Thus far all i have ever worked on are two strokes.

Opening up the exhuast is a good idea, DO NOT, i repeat DO NOT run straight pipe! she will run but like crud. not to mention fouling your plug, and all sorts of other nasties. i recomend looking up the "two stroke tuners handbook" i tried to attach it but its 7.7 megabites lol. I have not yet read it in its entirety but it looks really good.

tune your carb real well. i know this sounds like a no brainer but i got a 1978 Honda Express Moped to really scream yesterday after a simple adjustment. (opened up the jet needle one notch)

Cook your muffler on a bed of red coals 1/2 to full hour on each side to burn off any carbon build up.

definetly check with a 2 stroke tuner whom is familar with your engine. porting these bad girls really helps but if you mess up you will dearly pay for it .

you can gasket/port match without any troubles. leave the actual port in the block and crank to the pro.

depending on your comp ratio try some higher octane gasoline(or add a little race fuel to your tank). if its 6.2:1 like my two old ladies that will hurt performance instead .

anything you think will benefit, HOT RODDING isn't it great?!

Best of luck buddy!
2-stroke all the way,
-CJP