65MalibuSS

I'm planning on installing a GM Gen III / IV engine in my altered dragster but there are protrusions on the side of the block that I would have to cut off in order to fit the engine between the chassis rails.
What is the purpose of these protrusions?
Can I cut them off?
Thanks.

AL SS590 M6

Back in the day I used to run the initial block machining line at the Oldmobile plant in Lansing. The raw block is loaded onto the line and the first machining process is to clamp it onto the cast in locating pads. Then a mill cuts the verticle and horizontal surfaces of the pads that you're pointing to. They become the first precision locating pads for the rest of the preliminary flat surface maching operations ie. pan rail, rough bank, then locating hole boring. After that they are useless. Go ahead and cut them off.