Need advice on engine build.

I've got an idea. I am wanting to make a few changes to my TB. It's a stock '97 TB. I've already knife-edged the center divider, but I'm wondering if I could remove a good portion of the center post to open it up a bit more. Also, will it hurt to have the little brass-colored plate that is screwed on to the back side of the post removed? I took some pictures with my cell phone just to give you guys a visual of what I'm thinking.

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/k...ltdown/TB1.jpg

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/k...ltdown/TB2.jpg

if you hog out the entire thing you can use a 99+ style MAF and have a better ported throttle body than those that start with a 99+ TB. that's what i would do.

I'm attempting to do this as a free mod and I don't have a 99+ MAF laying around, so I'm trying to do the next best thing.

ah..give it a try if you want.

or pony up some money and i can send you one that im pretty sure is good. it is sitting in my tool box.

If you can make sure that one works, I may just buy it from you in case I decide to cut the whole thing out anyway.

ill plug it in the next time i get a chance and ill let you know if its good.

Sweet! Thanks. I'm fixing to start the TB surgery...

Forgot to ask this earlier, but does anyone know how to get the throttle bar out of the TB? I tried to just push/pull it out with no luck. Do the seals at the ends need to come off or something of the sort?