Quick Question(intake manifold)

[mercado]

Hey all, just took off the intake to have a seized carb mount stud removed, i noticed some minor pitts and scoring on the surface, i asked if it needed to be machined but he said not to worry about it. What do you guys think, would just the gasket suffice?
Also what the hell is that shield/cover thingy underneath the manifold, it is put on with rivets+ there are two holes drilled in, it appears to be dented, is this ok damaged?
Thanks for your help guys

[sunsetdart]

The pitting will be covered by the gasket. If you want to make sure it is not a problem , before you put the gasket on take some hi-temp silicone and just apply it to the pitted area then put the gasket on top.
The rivetted piece is probably part of an old heat riser and you can either let it there or drill out the rivets and take it off.

[IC2]

I would probably leave that heat shield on - it does keep some heat away from the oil in the lifter valley, regardless of the condition. As far as being dented - it got dropped - HARD - sometime in its life. That exhaust heat passage should be cleaned out as well - did you have a bit of an oil leak from inside of the valley there? A good Fel-Pro Perma Torque gasket (the more expensive one) should seal those pits.