I have a l69 duel snorkal air cleaner that I am re-painting and I was wondering if someone could tell me what the following part is and how to take it off
-The gold ring thing that looks like a filterbut is about an inch and half thick.

Thanks
Z28redline

 

That's a carbon (charcoal) filled container that absorbs fuel vapors that escape from the float bowl when the engine isn't running.

When the engine is started, fresh air passing through the charcoal pulls the vapors out to be burned in the combustion process.

To take it off, you need to desolve the adhesive that's got it glued to the base. If you want to re-install it, good luck ("mechanical" removal is the more-likely-to-be-successful method).

 

Is there any reason to leave it on? It seems that it would only decrease the air flow.