 degrees, and TIG it back on for me.

shika805 · 03-28-2013, 01:57 AM

My exhaust isn't the best fitment either. I also did have a bit of a problem with the cross member touching the x-pipe. The quality of the exhaust is great but the fitment is not perfect.

I placed a piece of old exhaust rubber hanger between the exhaust and cross member handled that issuee well. I tweaked the piping to get as close to where I wanted with the fitment and it's better now but not perfect. Here is a pic.

zpower86 · 04-13-2013, 11:44 PM

I ended up taking mine to a shop and they were able to get it aligned properly. They told me they had to bend a hanger a little. They didn't seem to think it was an issue. With that fixed I'm pretty happy with it. Sounds amazing.

I videoed a comparison to stock. Sounds amazing.

370Z Best Exhaust -- ARK! - YouTube

JC671 · 04-14-2013, 01:21 AM

OP,thanks for the review. I too experienced the same issues you did besides the damage..

I could not get over the right side hanging lower and it scraping everything I went here on island.

I changed mine to a FI exhaust and could not be happier

ROBERT1183 · 04-18-2013, 02:05 PM

I got mine with no damage. fit perfectly. just don't tighten everything down til you have them in the exact location you want. sounds amazing.

Bryan212 · 04-18-2013, 03:57 PM

I got mine installed today and they had to ream out the bolt holes on the flanges to get them to fit on the studs on the cats. It came with intructions for a 350z and for a minute I thought it was the wrong exhaust, but everything else went great. I had never heard of anyone else having that problem.

03-24-2013, 09:06 PM	#20 (permalink)
Vicster Enthusiast Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Pflugerville, TX Posts: 425 Drives: 2013 Nissan 370Z Rep Power: 12	Does it come with a materials list? I'm thinking about picking up this exhaust but want to make sure I have everything before going to get it installed. __________________ -Chris '13 Z34 Touring Sport \| ARK GRiP CBE \| Stillen G3 CAI \| AAM HFC \| UpRev \| 20mm Z1 Spacers \| StopTech Drilled/Slotted Rotors \| StopTech SS Lines

03-25-2013, 03:22 PM	#22 (permalink)
Vicster Enthusiast Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Pflugerville, TX Posts: 425 Drives: 2013 Nissan 370Z Rep Power: 12	Damn, now I'm starting to seriously wonder if holding off might be better. I was hoping that with the amount of time this exhaust has been on the market that a lot of these issues would have been worked out already. I really like the Ark exhaust but fitment and the lack of rattle is very important not just for looks but since I daily my Z. Kinda wish I had statistics on problems people have had. Sometimes all you hear about are the problems because people complain about problems and don't always praise. Maybe we should get an Ark Grip poll going... I'd be curious to see how many people have had no problems what-so-ever vs specific problems. __________________ -Chris '13 Z34 Touring Sport \| ARK GRiP CBE \| Stillen G3 CAI \| AAM HFC \| UpRev \| 20mm Z1 Spacers \| StopTech Drilled/Slotted Rotors \| StopTech SS Lines

03-28-2013, 01:57 AM	#26 (permalink)
shika805 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Posts: 491 Drives: 40th Z, 71' 240z Rep Power: 19	My exhaust isn't the best fitment either. I also did have a bit of a problem with the cross member touching the x-pipe. The quality of the exhaust is great but the fitment is not perfect. I placed a piece of old exhaust rubber hanger between the exhaust and cross member handled that issuee well. I tweaked the piping to get as close to where I wanted with the fitment and it's better now but not perfect. Here is a pic. __________________ 1971 Datsun 240z, 2010 40th Anniversary Z Build #541

04-14-2013, 01:21 AM	#28 (permalink)
JC671 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Guam Posts: 451 Drives: Toretto around Rep Power: 14	OP,thanks for the review. I too experienced the same issues you did besides the damage.. I could not get over the right side hanging lower and it scraping everything I went here on island. I changed mine to a FI exhaust and could not be happier __________________ A special "Thank You" to the Fast Intentions Crew! "Fueled By Passion"

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12-21-2010, 03:55 PM	#16 (permalink)
detroadster Base Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Seattle Posts: 24 Drives: 1969 Datsun & 09 370 Rep Power: 15	OK, how about now? I just noticed the album was checked private instead of public.

12-21-2010, 04:01 PM	#17 (permalink)
daisuke149 My *** is famous! Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Alpharetta, GA Posts: 4,849 Drives: 2013 Boss 302 PW Rep Power: 31	now i see...

03-26-2013, 01:54 PM	#23 (permalink)
JollyGoodChap Enthusiast Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Lust Angeles Posts: 328 Drives: Z34 Rep Power: 14	that misalignment would bother me. Glad you like the sound though.

03-26-2013, 10:42 PM	#25 (permalink)
detroadster Base Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Seattle Posts: 24 Drives: 1969 Datsun & 09 370 Rep Power: 15	Wow, I completely forgot about this thread. Sucks that 2.5 years later folks are still fighting fitment/alignment issues. It really is a very nice system but damn if I don't curse that misalignment of the two cans, every single day of my freakin' life. I can tell you guys that after 2.5 years of daily use, (a year of that in road-salt plagued New England), this exhaust still looks like new. Cans polish right up to a mirror shine with a quick wash of soap and water. No signs of corrosion. No rattles. And still has the best sound of any exhaust system I've heard to date on a 370. Totally biased opinion on that exhaust note but whatever. If ARK has fixed the can misalignment problem and now it's just a matter of a finicky install, I really don't think you can go wrong with this exhaust. Not for the price. Yes their instructions are lacking. Yes the install is tricky. But once you get it dialed in and fire it up, OMG you'll never know how you lived without it. I have a buddy that used to do all the chassis welding for a top fuel team. I'm seriously thinking of having him cut the left can off, rotate it 15 degrees, and TIG it back on for me.

04-13-2013, 11:44 PM	#27 (permalink)
zpower86 Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 189 Drives: 2011 Nissan 370Z Rep Power: 13	I ended up taking mine to a shop and they were able to get it aligned properly. They told me they had to bend a hanger a little. They didn't seem to think it was an issue. With that fixed I'm pretty happy with it. Sounds amazing. I videoed a comparison to stock. Sounds amazing. 370Z Best Exhaust -- ARK! - YouTube

04-18-2013, 02:05 PM	#29 (permalink)
ROBERT1183 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: ROCKAWAY NJ Posts: 458 Drives: 2011 NISSAN 370Z Rep Power: 12	I got mine with no damage. fit perfectly. just don't tighten everything down til you have them in the exact location you want. sounds amazing.

04-18-2013, 03:57 PM	#30 (permalink)
Bryan212 Base Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Cape Girardeau, MO Posts: 68 Drives: 10 370z spt,tour,nav Rep Power: 12	I got mine installed today and they had to ream out the bolt holes on the flanges to get them to fit on the studs on the cats. It came with intructions for a 350z and for a minute I thought it was the wrong exhaust, but everything else went great. I had never heard of anyone else having that problem.