EGR removal

alright, so i'm planning to remove teh egr system as completely as i can from my 89. need to know what i can get away with removing/plugging/gutting without affecting my drivability negatively. my plan so far is to trace the vacuum lines coming from the egr and thermactor valves and remove both them and their associated solenoids. the thermactors will come out as will the smog pump. will i have to leave the egr valve itself in place and just disconnect the wiring? or can i remove it and replace it with a fabricated plate?

the reason i'm taking it all off is the obvious, to save horsepower. that, and when i install my long-tubes, which have no bungs for EGR pipes, i won't be able to run it anyway. anybody who's done this, lemme know what has to happen. thanks!