customize manifold gasket

[Ziggy]

Has anyone tried opening up the manifold gasket to prevent overlap?
I have done this, but with a cold engine the exhaust manifold leaks. When the engine is hot it is no longer leaking.
I suspect this has something to do with parts of the sealing rings I cut away.
Now I've been told you can't cut away the sealing rings because the exhaust might blow through the inside of the gasket 

[Markus]

Yes, I did the same thing, ended up ruining the gasket. Once you have punched through the sealing rings that's it the gasket is toast, you now have a nice template though to make a gasket from a  thick sheet of copper, or Armstrong TN-9004 performance gasket material. Personally I'd use the copper.  If you cannot find a sheet of copper long enough, make two halves, 1 through 3, and 4 through 6. 

[Ziggy]

After retightening the bolts the exhaust no longer leaks. Checking the emissions with a 4 gas analyzer did not reveal any leaks in the intake.
So far so good....