Nope! All the SOHC 3.5 (97 and newer?) do not have the butterfly assembly. You're good to go!

About the performance question, you will probably lose a small amount of torque at the low end when the runners are removed. The butterflys are closed at lower rpms to utilize the longer runner length, which increases torque. The butterflys open at higher rpm giving the incoming air a shorter, more direct path into the engine for better breathing and more horsepower. By removing the butterflys, you are eliminating all the intake tuning that the Mitsu engineers designed into this engine. You may not notice any power loss with your butt dyno, but the engine will be making less torque in the lower rpm range. I'd love to see someone do a before & after dyno tests to see how much power is lost and where the losses occur in the power & torque curves.

A tad of torque loss is great, considering the alternative of metal ingestion.

without polishing or welding the holes i noticed a slight increase in low end, and smoother acceleration. On the other hand my valves were F'ed and one was stuck in the bottom of the intake!

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Just wanted to let you all know that my truck is up and running again. You might not believe me but I only used five cents to fix the lower plenum <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> That's right, a nickel <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />
I been so bussy lately that I didn't have time to take the intake to get it weld. so as a last minute fix, I put some gasket material on a nickel and use some gasketing silicon and seal the outer hole... yep just like that!
I did not have the time nor was i going to I spend any more money on this intake to get it machine to be flat, the nickel was just the right size for the indentation around the whole!
I used the existing plate/braket that used to hold the butterfly valve actuator thing. I put some washers where the bolts go to level it out. I did not want that plate to get bend or become loose later. as you can see on the pics the plate is open in the middle therefore the the washers are needed.
I know it's a getto fix, but sometimes I tend to have a "whatever works" mentality! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shiner.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />
Here some pics:

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

That's cool <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I wonder if that a legal use of a coin? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

WOW Carlos whatever made you think of that <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/nana.gif" alt="" />
Thats a damd good idea if I say so my self. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/nana.gif" alt="" />
Russ <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />