@dlearl476 : I couldn’t agree with you more. Having an exhaust designed for a particular application is crucial. Too many times I’ve removed and replaced something from either the intake or exhaust side of a motor and not done anything about the side left behind. With the motor I built I knew the “hotdog” I was running with my stock 1600 wasn’t going to come close to getting the job done.
Either way, the entire system (from air cleaner to exhaust tip) needs to work together.
@R Thorpe : I was running a moderately built 2180 with the EMPI Sidewinder style exhaust. Yes, it was a knock-off and EMPI products can be questionable at times but for about 1/4 the cost of an actual A1 it was well worth the money. That motor sounded like a well maintained sewing machine as it hummed along at speed and had some good bass tones to it under power. It didn’t sound stock but it didn’t sound like a drag-car either. I imagine one could get it quieter by replacing the muffler. If memory serves the muffler that came with the EMPI system was nothing more than a multi-chamber box similar to a Flowmaster.