Yes, pre-90's engines have EGR valves (unless it's a JDM engine), and both it and the charcoal cannister serve legitimate purposes.
If a PO didn't have the cannister hooked up it's likely because they didn't know how, didn't what it was and/or what it was for. The cannister handles evaporative fuel vapors as well as helps maintain a slight (2 lbs iirc) positive pressure in the fuel tank. This helps the fuel pump out. The EGR is part of the emissions control system, and helps prevent engine knock/detonation which could otherwise wreck your pistons and other hardware.
If you want to clean the bay up some you could re-route the wiring loom, hide it in various ways. Use the later model Toyota/Lexus coils which would eliminate the stock coilpack on top of the engine.
As long as the engine is out make sure to replace the heater union and hose on the back of the engine. They aren't expensive, but they are a complete and utter PITA to replace with the engine in. All the radiator/water lines, vacuum lines, etc.
Last edited by mirage83; 05-31-2010 at 01:36 PM.
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