300tdi heater duct foam / vinyl - renew or remove?

#1 on this diagram -




Its a sheet metal part, covered in some sort of vinyl covered foam.

I dont know what part of this is supposed to give the luxuary feel, and how much of it may be sound deadening.

Wondering what your thoughts are? I reckon i have three options -

1) Just stick some more vinyl over the top.
2) Strip back to metal, and recover from scratch
3) Strip back to metal and just paint


Anyone done any of the above?

Can't see no pic??
But I'm guessing you mean the long piece of tin that seals off the lower dash?
It's to make it airtight and maybe keeps the warm air from the heater cooling down before it reaches your toes!
I covered mine in camping mat, melt the screw holes with a hot nail or something.