[Woodchuck]

The hoses from the valve cover to air cleaner and valve cover to carb are NOT part of the air pump system but part of the PCV (positive crankcase ventilation) system and should be left in place. Most aftermarket air cleaners have a provision to add a nipple to the base for the fresh air hose to the oil cap. Depending on which TYPE of Thermactor system was installed, the "internal" or "external", you'll have either one port on the end of each cylinder head to plug with the 5/8-11 threaded plugs or one adjacent to each spark plug (8 total) where the "spider" type Thermactor manifolds were attached.

 

[Woodchuck]

ah. So my system uses just the two bolts in the heads on cylinder 1 & 8. So I can’t get the oil cap without the hose attaching to it?

You CAN get the "open" style oil filler cap if you'd like. The fresh air being vented into the crankcase won't be as clean but it'll still work fine.

 

[Woodchuck]

I was wanting to get these:

https://www.cjponyparts.com/ford-performance-valve-cover-stamped-steel-chrome-with-ford-mustang-logo-pair-289-302-351w/p/VC112/

and

https://www.cjponyparts.com/ford-performance-oil-cap-push-in-chrome-with-ford-mustang-logo/p/OC33/

But I realized the oil cap needed to have a port for a hose for the air system like below that I don't want:

https://www.cjponyparts.com/cj-classics-oil-cap-push-in-chrome-with-tube/p/OC26/

Trying to reduce all the hoses running around. But you're saying even if I remove the air pump, I still need the hose coming out of the oil cap on the valve cover?

You don't NEED it. The fresh air venting into the crankcase will be cleaner WITH it but it's not a necessity.