Does anyone have any advice to offer about the removal of the tubes that run from the air cleaner to the exhaust manifold and pre-cat? Are there any advantages to be found by doing this other than removing the ungainly things! Any disadvantages? If you do this should you plug the holes in the air cleaner or leave them open? What about the vacuum pot thingy to the side, plug it or leave it connected? Any experience or advice on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

If you have a local/state emission test that you have to pass then better to not remove them. You won't pass without.
If you don't then just remove the pipes and block off the two pipe port down at the exhaust pipe. Remove the manifold assembly right at the manifold and instal some caps in place. Would certainly not hurt to cap off the ports at the air cleaner but will not hurt anything not to. The reed valves inside that silver box will close them off without exhaust pulses to force them open and there are little tiny air filters at each of the three reed valves anyway.