I have a large vacuum line run from my plenum's large port between the upper runner area down to the PCV on the driver's side valve cover (corvette L98). I have a problem with hesitation under load and when that's happening I hear a ticking coming from that pcv/line. I'm not sure if it's a vacuum line leak or if the PCV is bad?

Would a pcv problem cause a hesitation under load, or is it more likely that I'm getting a vacuum leak?

Also, what would happen if I plugged off that vacuum port to test, and ran NO pcv? I would think I could block that off and run a breather for a day w/o any negative effects of no pcv???

Thanks!
-darren