eBay exhaust guinnea pig (Videos/Pics inside)
 

Well, I'm usually not an ebay kind of guy if I'm honest. Maybe for small misc parts but never for Critical or exhaust components or important aesthetic components.

I came across an exhaust "knockoff" i've never seen until recently that looks very similar to the ARK GRiP exhaust. I found a random seller selling one for $400 bucks and decided to submit and after it surprisingly going through, decided to pick it up.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dual-SS-Catb...8cfd0a&vxp=mtr

Now, there are some of you who avoid ebay anything at all costs, only name brand expensive parts are the way to go, that will look at this and go EWWWWWWW. The other half of you doesn't care where it comes from or who's name is on it as long as its of decent quality at a reasonable price.

So in the name of science, in the name of a stupid impulse buy because I was having a bad day and had money from something in my paypal..

And because well I was genuinely curious given the price of the real ARK exhaust I figured what the hell..

My Loss is your gain, unless this works out to not be a royal POS.

I don't have a lot of hopes if I'm honest but im genuinely curious. If it sounds great I'll keep it, if it sounds like shit I'll sell it stupid cheap and pick up the DEZOD like I planned on later this year.

ebay Exhausts like the J2 sound good, but just looking at the Y pipe I hate how its designed, it favors one side, and it looks extremely inefficient.

Anywho, hoping to have it by the end of the week if it ships out like its supposed to. I will install it, take lots of pictures. Tell you what I think and take some nice sound clips..

Throughout this thread as of now on 10/11/2014 there have been posts pertaining to this exhaust, the few small hiccups i had, pictures and videos in which I will summarize here.

-2.5 Inch piping Confirmed with calipers

-The exhaust for the money is quite impressive. It's deep, it sounds smooth. It's a bit loud (very deep) under acceleration and deceleration inside the car however it doesn't drone when at cruising speed and being easy on the throttle. Depending on what you get the exhaust for (They sell it at $450 but you can submit "Best offer") its worth it for the sound if you don't want to spend a ton of money.

-Outside of the tips being off the rest of the exhaust fit well enough. A slight rattle from it JUST BARELY touching the sub frame when starting off from a dead stop, however it did not seem to hit, clank or rattle under driving conditions even over heavy bumps/speed bumps. This was "remedied" when I fixed the tip fitment issue

-It's not to loud on the outside. Noticeable but now ear bleeding (see drive by video below)

The negatives are this:
-It does overall look nice, however a few of the welds, and the seem on the canister are not the best.
-Fitment will be off, I have a feeling it may not be the same on every exhaust if someone orders one but in my case it was made better by a few fuel line hose clamps to keep the hangers in the right position (See pics below)
-You may want to pick up a spare bolt kit for the Mid Pipe/Cat Back flange. I snapped my shoulder bolts. I had to run to home depot in order to make it work as no one had the bolt kit in stock.
-It MIGHT hit the subframe. Mine did initially but seems to be fine once I fixed the fitment issue with the clamps.

Videos:

-Start up and quick Driveby (Slight rattle is due to exhaust hitting the subframe BEFORE i fixed the tips)

[ame]http://youtu.be/KkTE-c2iaLA[/ame]

-In car

[ame]http://youtu.be/itXg1_u4KCY[/ame]

-Drive by in parking garage

[ame]http://youtu.be/lic_a6u3C0I[/ame]


Images:

Exhaust laid out


http://www.ft86club.com/forums/attac...1&d=1412992263


Sub par weld

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/attac...1&d=1412992263

Initial Fitment a little off

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/attac...1&d=1412992263

Fitment much better after "fixing" it with hose clamps

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/attac...1&d=1413056814

Picture of hose clamps to show "fix"

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/attac...1&d=1413056814

Looking forward to the results.. Never know, it might be half decent!

Well, the J2 is pretty good just poor design as where the mufflers T off it favors one side and seems inefficient (Just from looking, im not expert) and I hate how chincy the tips looks.

I've heard the "N1" knockoff and it surprisingly sounds good.

I've heard the Megan and it sounds as good as it looks..

Same with both the Top Speed Racing Pro and Street exhausts

The DC Sports looks decent but sounds like shit.


As silly as it sounds, one of my concerns is as to how good or bad this might be, is the price for the amount of hardware there is. Meaning the mufflers/canisters.. The supporting plates etc. It's a lot of metal and work for something so cheap, china or not. The question of thickness, actual material used comes into play.

If it wasn't for some of the slight differences in the canisters I'd almost think maybe it was a reject/failed QoS from a factory where real ones are made, however the canisters don't have any welded joints and the exhaust can's have a "lip" to them.

We'll see..

In for the results! From the picture, it looks like the flanges might have been one of the major cost cutting areas?

cant wait to hear the results.. hopefully It sounds nice. ive heard a few knock offs on ebay are actually worth it. Not sure which route I want to go when it comes to the exhaust.

subscribed

I give that thing about a 10% chance of fitting correctly.

Kinda reminds me of an alien space weapon
http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb2...nts_Purple.png

FWIW. I'm pretty sure my Brother bought that one to test out on his 2013. sounds is good but fitment is off. It isn't centered in the exhaust ports/opening and even messing with the hangers it still didn't line up right and is a little heavy.

looks very close to j2 dual. I like the resonator layout. I would consider this actually. Looks great from behind too.

also 2.5" instead of j2 is nearly 2.75" I think

I'm totally expecting fitment to be off.. Just a question of by how much

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@themajesticone

Excited to see where this one goes! Keep us updated!