The motor should run OK without the intake tube that runs to the wheel well, but maybe not as efficiently. The tube allows the engine to take in colder air than that above the engine. Why would you want cold air? It's because cold air is denser and heavier than warm air ..... meaning that there is actually more air per cold cubic foot then in a warm cubic foot... so in theory you are delivering a higher volume of air into the engine. And the more volume of air you can put in the cylinder the more powerful the explosions are going to be..........need I say............ more horsepower. If horsepower isn't a consideration, take the intake tubing off.