What do you guys think of re-installing the intake manifold back on the engine without having the oil splash shield installed on the bottom of the intake? What purpose does this shield really do? Am I going to have an oily mess or heat problems? I am doing a simple re-gasket job on a 1967 --327--4bbl for my camaro restoration project. My main concern is putting the shield back on with the old rivets, and then having the "loose" rivets fall back out. I hope I put this question in the right catagory since I am new to this.

you can leave it off if you dont use the heat crossover.

Welcome to TC Joel!
The metal shield on the bottom of factory intakes is to keep oil off of the intake under the carb. The idea is to keep oil from burning and or cooling off the exhaust cross-over heat to speed warm up. Your call.

As Fred suggewsts, its too keep oil from coking when the exhaust gases goes through to warm up the carb & choke.

I reinstalled one by drilling and tapping for a 1/4-20 thread about 3/8 inch deep, aand placed a falt washer on the manifold , installed the shield, then used 5/16 inch long hex head screws and Loctite. The washer spacers is to allow the oil to drain out from the shield. Or you can clamp a pair of ViseGrips® on the bolt threads and you've made yourself a self-locking bolt.

You can also get the "Drive-Rivits" from just about any well stocked GM dealer or McMaster-Carr and pound that puppy right back on when you're done cleaning ;)