Installing new ARK DT-X exhaust

[NSX GT]

Does anyone here have the ARK DT-X exhaust on their NSX? How do you like them?

I plan to install the exhaust myself this weekend, and I could use any tips or suggestions. The ARK DTX comes with gaskets, but I also noticed that the stock OEM exhaust uses a "O" ring type gasket. Which should I use the OEM or the ARK? or both? I just don't want to do things twice.

Here is a pic of my exhaust:

[davidf]

Use the ARK gaskets. Install should be simple bolt on. Getting the fact. exhaust off is the heardest part. Everything else is a walk in the park. Thats a great looking piece there.

[Zishan]

I would spray the 6 bolts down with WD-40 a few times and let it soak in. That way, it is easier to remove them when you start to remove the fact. exhaust this weekend.

[EndLeSS]

Mine came with the DT-X exhaust when I bought it.
For install, I can't help you there, but I really like it a lot. It's quiet and reasonable at low RPMs, but loud at WOT.

I love the GT One F1 5.1, but I think that I would get in trouble because that is so loud.

[NSX GT]

Thanks for the info. I have taken the OEM exhaust off about 3 months ago and threw it away and installed a used 95 OEM exhaust. It was a biaaach to get out. It should be a breeze this time.

[VADER33]

Spray your rubber bushings to so the stock exhaust slides out more easily. I installed mine by myself. Pretty straight forward. Helps with 2 people.

[NSXCessive]

I installed my DT-X a few times... first one was defective didn't hang right at all something wrong with the position of the hangers and the bends in the pipes on one side of the exhaust, 2nd replacement was near perfect fit. Very impressed with the quality so far, I must have been the one in a million on the first one. I got the R&R down to an art now, about 20~30mins in & out, but will probably take you about 2hrs or so hours being your first time & depending on how much time is spent on the nuts and bolts being stuck, I broke them off on purpose to get some of them out. Hard part was getting the OEM off, spraying the nuts with WD, LPS, or Liquid wrench helps loosen the bolts. I was lucky and able to use my air impact to get most of them off, or break them off.
As the exhaust falls on your chest you'll realize how heavy the OEM exhaust is compared to the new.

Yes use the Ark gaskets I think it came with nuts & bolts too. Silcone spray works great to slip off the rubber hangers, and move them from the old to the new, as well as helping to install the new exhaust to the underbody hangers. Found it pretty easy to hang the rear, towards the bumper all by myself and then slip on the forward hangers. Quick TIP, leave the bolts & nuts loose, get out an position the exhaust properly with a helper would be great to hold in position & tighten, that will save you time fiddling around with positioning.

Here is a DIY from Dano:

http://danoland.com/nsxgarage/exhaust/exhaust.htm

[NSX GT]

Thanks everyone for the helpful tips! Greatly appreciate it. I hope I can figure this out. I figure, if I can uninstall and re-install my Koni struts and H/R Springs by myself within in 2.5 hours (all 4), I better be able to do this job.

Wish me luck.

[Larry Bastanza]

One thing you will need to pay attention to is the rubber hangers. These have inserts in the holes, and I remember installing the ARK, the large dimples(you can see it in your pic of the dual tips) on the mounting rods really did not want to fit into the inserts on the hangers. I removed the inserts, then used some small rubber tubing to make them snug.

The other thing you can try is removing the inserts, installing the inserts separately on the mounting rods, then install the hangers over the inserts. Just remember this may be difficult to remove later.


HTH,
LarryB

[NSX GT]

One thing you will need to pay attention to is the rubber hangers. These have inserts in the holes, and I remember installing the ARK, the large dimples(you can see it in your pic of the dual tips) on the mounting rods really did not want to fit into the inserts on the hangers. I removed the inserts, then used some small rubber tubing to make them snug.

The other thing you can try is removing the inserts, installing the inserts separately on the mounting rods, then install the hangers over the inserts. Just remember this may be difficult to remove later.


HTH,
LarryB

Larry,
I just checked it out and I see exactly what you mean. Is it fairly easy to remove the inserts in the rubber hangers? Also, did you just use the factory bolts? I remembered when taking off the original set of exhaust, there was a heat shield or cover blocking the head of the bolt. The bolts on the heat shield are toasted on.

I may as well just use the original bolts. The hanger fitting is kind of bothering me now. Maybe I should wait to get a another set of hands to help me.

Thanks for the important tip.

[angus]

actually I've used aftermarket rubber hangers made by walker (they are weaker than the oem ) but the exhaust is so much lighter ,it won't matter , the ones I used are from walker, at napa and they are for an integra or civic , they slide right on (still snug) this is way easier than trying to fiddle w/ the oem ones (which are probably way overkill since they are over-engineered even for the weight of the stock exhuast, makes life easier since they are new the rubber is more flexible too

[Malibu Rapper]

If you don't have a lift, sometimes it can be hard to get the leverage you need to get the nuts off. What I like to do is get a few long 3/8" extensions to be able to loosen the nuts while you are standing up. It takes maybe 1.5-2 feet of extensions. Use a pipe as a cheater bar to gain leverage on the ratchet and the nuts come off like nothing.

If you need to buy new nuts, go to Pep Boys and you can buy them in packs of 4. Make sure you buy grade 10. Picture of package below.

[Larry Bastanza]

actually I've used aftermarket rubber hangers made by walker (they are weaker than the oem ) but the exhaust is so much lighter ,it won't matter , the ones I used are from walker, at napa and they are for an integra or civic

Sounds like a nice alternative, I may just have to get a set of those.

Thanks,
LarryB

[DRIFTER]

When installing my exhaust I could not get the nuts on the catalytic converter studs to loosen up i ended up snapping a few studs off and removing some with one of these striped nut removers from craftsman I hammered the nut remover on and used a breaker bar to get them off it was not fun. After snapping off the studs on the cat i went to acura to just get new studs well i found out that they get $15 a piece for them so I went to Lowes and got some good stainless steel bolts/lock nuts (not the Teflon lock ones but the kind that have an oblong hole on one end) for like $10 for a bag of them. It was a simple fix, I used the supplied gaskets with no issues and fitment and quality is excellent. I have had the exhaust on the car for 2 years and the thing still looks new, thanks to a little Mothers polish every know and then.

[NSX GT]

It will be done by 2pm today. I'll post the final outcome and pics. Then I'm going to brake it in tonight in the South Bay Area meeting and tomorrow early morning with a few others head South to Big Sur, Ca.

[Rtype1206]

It will be done by 2pm today. I'll post the final outcome and pics. Then I'm going to brake it in tomorrow early morning with a few others head South to Big Sur, Ca.

Gabe,

Per your vmail message... Yes you can use your personal @sstroglide lubricant to remove the rubber hanger.

[NSX GT]

Gabe,

Per your vmail message... Yes you can use your personal @sstroglide lubricant to remove the rubber hanger.

I might have a little bit left over in the bottle for that job.

[NSX GT]

Here she goes with the ARK DTX. Finished product:



Next question: Do you really need headers and how difference does it make?

[NSX GT]

Sorry, but I have another question about this exhaust. How long is the metallic dust flakes going to continue to blow on my car and rear end? After a while, it appears that my car is a Metallic Formula Red. I driven at least 200-300+ miles since installing them. Is this normal ?

[DRIFTER]

How long is the metallic dust flakes going to continue to blow on my car and rear end? I driven at least 200-300+ miles since installing them. Is this normal ?

Yes give it some time.

[NSXCessive]

Yes had the same similar thing happen with mine, it leaft dust all over my rear bumper for a bit but it should be totally gone by about 800~1000 miles. Your breaking it in

[Maximus_NSX]

I actually like the color! Metallic Formula Red, LOL!

[NSXAMG996TT]

Have the same exhaust on my car...excellent quality workmanship & welds!!! Just wish it wasn't so heavy, quiet, and produce some decent hp. Problem solved---> TEST PIPES

[NSX GT]

Have the same exhaust on my car...excellent quality workmanship & welds!!! Just wish it wasn't so heavy, quiet, and produce some decent hp. Problem solved---> TEST PIPES

Yeah, well it's definitely an improvement over the extra heavy OEM exhaust. I would have gone lighter and more expensive ones, but it was the nice quad tips that sold me.

[davidf]

As far as the header question. I recently had headers installed on mine and cannot believe how small the stock NA1 manifolds are. I can't believe I waited this long to do something. If nothing else, get yourself some NA2 header/manifolds. Theres a set in "parts for sale" at the moment. BTW those tips look great.