basic older truck

[tomclark]

Hi, I'm new to this board because I just got an 81 Chevy Stepside with 350 motor and 4bbl carb. All electrics work, but there is a block on the driver's side engine compartment wall that looks like wires just inserted into gunk, hahahaaha, not kidding and several wires with connectors hanging down here and there. The a/c is long gone and disconnected under hood. All good otherwise with brakes, suspension, starting and running.

I have a feeling I'll be working on this truck and haven't worked on cars for a long time and last truck was a toyota muhahaha. This is my first real truck, I wanna like it. Wife bought it for me and had the guy paint it camouflage! Bumper to bumper. Oh man!. I can't wait to show you people on here a pic, hahaha.

The pcv valve on top of valve cover is not connected to any hose it just sits there. There are several hoses on carb that I can see have plugs and one is completely unplugged. There's a metal heat diverter for some kind of metal flexhose coming off the passenger side exhaust manifold, looks like something I used to see going to air cleaner? It doesn't have any hose on it, either.
Do those of us with the "Basic older truck" need these hoses unplugged, reconnected, etc. or are they most likely emission control stuff? Have you got a site or page for us? I really don't think I could go down to the local shop and ask how to keep them disconnected! I could also use some hints of what to look for besides rust on these older ones. Muhahah!
Thanks
Tom in St Pete, FL