This is lengthy and reposted from several email conversations I had with Ben Wantland who also has a 82 gs550. I?m posting this without his permission but I don't think he will mind.
"Hey, I'll try to answer all of your questions in order. I got the MAC 4-1 Exhaust from my local dealer, although you can get it for about the same price from MAC directly at 800-367-4486. I would recommend the competition (straight-through) baffle also, as the baffle that comes w/ the exhaust sucks. For the entire exhaust system, expect to spend around $400. I also got the air filters through my local dealer, and they were about $100 for the set of two dual-port filters. For jets, I got a Dynojet kit, and although it was pricey, there is a lot of engineering that went into it beyond what is feasible for the backyard mechanic. The dynojet kit came with different main jets, a drill bit for the slides, air restrictors for the low speed air jets, and different, adjustable needles. Right now I am running the DJ 155 main jets, needles on the third notch from the top, and idle screws 2.75 turns out (if I remember right). Unfortunately, the Dynojet kit doesn't come with jack for instructions, and when I called them about this, they told me that it was designed back in the day and someone had lost the master instruction sheet..... anyway, if you go w/ the jet kit, let me know, and I will give you instructions on how to install it. If you want to skip the expense, I can give you a little advice on how to tweak your existing setup.... either way, you have to understand how to tune carbs, but the kit just starts you at a higher standard and allows you to tune the entire system better than would be possible without. The jet kit also ran about $100, and I had to order it from Competition Accessories (
www.competitionaccessories.com); although they don't have it listed on their site, I'm sure they can still get it if you call. I can't remember if I already said this, but a lot of the stuff I listed here doesn't say it will fit an "L" model, but it does.
One caveat: I think at this point, I am at the maximum airflow capacity of my carbs. They do not seem to want to flow above about 9000 or 9500 rpm, because the whole engine system is flowing so much air, but that is probably high enough. I know if my engine would breath well enough though, that it would make the very most power in that extra 500 or 1000 rpm that I am missing.
As far as power output, I haven't run a dyno yet, b/c it just hasn't come together for me, but if I had to take a shot in the dark, I would guess somewhere around 65 horsepower. I can definitely tell you that it is a night-and-day improvement over stock, both in terms of max power and driveability, and I'm pretty sure that I can spank almost any Harley that has been built for this side of $20,000.
One more note: if you are riding a 20-something year old bike, and you haven't done so already, you should really give it a serious look-over and make sure everything is clean, functional, lubricated and safe, or have a mechanic do it for you. AND, you should definitely get a shop manual for it. You will need it, even if you have the best instincts in the world.
Hope this helps you,
Ben"
" As far as what to do in what order to get power cheaply, its hard to say. You have to rejet and do clamp-on air cleaners at the same time. The engine will not even run with factory jets and clamp-ons. So, you are looking at between $125-$200 there for filters and jets, depending on whether you try to do the jetting yourself or use a dynojet kit. The exhaust system may or may not work without rejetting. Either way, it won't be as big of a performance booster as the intake, and it costs roughly twice as much. I would definitely say to get a 4-1, but if I had to do one or the other, I would go with jets and air filters first, from the point of power per dollar. On the other hand, its hard to deny the improvement in looks (at least compared to my rusted stock pipes), sound and power of a shiny new 4 into 1 exhaust system."
and last but not least here is the info for the exhaust (mac 4 to 1) i bought i do not know if they have more but if they do the price is worth askin about it.
milwaukee cycle supply salvage
1-800-359-6014
Ryan
p.s sorry about the length
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