removed my manifold today to flip it but undecided on just fitting it back to front as i think having the idle valve at front looks messy or wound it be ok to cut the rear out and weld a plate over it then cut the right size hole in the front and weld the throttlebody plate from the rear on?

 

i picked up a different model idle control valve (think it's green label~not 100%) with the pipe inlet facing almost straight down, which with the reverse inlet, can then go straight into the inlet pipe and look tidy.
i agree it is ugly, try painting it!