Ok, I have grown frustrated at wasting time with my 84 econoline with 5.8 2 barrel carb. I cut off entire screwed up and rusty exhaust yesterday (preparing for duals). I ordered a one wire HEI conversion distributor. I'm looking at Edelbrock performer intake, as I already have a nearly new Edelbrock 600 cfm vacuum secondary/manual choke carb and open element air cleaner. Smog pump was removed by previous owner.
My goal is to make it simpler for a simpleton like me to maintain, and it runs like crap now. I'd also like to declutter, as working underhood of a van is way more restrictive than a truck. There are little banks on each valve cover (of capacitors or relays?), tons of little thin brittle plastic vacuum lines, tons of larger rubber vacuum lines.
Any notions of what is safe to remove and won't cause me problems? I have a plain old C-6, no cruise control, no elec windows or seats. Guess I'm looking for "warm and fuzzy" from someone who has chunked their EEC? THANK YOU!!!

 

And what the heck is the huge metal thing behind the carb that is the size of a taillight with vacuum hoses and crap coming out of it?

 

There was no EEC on an '84. It sounds like you are removing the electronic ignition. That system was far simpler than the EEC-IV that came later. As long as you get the ignition to work you should be fine. What you are removing only controlled the spark.

 

this huge thing is most likely your EGR Valve (EGR - Exhaust Gas Recirculation). When your engine is under load, it will open up and direct some of the exhaust gas back into the air flow to be better burned. Should give better emissions.
When you´re in a non testing area, you could take it out and block the port off with a little plate. Some here even used a piece of can (not recommended). Depending on your application, there should be a vacuum hose running to a ported vacuum switch, which is on the intake manifold and has two ports most likely. From there is another hose running back to the EGR vacuum port on the carb (on a Edelbrock performer, it´s the higher little port on the front). You have to plug the EGR port on your carb, if you decide to take off the EGR system.

For the rest: keep the PCV (Positive Crankcase Ventilation) on your valve covers and connected to the carb and to the breather. Otherwise you will have the same as I did with my old engine, due to the actions of the PO. It blew all the gaskets and the engine was leaking pretty decent.

Can you post a pic of your vacuum / emissions decal?