I am doing a cam swap right now and just got the intake off. I am wanting to get my intake powdercoated and I was wondering what the rectangular metal piece on the bottom of the intake is and if it needs to be removed?

Jeff

 

It's just a heat shield that helps to keep lifter valley heat from the A/F chamber...

Yes it can be removed without harm...

 

You should take it off. Underneath you will find five large plugs that need to be taken out also. I believe they are 9/16 allen head screws. The powercoater will be bead or sandplasting your intake before the powercoat and you don't want any beads or sand left in there. Taking them out insures a good flush after the blasting. You don't want any of this stuff to get into you cylinders later on. It will scratch the mess out of your walls and promote oil leakage past the rings. I just did mine btw. Pics in the sig. Anything not part of the orginal casting needs to be removed.

Jeff D.