Emission system troubles
 

I sure hope someone can help me. I just aquired a '69 230 and everything about the engine looks pretty good, runs really rough though. I did notice that the last owner had removed all the emissions stuff and sank bolts into the cylinder head where the hook-ups were. My question is this; would the car run any different with that stuff gone? Is it harder to tune with it gone? There doesn't seem like any leaks are around the bolts into the cylinder head, but it runs with a little miss and I've replaced all the ignition equiptment and set the dwell exactly. It would seem stupid to go looking around for this smog stuff to put it back on unless the car it going to run better with it on.

THANKS FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE!