Those running with ARK GRiP Exhaust....i just joined the club! :)

I

InFX

Member
Location
NY
Name
Rob
I ordered mine finally last week. Should be here on Wed. I have a few questions:

1. Is there HP gain?
2. Now that yours is broken in, how does it sound?
3. How bad is the drone over time?

I'll post pics as soon as I get it installed which should be next weekend.

THANKS!!
Rob
 
There is a slight gain in HO. It's definitely noticeable. The drone isn't too bad but it's more audible on the highway more than anything else. It's not going to sound any different broken in, honestly.
 
The HP gain is more like a HP shift, maybe a few extra hp, although after a tune it will open up a few extra ponies for sure. Plus, the butt dyno ALWAYS measures additional modifications as additional power ;)

For these cars, throwing on an exhaust isn't going to net a huge HP gain, but most get it for the great sound these motors produce with the exhaust vs. trying to get high HP. For high HP, there are other things you can do but it is a lot more expensive.

For now, enjoy your new exhaust!
 
Nothing like the first start up of course. On my first start up i got it to pop when i reved the engine and after about 5 minutes it wouldnt do it again. I had a cpu reset also so it can learn again. But from then and now, about 50,000miles i havent noticed any sound changes but also it could be that i just hear it everyday. Regardless i love how it sounds and dont regret a thing. I do like the ark over the invidia and i still do.
 
Trying adding some flame stickers and race fuel for additional HP gain lol

My ARK sounded a bit more drony at first, either my ears have got used to it or its less audible now (or both probably). But it sounds wonderful, im planning to add a pair of RTP, just deciding between GTM or Megan Racing. The car does feel like it revs easier, but the HP gain is marginal; knowing that about HP (as jbaker also pointed out) I only did it for the V8 sound.
 
thanks guys. I cant wait. Did you install yourself or had a shop do it? I'm inclined to install myself. I've done headers on my cobra in the past. the shop near me wants $180 to install. feels a little high.

dam i cant wait for that 1st startup! so over due!

---------- Post added at 11:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:44 PM ----------

thanks JB. I've thought about a tune. let me know if you know of any places the the 5 boroughs that deal with FX
 
InFX said:
thanks guys. I cant wait. Did you install yourself or had a shop do it? I'm inclined to install myself. I've done headers on my cobra in the past. the shop near me wants $180 to install. feels a little high.

dam i cant wait for that 1st startup! so over due!

---------- Post added at 11:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:44 PM ----------

thanks JB. I've thought about a tune. let me know if you know of any places the the 5 boroughs that deal with FX
Click to expand...


My dealer and tuner are in Long Island, and the shop that did my exhaust work is in Mamaroneck, in Westchester. I don't have any place to recommend in the 5 boroughs per se but all of them are not that far away. PM me if you'd like

The install should be straightforward but some people have trouble with the rear portions not sitting correctly so the exhaust tips will be uneven. See here: #54 His ARK sits crooked on his FX50.
 
Definitely look at getting a tune, you'll add some HP for sure. Remember that, as far as I know, the Vettle edition is nothing more than a new exhaust and tune (outside of some other additions that don't affect HP).

Ordering mine in a few weeks! Already own the full Uprev tuner pro kit.
 
Hey Guys So its finally in for the past 2 weeks...

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---------- Post added at 11:21 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:17 AM ----------

.....and though I love the sound during hard acceleration, the drone is more than what I expected. I've taken clients out and they've made comments. Its my DD and it gets to me by the end of the day. I provide IT services so i'm on the road all day.

However, I love the fact my 3 year old says "woohoo" every time I get on the highway with acceleration lol

I'm thinking about going back to stock so soon.
 
thanks brother!

---------- Post added at 11:48 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:47 AM ----------

Unfortunately I'll be putting the ark grip up for sale as soon as I get time to put stock back on.

---------- Post added at 11:49 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:48 AM ----------

Unfortunately I'll be putting the ark grip up for sale as soon as I get time to put stock back on.
 
By the way, something to think about.

The FX doesn't, imo, have good sound dampening. Especially in the back. For example behind the rear bumper is very thin sheet metal with NO sound reduction properties.

If you invest in some dampening (dynomat, gtmat, etc) and install it in the rear (remove the tire and wheel well plastic) plus the area behind the rear bumper you will notice huge improvements in the sound levels in the car. I am sure it will reduce the drone as well.

Personally I did my entire car with dampener and mlv/ccf and it is wonderful.
 
I have the ARK as well and I pretty much dynamated my whole car. It def helps to quiet up road noise but doesn't help much with the drone.
 
After you sell the exhaust, I say drop your ride on springs or coilovers. Way better ride than stock as well. I have coilovers for sale too lol [emoji6]
 
Your crazy for going back to stock. You have the best exhaust exhaust out there and you want to sell it? Add a couple sheets of dynamat and you'll be good as new, man.

Don't give up so quickly. That exhaust ain't cheap.
 
I'd say give it more than a couple of weeks, you'll get used to it. I don't even know what a stock FX sounds like anymore. That doesn't help with the clients though.

Dynamat won't help much with drone as others have said. I dynamatted everything but the roof in my car and it eliminate most road noise and helped some with exhaust noise (had OEM exhaust at time). But my Invidia still drones a bit and that's with a custom resonated X-pipe.

The only way to quiet down the actual exhaust would be to replace the X-pipe on there with a resonated one; the tiny resonators on most exhausts are really useless. I've used similar 12" resonators in custom exhausts and they don't do much of anything. But a resonated X-pipe would help a lot with drone. Honestly though, it's adding cost to an already expensive exhaust and it won't make all the drone go away, just less. All aftermarket exhausts are going to drone, you're replacing an OEM part that was designed specifically for the car and tuned at all rpms with something basically made from off the shelf mufflers and resonators. Aftermarket exhausts are only custom for a vehicle in the sense that they fit, it's not really designed for the intricacies of a particular car.
 
Hey Guys,

Thanks for all the feedback. The Ark has been on for almost 3 weeks. I don't want to start pulling apart the car to sound deaden it or cut up that work of art to install resonators. That's what my other toy is for :) I have a full header to back exhaust on my vette and the drone is nowhere near the Ark drone without any dynamat.

Other than tints and wheels I've never modified any of my DD. this is the 1st time. I really love the ark when driving but the drone everyday gets to me. Highway driving not an issue. almost no drone. But the street driving RPM's which is New York 9-5 even on hwy is where I'm at most of the time.

I ordered new oe gaskets from infinitipartsusa yesterday. Unfortunately I will be putting the exhaust up for sale next weekend.
 
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