Heat shield question

[L-Bo]

I’d like to clean these manifolds up and paint them but the passenger side one has this heat shield. Do I need this thing? What if I was to take it off and scrap it??

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[Rickf]

If you remove it, you may have issues fitting a stock exhaust pipe.

 

[fast 99]

It is a hot air stove for air cleaner preheat. Might also deflect some heat away from plug wires. I have cut them off rewelded and reinstalled them. If your area does emissions, it will likely be required.