Guys,
Backpressure, no back pressure, gas, deisel... It's all about the manufacturers intended design parameters. It impacts deisel engines to a lesser extent because they are not dependent on a carbueration/fuel injection system that draws the fuel air mixture in through an intake manifold/carb and/or throttle-body assembly. Deisel power is largely a function of how much fuel you want to inject into the cyl because you're not metering the air flow (within limits of course, which is where turbo chargers step in).
Now... In a gasoline engine the power output relative to the amount of exhaust restriction is a function of the design of the camshaft and how lobe separation and intake/exhaust overlap are designed (yes, both valves are open at the same time to varying extents depending on the cam/engine design). This has an impact on the scavenging effect of the exhaust system in the cyl., (blown and turbocharged engines not withstanding, which is why these engines have radically different cam profiles). Cam/engine designers attempt to try to get the exhaust flow out of the ex valve to help scavenge the burnt gasses from the cylinder and start to help pull the intake charge into the cylinder during this overlap period before the piston even really starts to move down on the intake stroke, thus resulting in a greater air/fuel charge in the cyl, and more power. Radical departures from the design combination either by adding restriction, or removing it, alter this balance and can result in reduced power output. In a true high performance application there is a delecate balance between intake and exhaust tract length, desired power band and camshaft design specs. Messing with any one of the parameters impacts output somewhere in the power band. You can also change output significantly by changing the relationship of the cam to the crank (called degreeing). Then, you can also extend the "dwell" time of the piston at top dead center by using a longer connecting rod thereby giving the cam profile more "time" to work in the overlap period. Want to get really confused? Start fiddling around with a twin cam design where you can change all of the cam opening/closing/overlap variables independently.
Sorry you asked yet????????????