MG Car Repair: Proper vacuum hose hookup, hand vacuum pump, vacuum hoses

Question
Thankyou so much for your help on my previous question. Again, I have a 1978 MBG with a Stromberg 175CD Carburetor and a CEI 45DM Ignition system. When I got the car several months ago the vacuum hoses were connected as follows - A hose ran between the Gulp Valve and the EGR Valve. In the middle of that hose was a "T" connection with a hose on the center connection going down to the vacuum port on the intake manifold. A second hose connects the vacuum port on the carburetor to the vacuum port on the distributor. In trying to determine why the engine is idling roughly I disconnected the hose going to the port on the intake manifold and plugged it with my finger. The engine runs much smoother when I do that. I now have a vacuum hose running directly between the Gulp Valve and the EGR Valve and the vacuum port on the intake manifold plugged. The engine is running smoother. I have not been able to determine if the Gulp Valve and/or EGR Valve are working properly. It would be a big "help" in troubleshooting if I knew what the correct hookup is for the vacuum hoses that run between the Gulp Valve, the EGR Valve, and the vacuum port on the Intake Manifold. I think the hose between the carb and distributor is correct. Thanks again for your valuable help.

Answer
Hi Patrick,
It sounds like the connections are correct, but it also sounds like either the EGR or Gulp valve has a leaking diaphragm. It is an easy test to just block either one at a time off to see which is effecting your idle. Or if you have a hand vacuum pump you can test each.
Howard