customer review: Ark DT-S exhaust

MJB · 07-28-2012, 11:17 PM

Hey guys, just wanted to do a quick review for the new Ark DT-S exhaust system. For those who haven't heard, this exhaust was just released a couple weeks ago. As you can see from the pictures, craftsmanship is top notch. Installation was easy... I was able to do most of the install by myself with the car being on jack stands in my driveway. The only part I needed help on was the rear muffler part as it is pretty heavy. No fitment issues whatsoever. Everything lined up like its supposed to with no adjustments needed. Install time was about 2 hours. If you have this done at a shop with a lift, can easily be done in 30minutes to an hour.

The burnt tips look awesome. They are adjustable as well.

One reason why I wanted this exhaust was because of the ground clearance. As of right now, I'm lowered with Tein springs and as you can see, this is a lowered car friendly exhaust. I have BC coilovers which I plan on installing asap and have no worries about scrapping or clearance issues.

Ok,driving impressions... A little on the quite side. It does have a very deep tone to it, however it is not much louder than my stock Nismo exhaust. So I decided to cut out the resonators today. Wow, huge difference. Startup, idle, normal driving is mostly the same, but when you open it up it really comes alive! Not annoying or obnoxious loud, very exotic, deep sounding. No drone either which is always nice. Don't get me wrong, even with the resonators installed it sounded really good. Its just that I'm still running with stock cats and was wanting an exhaust on the louder side. Plus, this exhaust is about as heavy as stock, so by cutting out the resonators I was able to shed around 10lbs. Now most of the weight on this is in the rear, which works out perfectly since I wanted to add some weight in the back end anyways. I do feel extra power judging by the butt dyno. I had an Agency Power CBE installed before this one, which is true dual without a X or H pipe, so I felt like I lost some tq in the lower range with that setup. With this new exhaust having a X pipe configuration, I can definitely feel that I gained that tq back and then some. I'm going to get a tune after I install my HFC's here in the next couple weeks so I should have some dyno results. Sorry, I don't have a baseline dyno nor do I have my stock exhaust with me, so maybe I can do a comparison with this vs my AP cbe and see if I really did gain anything.
All in all, I'm happy about the purchase.

I wasn't able to get a video of the exhaust prior of the resonator removal.

DarkJak · 07-29-2012, 02:54 AM

Nice pictures and review! I've been looking forward to seeing this exhaust installed for so many months.

HArturo319 · 07-29-2012, 03:38 AM

As I used to put it so eloquently in the past; It sounds dope.

Unique_Z · 07-29-2012, 05:13 AM

Monstrous sound

MJB · 07-29-2012, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iwan72

Monstrous sound

Yeah it sounds great

. And this is still with the stock cats so I can't imagine how its going to sound once I install HFC's or LTH's. I understand I may get some hiss due to the fact I removed the resonators, but I'll deal with it. I can always weld those back in if need be.

RITDR · 07-29-2012, 08:14 PM

Thanks for the pics, video, and review.
Mine is supposed to arrive in a few days. I can't wait!!

MJB · 07-29-2012, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RITDR

Thanks for the pics, video, and review.
Mine is supposed to arrive in a few days. I can't wait!!

Awesome

. Are you still running with stock cats? Let us know how you like it once you get that bad boy installed!

axmea? · 07-30-2012, 12:33 AM

That sounds great! Congrats.

Unique_Z · 07-30-2012, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJB

Yeah it sounds great

. And this is still with the stock cats so I can't imagine how its going to sound once I install HFC's or LTH's. I understand I may get some hiss due to the fact I removed the resonators, but I'll deal with it. I can always weld those back in if need be.

oh my lord..that really surprised me man, if that's so then what are you waiting for? go get you HFC/LTH

MJB · 07-30-2012, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iwan72

oh my lord..that really surprised me man, if that's so then what are you waiting for? go get you HFC/LTH

Lol well I have some HFC's that I haven't installed yet because I'm not sure if i want to go LTH's instead. I'm just hoping I'm not going to get rasp due to the fact I removed the resonators.

Juruki · 07-30-2012, 11:21 AM

sounds great! Maybe you should have waited till you installed the HFCs to see how your car was gonna sound? I have a feeling you will get rasp with HFCs
I like your video btw!

TeamARK · 07-30-2012, 12:18 PM

+1. If you were looking for more volume, you should have went with some HFC's or TP's. Nonetheless, it sounds very clean.

Fly1 Motorsports · 07-30-2012, 02:45 PM

Thanks for the review! Sounds great

I'm looking forward to trying out this exhaust real soon. MY F.I. setup has been great, but I'm lowered...and going even lower, so it's time to try a different CBE. Can't wait!

Coon-azz · 07-30-2012, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theflyest1

Thanks for the review! Sounds great

I'm looking forward to trying out this exhaust real soon. MY F.I. setup has been great, but I'm lowered...and going even lower, so it's time to try a different CBE. Can't wait!

Any issues with your F.I. setup? I'm looking at them for my setup. It will probably be the only mod I make as this is my daily driver for now.

MJB · 07-30-2012, 03:42 PM

I really like the F.I. exhaust and was considering it. However I want to go lower with my Z so I needed a setup that wasnt going to scrape on every imperfection in the road. This DT-S is great for lowered cars.

07-28-2012, 11:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
MJB A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Tacoma, WA Age: 41 Posts: 1,498 Drives: a POS truck Rep Power: 496	customer review: Ark DT-S exhaust Hey guys, just wanted to do a quick review for the new Ark DT-S exhaust system. For those who haven't heard, this exhaust was just released a couple weeks ago. As you can see from the pictures, craftsmanship is top notch. Installation was easy... I was able to do most of the install by myself with the car being on jack stands in my driveway. The only part I needed help on was the rear muffler part as it is pretty heavy. No fitment issues whatsoever. Everything lined up like its supposed to with no adjustments needed. Install time was about 2 hours. If you have this done at a shop with a lift, can easily be done in 30minutes to an hour. The burnt tips look awesome. They are adjustable as well. One reason why I wanted this exhaust was because of the ground clearance. As of right now, I'm lowered with Tein springs and as you can see, this is a lowered car friendly exhaust. I have BC coilovers which I plan on installing asap and have no worries about scrapping or clearance issues. Ok,driving impressions... A little on the quite side. It does have a very deep tone to it, however it is not much louder than my stock Nismo exhaust. So I decided to cut out the resonators today. Wow, huge difference. Startup, idle, normal driving is mostly the same, but when you open it up it really comes alive! Not annoying or obnoxious loud, very exotic, deep sounding. No drone either which is always nice. Don't get me wrong, even with the resonators installed it sounded really good. Its just that I'm still running with stock cats and was wanting an exhaust on the louder side. Plus, this exhaust is about as heavy as stock, so by cutting out the resonators I was able to shed around 10lbs. Now most of the weight on this is in the rear, which works out perfectly since I wanted to add some weight in the back end anyways. I do feel extra power judging by the butt dyno. I had an Agency Power CBE installed before this one, which is true dual without a X or H pipe, so I felt like I lost some tq in the lower range with that setup. With this new exhaust having a X pipe configuration, I can definitely feel that I gained that tq back and then some. I'm going to get a tune after I install my HFC's here in the next couple weeks so I should have some dyno results. Sorry, I don't have a baseline dyno nor do I have my stock exhaust with me, so maybe I can do a comparison with this vs my AP cbe and see if I really did gain anything. All in all, I'm happy about the purchase. I wasn't able to get a video of the exhaust prior of the resonator removal. __________________ 09 Nismo #0483 sold. Viper or C7 next time around. Last edited by MJB; 07-29-2012 at 01:59 PM.

07-29-2012, 03:38 AM	#3 (permalink)
HArturo319 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 323 Drives: 2013 PW NISMO Rep Power: 13	As I used to put it so eloquently in the past; It sounds dope. __________________ Me And Zoloft Get Along Just Fine

07-29-2012, 05:13 AM	#4 (permalink)
Unique_Z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Brunei Posts: 1,515 Drives: 370Z, 180SX Rep Power: 17	Monstrous sound __________________ My Z Build UniqueZ

07-30-2012, 11:21 AM	#11 (permalink)
Juruki Track Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: SoCal Posts: 965 Drives: 370Z Tour/Sport/Navi Rep Power: 16	sounds great! Maybe you should have waited till you installed the HFCs to see how your car was gonna sound? I have a feeling you will get rasp with HFCs I like your video btw! __________________ 09 370z - 7AT Volk Racing TE37SL / BC Coilovers / Berk HFC / TopSpeed CBE + Y-Pipe / Mines Spoiler Last edited by Juruki; 07-30-2012 at 11:59 AM.

07-30-2012, 03:42 PM	#15 (permalink)
MJB A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Tacoma, WA Age: 41 Posts: 1,498 Drives: a POS truck Rep Power: 496	I really like the F.I. exhaust and was considering it. However I want to go lower with my Z so I needed a setup that wasnt going to scrape on every imperfection in the road. This DT-S is great for lowered cars. __________________ 09 Nismo #0483 sold. Viper or C7 next time around. Last edited by MJB; 07-30-2012 at 03:51 PM.

07-29-2012, 02:54 AM	#2 (permalink)
DarkJak A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 1,397 Drives: 2009 370Z Rep Power: 16804	Nice pictures and review! I've been looking forward to seeing this exhaust installed for so many months.

07-29-2012, 08:14 PM	#6 (permalink)
RITDR Base Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 83 Drives: 2012 MB 370Z Rep Power: 16	Thanks for the pics, video, and review. Mine is supposed to arrive in a few days. I can't wait!!

07-30-2012, 12:33 AM	#8 (permalink)
axmea? A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,236 Drives: WELL ZED PW 6MT Rep Power: 53241	That sounds great! Congrats.

07-30-2012, 12:18 PM	#12 (permalink)
TeamARK Track Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: CHINO Posts: 957 Drives: Black 350z/370z Rep Power: 17	+1. If you were looking for more volume, you should have went with some HFC's or TP's. Nonetheless, it sounds very clean.

07-30-2012, 02:45 PM	#13 (permalink)
Fly1 Motorsports Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,094 Drives: PW 370Z 7AT/Tr/Sp/Nv Rep Power: 18	Thanks for the review! Sounds great I'm looking forward to trying out this exhaust real soon. MY F.I. setup has been great, but I'm lowered...and going even lower, so it's time to try a different CBE. Can't wait!

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