Blanked off tube on exhaust manifold

[foot2firewall]

My exhaust manifolds (2.9 engine) both have a blanked off tube about 3cm long close to the sensor port. I'm assuming that these were used for some sort of other sensor when the engine was fitted into a Ford. One of them has rusted through, so I plan to cut them both off and have the holes welded up, or is there any reason for retaining them?

[foot2firewall]

AutoAndy said:

Dear Mr Foot2, is yours a catalytic converter car (or de-cated of the same).

..mine is (S3C) and the manifold is different from the non-cat cars as it is shorter to give room for the cats infront of the engine. On mine, just before the end of the manifold is a larger threaded hole for the lam sensor, but a little further on is a narrow tube about 1/4" dia x an inch or two long blanked off by a rusty bolt...is that what you are referring to?

..if so, then I don't know what it is either..

Hi Andy
As of last week mine is now a de-cated S3C and you are right, I am referring to the tube blanked off by a rusty bolt.