Quote:

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I cut those sections out for a few reasons:

Reduced warpage
Improved spark plug access
Less heat around the wire/boots
Better appearance
Less unnecessary weight

Never had a leak since I started doing that decades ago.

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Yep... .... I always cut them... the expansion
rate is different from the outer cyl to the center...
cut them and get that chunk out of the way... and
be much happier all the way around
EDIT
Also ... make one of the holes larger than the bolt
so it has room to slide.. otherwise something has
to buckle (on EACH pipe or SET of pipes)