I tried to just bang out the tack welds holding the restriction plate in place. That didn't go as smoothly as I thought. Between long flat head screw driver, pry bar, hammer, needle nose pliers and tin snips I got it removed. If I had a dremel I could clean it up better. Better it should be okay.
There appears to a baffle in there and two other holes to another restriction plate possibly. I thought it was card board; wrong.... metal baffle.
trying to remove. Wife standing here will post later