The things I'm pointing at, what are they, and would it be cool to rip them off of the car?

 

the thing your index finger is touching is the shutter valve.

the thing your middle finger is sitting on it the dash pot for the shutter valve. it closes the actual valve.

The shutter valve closes off the fuel to the rear rotor on deceleration, intending to stop backfiring.

Mike-P-28 has had experience with many blown engines, and says that most he sees are the rear rotor being toasted... any connection to the shutter valve I wonder? (that was his theory)

Some people go to the lengths of taking it out, sealing up all the new holes with JB weld and screws, and forgetting about the whole thing, but most just disconnect the vaccuum lines to it when removing their rat's nests, effectively disabling it...

 

If its not broken I wouldn't mess with it. The shutter valve would be hard to remove w/o unbolting the manifold, and then you should replace the gaskets and water rings.

 

I try to live by that motto...

if it ain't broke, don't fix it

BUT, I never end up keeping my promise to myself, and I decide to experiment, then I normally break something, and it usually costs me lots of money to fix Stupid me!