I took these things off when I did my swap a few weeks ago. What do these things do exactly? Should I just leave them off? Seems to me that without them, more air would circulate through the engine bay.

 

I am about tempted to remove mine. They are starting to **** me off. They keep falling down from there mounts. Is it ok to take them off?

 

Mine have been broken off of one side since 1994 and all it does is seem to get the motor more dirty. I'm actually just really so lazy that I haven't replaced them in 6 years of having the car even though I have an extra set. I've even gone so far as to remove the 3 inch remaining piece during swaps, x-member removals, front bumper removals, etc, and then put it back on instead of the good one. I'm weird.

Anyway, leave them on. They keep the dirt and water out.