Motorcycle Repair: exhaust compatability, exhaust leaks, exhaust gaskets

Question
I just purchase 1984 Kawasaki kz700, bike is 100% original condition. I am looking to upgrade the current exhaust to a 4 into 1 header system, such as kerker, yoshimura, or vance & hines. Problem, I am unable to locate any of these models for my specific year bike. I have found MAC header, but that is not my first choice. My understanding of this bike, it uses the same 650 motor from kz line-up with an increase in bore & stroke. If I am also correct, would use the same cylinder heads. Do you know or have any experience in understanding whether a different model would work on this bike. I have found 1 mod available and that is put a stock z7 onto bike. This is canister type muffler, and requires custom bracket. Spoke with gentleman @ dennis kirk, and he actually open V&H system and compared to MAC, and thinks this might work. ANY suggestions would be very appreciated.

Answer
Hi James,

It is kind of trial and error fitting another
exhaust system but you can probably
work with the KZ750 four pipes.
The port spacing should be the same.

You may have to remove the centerstand and make
hangers etc. Sometimes the exhaust sleeves are
a bit long and the studs come up short.
You can grind the sleeves down or turn
the studs out slightly to fit the pipes.

There should be some supply of KZ750 4 into 1 pipes around like below:

http://www.amazon.com/Vance-Hines-MEGA-KZ750-80-82/dp/B000GV3DSO

It always takes a bit of work to put pipes on
due to their nature but make sure you
have everything lightly bolted up before tightening.

Always tighten the head studs/bolts up progressively
and then the hangars last to prevent them
pulling the pipes out of alignment.

Use new exhaust gaskets to minimize backfiring/popping.
Any exhaust leaks can pull air into the pipe and
cause afterburn. Some back pressure is needed
to prevent backfiring also.
You may have to richen the fuel mixture some if popping
(lean fuel) is a nuisance.

The 4 into 1 pipes will have more flow than the stock pipes/mufflers
so backpressure is sometimes so low that popping
on deceleration is common.

Good Luck!
Wayne S.
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