Mike, I just used a reducer and reused the stock muffler no problems to speak of yet on my 120 and it's been to several plow days and on the snowblower the last 2 winters. I also used the original flywheel and all of the heat shields off the original K301 just had to modify for the extra head bolt on the K341 when I installed them. I also cut the ears off the block which I see you already did.