Is it Ok to remove foam under Intake Manifold???

[va2explorer]

I was just wondering if anyone has removed the foam that is between the top of the motor and the intake manifold on the OHC 4.0L. I hear it is just for noise reduction, but I want to make sure its not also being used as a insulator from the engine heat to the plastic intake??

 

[va2explorer]

You mean to tell me out of all the guys on this site, and no one has ever removed the foam under the intake manifold???? Well I did it anyways, and man am I glad I did. The foam I am referring to is rapped in plastic from the factory, and in time the plastic starts to shred apart exposing the foam(sponge). Now the noise dampening plastic sealed foam has become a sponge catching any water that gets under the hood during rainy days and off roading, ect. When I removed mine it looked like a rust bucket under the intake manifold, and there are 2 visible freeze plugs that I see that are just as rusty as the EX- Lifter valley area. I would say in time one of those freeze plugs would fail due to the excessive water they have been exposed to. Since I have removed the foam I have not seen any issues. I'm going to clean the area best as possible and use some rust inhibitor paint to spray under there