Can I safely remove this part?

[kens65fb]

I have lowered my truck, and the exhaust pipes up front, now hang lower to the ground. They need to be raised up a few inches.

The cross member in the photo blocks any upward raising of the pipes.

Can it be removed??

It is bolted in, the rivets have bee removed, so I assume it was removed at some time.

It is not supporting anything, as I have a tubular transmission mount further back to accomodate my 700r4

I seem to remember that this was some type of bell housing support.