Plate on Intake Manifold

[79ramp]

I have a potentially stupid question (most of my questions usually are) on my '79 454. What is this plate on the intake manifold? Mine is set-up with two holes that are attached to a tube that loops within the passenger side head. Long story short, I went to remove it yesterday so I could pull the intake easier and the bolts immediately snapped off when I so much as breathed on them.

What I am wondering is this: Can I just leave it open or do I need to try to remove the bolts and re-install the cover? This motor is going into a truck that already donated a motor to my ramp truck. I am doing a head gasket job since there was water in the oil (and a gasket set was cheap). I don't want to get too far into replacing parts if I can avoid it since I am just going to turn around and sell the rig.

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[dvdswan]

IIRC, it had several uses over the SBC history. It part of the cross over on the exhaust from head to head. Not really necessary, but it was used for a choke, EGR hook up, and a couple others that I can think of. Some manifolds don't even have a cover. I would either drill out the bolt and block it off or find a manifold that does have one.

 

[Snoots]

That's a block-off plate for the choke stove.