Have you ran the boat yet without them? Any difference in performance or sound?

I removed the stock Formula exhaust panel on the back of my boat and put switchable exhaust tips.also I put prochargers on it so the performance I could only say is much better because of the boost but there deffinetly is a better sound.. ran it a full season so far.....83mph at 5100rpm

Is it as easy as removing 4 bolts remove restrictor and tighten the bolts back up?? Or is there a gasket that needs to be replaced etc..?

I wondered that too?

There is a gasket on either side of the plate that you must replace - a total of four for the engine - I think they come in packs of four from Mercury when your order them - it is as simple as removing the four bolts and lifting off the riser - (after disconnecting whatever you're running on the other end for exhaust.) No need for torque on the bolts, I was told, just tighten.

Is replacing the gaskets an absolute must after removing the turbulators? If so whats the Merc part number?

Merc Part# 27-862356 $ 4.65 ea

Yep. As I recall the gaskets are the same material on each side, so you remove two, would replace with one. I saw another thread on HotBoat.net on the subject and I think they said there that Whipple recommends the removal of the plates as well, when using their blower. Like Raylar, I'm sure they did a ton of dyno testing and possibly real-life testing on the 496 before making the recommendation. I think they also said there that it makes the engine louder (makes sense).

Let me get this straight... I'll need 4 total for two motors?

Maybe we should discuss has to unscrew the bolts before we get too far ahead of ourselves.