The large plastic 'thing' in the center of the pic -

Oh yeah, it didn't always sit there, I ziptied it. Seriously, it was screwed on next to the ignition coil, with 2 vacuum lines coming off it.

thats your egr vacuum solenoid...

Oh... damnit... some remnant of EGR remains on my car!!! grrr... Do I just cut it off? I couldn't find a plug for it...

i would say its not needed if you're not running an egr valve...and to just take it out...as long as nothing is connected...there is also an electrical connector that goes to it because it is operated by a sensor...so you might throw a code...i'm not sure...hope i helped...

I'll pay for shipping it to Los Angeles!

Seriously? You want it, email me... I think I'm gonna have to cut that thing's wires tho... the damn thing must plug into the bottom of the map looking sensor next to the ignition coil...

The Map-looking sensor is the vacuum diagnostic switch for the EGR. If the computer activates the solenoid, but the vac diag switch doesn't "see" vacuum (from the solenoid), the diag switch tells the computer that the EGR didn't work, and you get an EGR code. That's why the two are wired together. The diag switch will be somewhat fragile if you want to separate it from the ignition coil bracket...

Every friggin' thing in this car is fragile. It's all PLASTIC for Chrissakes!!

/rant

I'll see what i can do on it... found my vacuum leak - where I blocked off the EGR tube into the intake plenum