LP Tank fitting question

Should I get rid of these:



It would likely require some grinding to do (doubt the screws would all come out), and leave behind a hole like this:



that I could have a plug welded into - I think?

Just worried about a leak appearing around/from that gauge thing after I get everything boxed in & insulated. I have no use for the guages.

I ended up getting the screws out - it took vice grips on the screw heads to get one of them out. Pretty sure that around the guage fitting could be sealed up pretty good with some silicone goop of some kind (where the gasket is), but after getting the mechanism out & looking at that, I'd be worried about water working its way up thru that & the needle over time. I'm still waiting on borrowed transportation to free up to get the tanks to the welders, I'll be getting plugs welded into the holes - or maybe some bushings with plugs srewed into them to have possible extra holes for future use, although I think I'll have enough holes with the other ones that are there now. It seems to be taking me forever to get the basement landing place ready for them (what a mess that was) - good thing I didn't start this little job in the fall.