how many have removed the ihs from their hammers?
 

Any gains, cooling or OC wise?

This bloke here (http://burn-it.dk/index.php?page=for...hp&post_nr=375) took of the IHS cleaned the die and IHS applied AS5 and lapped the latter. It lowered his idle temperatures 7 degrees (no mention of load though).

The article is in Danish but I am expecting the site to be translated into English in a not too distant future.

Replacing the IHS is only really needed if you are using the stock HSF retention system, since it depends on the cpu/IHS being a certain thickness. Assuming you have a nice, flat cooling surface, and can control mounting pressure, you are better off w/o the IHS.
I recall seeing a pic of an IHS that was EPOXIED to the core, and the core came off with the IHS. That may have been a p4, though.

/Short comment:

It was a p4. I remember the article.
gooped. broke the core (pieces were attached to the ihs/goop).

I recall dropping load temps (aircooled) on my tualatin celeron by 2c by removing the IHS. It didn't help my OC though.