[GASWAGON]

The first pic's a choke stove. The spring is bymetal and opens at pre-determined temp. When the engine is cold it should be closed. When the engine is started it causes the exhaust gas to back up and go through the exhaust crossover in the intake heating up the intake charge for better atamazation and to warm the choke spring in the manifold if so equiped. After a few minutes it would open and the exhaust would pass through. If you remove it you will need to plug the hole where the shaft was removed. Or if you plan on replacing the exhaust, remove the whole piece and just use a new donut gasket. Just remember that the pipe will need to be longer to take up the space where the stove was.