[DarrenX33]

You can certainly cut if you want to as it will be easier to perform adjustments later. I'm not an expert but I have been around for 2 xram installations. One I did myself and the other I watched someone do. Never cut a thing. The manifold just needed to be tilted to let the valve cover on the drivers side slip in. The removal is the opposite of install. Quite a pain but whatever works best for you..

In your picture if you pick the manifold up a bit the valve cover will slip in..

Just my 2 cents...