I should have that block off plate by this weekend. So soon I'll be able to answer the question about if that air leak can cause non revving problems also..................
So, I installed the idle block off plate. Started up the car and it STILL surged in idle. I retarded the TPS and the idle smoothed out, but the car kept surging and sputtering when I gave it the gas pedal.
I found that if I disconnected the TPI altogether, the idle issue as well as the revving issue went away and the car runs sweet. Then I noticed that the return spring in the TPI doesn't work...At all.
So I've ordered a new TPI and we'll see if it's all good then.
In the meanwhile, I am reluctant to run the engine much without a position indicator.