Lots also cut the ends perfectly flush with the main halves because it so easy to do so with the razor blade.
The Best Gaskets 'Graphtite' rope seal comes with a small cardboard template that one lays on the block before trimming with the supplied razor knife:
The result is just enough excess protruding above the block.
The installation still requires a second trim as some of the rope ends got squished in between the bearing cap and the block during first torque - creating excess clearance. Removing the cap and trimming the flattened bits from the block surface is easy enough.
I am not on the road yet so I cannot say how well this going to seal long term. But I have pressurized the crank with an electric drill-in-a-dizzy-body so that I could set initial valve lash and verify top end oiling. So far so good.
