I figured I had nothing to lose so I used a safety pin to unclog the vacuum pump nipple.

Some background needed-when I first started this project I started to replace hose and hard lines from the vacuum pump forward because nearly every hose was either the wrong inside diameter or original. Even the hard lines were cracking.

So, while I pulled the first hose from the vacuum pump there was an orange connector/strainer with a round body that cracked. I have not yet been able to find this part. Currently, there is a straight yellow connector to connect the first four or five inches of hose to a new "F" connector that eliminates EGR etc.

Now I am pulling nearly 45hg even after the green thing that goes to the transmission. I know that I need to logically isolate each portion of of the system but I am a little concerned that I am working with the wrong vacuum numbers now.