Lucky you.

A few days later than I planned, but here are the pics. After looking at a bunch of photos of 2.6 engine bays, I'm not sure which way the check valve is supposed to be going because I've seen them both ways, but I'd guess that those reversed have been done so to prevent the valve from opening.

http://i.imgur.com/DLcu0fG.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/SRVjonJ.jpg

Here are links to the pics in full size too see more detail.

Imgur: The most awesome images on the Internet

Imgur: The most awesome images on the Internet

One thing about the way the check valves work: they only allow air flow through one way. All check valves connected to lines running to the manifold need to be directed so that the vacuum is flowing towards the manifold. If you pay close attention to the blue/black check valve, there is a small arrow/triangle stamped on it somewhere. It should point towards the manifold.

The black side is the engine side, while many I've seen had them reversed.

Did the work today. Replaced all the parts lsmalley suggested as well as the injectors and the injector holders and cleaned the ICV. Everything went well other than having a hell of a time backing the EGR tube off the intake manifold and it took almost half hour to get the MAF boot to seat on the TB correctly. When I started the car after the job, it threw code #4-airflow sensor potentiometer for some reason, but I cleared it and it hasn't come back. My idle is smoother and acceleration feels more effortless through the middle of the rev range. Before there was good power on top, but getting her to move while cruising took quite a bit of throttle input. This is what I've read from other people who replaced their worn injectors so I'm glad I went ahead and swapped them while I was in there. I also haven't had the rough start condition that was there, but that seemed to occur at random. Hopefully it's been fixed too.

I tested the EGR and the idle does get rough when opening the valve. That's what the tech was looking for, so I will go back to the smog spot tomorrow and get her passed.

Thanks so much for the help! I really appreciate it.

So, did it pass?

It did with flying colors; thanks for asking. All the numbers were WELL below average. TBH, I was a little worried that somehow replacing those parts would increase the emissions out of acceptable range. I know that may seem like an irrational fear, but with all the weird smog problems older cars can have I don't think the possibility is too far off.

Was in the clear for nearly a week when yesterday while shopping my key stopped turning in the ignition with no real warning. Fortunately I was at a department store, so I bought a pair of ViceGrips and got the damn thing to turn. The tumbler didn't just pop out when I put the pins in it so I had to grab the black guard with the same newly purchased ViceGrips which scratched it pretty badly. I was sanding it down to prep for paint and it looked pretty cool with the brushed look, so I went up to 1k grit and polished it. I would have kept going to 2k but it'll never catch the sun like it is in the below pic in situ. I think it'll look pretty neat installed in the dash when the new tumbler comes in.

http://i.imgur.com/fV31ozr.jpg?2