Can I just cut this off?

Hello all,
was out with some friends this weekend and happened to strike up a conversation with a guy who was practically giving away his '83 xj550 seca. His description of problems sounded easily fixed and all in all the bike will I'm sure be running with very little tuneup.
Pulled the carbs to clean them and found there is a cover bolted on (for a rock guard maybe?) cutting off access to the float bowls. The cover doesn't appear to be necessary (havn't got on on my '80 650 maxim) and unfortunately all of the screws holding it in are siezed in there and a couple are rounded out so theres nothing for the screwdriver to grab.
The only reason I can see for removing these screws would be if I wanted to break apart the carb rack which I don't. So the quick and easy fix I think is to simply take an angle grinder to the offending cover and be done with it.
My question is is this cover necessary?

Thanks

 

I have the cover on my 550's carbs, the only thing I think it could be for is maybe a heat shield and/or something to protect the carbs while on and off the bike. Other than that, it serves no mechanical purpose - or at least not to my knowledge.

Btw, if you have a dermal tool, you could use that to grind a slot in the head of the damaged screws and then use a flat head screwdriver to remove the screw.

One you do do work on the carbs, replace all the screw with new ones and anti-seize.

 

Thanks i'll have to give the dremel a try and yes definately anti sieze after

 

Ya, it saved my @$$ when I striped a bolt on the carb, or else I would have had to re-drill and tap and oh that is such a pain lol...