Deleting heat riser?

[richards72chevy]

I'm in Oklahoma so no smog.I would just like to completely get rid of it.I already have shorter exhaust studs laying around and don't want to spend the money on the longer studs.Alot of the exhaust tubing will be replaced.I didn't know if the donut will will work without the heat riser.Also is there a difference between the driver side and passenger side exhaust manifold donut?I noticed they reach. have different style of openings.