If I'm reading your license plate correctly, you are in California? If so, and you need to smog this car, be aware that California started requiring as of last year that your evaporative canister is working correctly and that the associated system doesn't have any leaks - that way no unburnt hyrdocarbons are getting into the atmosphere as your gas evaporates. You may have to leave that canister in the car just for that test. It's added another 5 or 10 dollars to the smog check the last time that I had one done last December!
One way that I got my Barracuda to pass smog was to make sure that I went to a smog shop that only had one tailpipe probe and that way with my dual exhaust, the machine was only sniffing half of my engine. As long as the technician didn't say I needed a NOX Kit or something else like that, I was good to go. I always got new plugs, rebuilt the carb, and verified the timing was where it should be just to make sure that everything was the best it could be for the test.
Now that my car has been grandfathered (it's a '69) and no longer needs a smog check, I don't have to worry about it anymore. Anything 1976 and newer needs a smog check here, and I can't make out the year on your new car.
I totally understand wanting to simplify your engine compartment, but I'd check to make sure you'll need it or not before removing it.
Enjoy your car. Looks great!