...........on most of the photos posted that i have seen so far. I'm talking about the thin slab of tin bolted to the exhaust manifold. Does removing it make any difference in performance or does it serve a good purpose?

 

no diff whatsoever, just might make your engine bay run warmer.

 

It's put there for a reason, leave it.

 

I'd personally get it chromed hehe.

 

To keep the exhaust hot so the catalytic coverter works better. There's no reason to take a good heatshield off, but I wouldn't spend any money replacing a bad one either. Unless it's the one(s) on the cat itself. Without the shield(s) on the cat, you could burn your carpet.

 

no cat converter on my car mate.