[RICK LAKE]

saltshaker Jon Here's the issue, How the hearing in your left ear and are you happy with it. Side pipes for street kill power. 10-50 hp is about the norm. Race pipes no power loss with about a 15-25 increase in loadness. Ringing sound in your ear after a ride will happen. The trick with side pipes is to have a quiet one without too much back pressure and noise. Ideal back pressure numbers are in the 1-2.5 pound of pressure at WOT. The newer you go the more power lost. I have found that having 2 sets of pipes works the best. 1 set for cruising and one for racing.
If you have the money and time, a dual exhaust system can be built with a splitter valve. Side pipes for making noise and a complete rear exhaust system for cruising and talking. Not Cheap but very doable. Stormin Norman runs a car with dual setup.
Which everyway you go, do only 1 part swap at a time as to not cause the tune to go way out of range. IMO I would stay with the exhaust you have and leave the motor alone and enjoy it. The more power and abuse it makes and takes, the shorter the life of the motor. You have a motor with a .040" overbore. You are running small valve heads. Getting a set of KCR heads stage 3 with 2.19 intake valves will wake up that motor alot. I wouldn't push this motor too hard with thin walls. Build another motor if you want to get crazy.
As far as aircleaners I am running the small one without the inner filter. between the throttlebody running with and without the filter I picked up 3-5 hp with it on. It helps bend the air and keeps a smooth flow to the throttlebody. Same would apply to a carb setup with keeping a smooth flow to the carbs. Other airfilters do kill power. You also want a low striction setup to improve throttle responce. Rick L.