There are no gains on removing the intake exhaust bridge, one builder thought it was a good thing, but is not.
It actually will shorten the life of that motor, even some of the newer style hrd porting has some down falls. They take more out  than they should and this will cause it to crack, even the (knife) that gets done to the bridge hurts it. But there are some builders that know this and then they will ask you, what do you want.

    When you call a good motor builder (Jerry) he will ask you what you want, what do you plan on doing with it. Drag, hill shooter, dune, ect, ect.. then when you answere that, you will find out how long a piston will last. Of course the drag motor will have the shortest life, but its all what you want done. Best thing to do is get on the phone with your list of builders and start asking questions and tell them what you want. If you are happy with the way they talk to you and answer all your questions, then you just found your motor builder. Plus you want someone thats going to be around.
Nothing like having a builder that you cant get a hold of to answere your questions.

    So call one and tell them you run the dunes, do a little drag racing up the hill, but you dont want a slacker. lol

    Good luck