Thanks for the compliments, folks. These photos will come down when my friend sends me the shots he took with his SLR. I just wanted to give you guys an idea of how mean this thing looks, and the shots from inside the shop weren't doing it! I love the new look, and especially like the way these things look sans bodywork.
On a side note. I'm battling that stupid Carpy exhaust again...I think it has a big ol' leak somewhere :-/ Everytime I've pulled the thing off, the crush gaskets have had areas on the inner two cylinders, where the header pipes haven't been touching. This causes an exhaust leak, whether large or small. I have tightened the exhaust collars as much as I feel comfortable. It would be a shame to ditch the exhaust. Could I double up the exhaust gaskets, or would that just make it leak worse? Maybe extend the mating surface of the header farther into the head, with either weld, or a machined spacer? Frustrating.
I really hope my damn tins come in before I have to go back to work. It would be a tease to have to sit three weeks on a tin can, and not be able to ride the re-creation!