i gotta 87, air pump was unhooked at the cat and the belt removed when i got it, I tried looking at the port actuator things that look like cans above the manifold(actuators right?) anyway i tried to open them myself manually while the car was running in idle, the one closest to the firewall opened and stayed open, no problem...went to open the other one and it was really shakey almost like it was loose. So after driving for a while i noticed the actuator by the firewall was still open, is it broken? and also I think the air pump still works but I think all my cats are shot. Any thoughts on how to fix the problem?

 

Yes, that actuator is broken. At idle, it should have went back to its original position.

 

So would my best bet be to remove them, which i heard could be done somehow or find a newone

 

Take the actuators out and clean them.They may be just stuck.Use PB Blaster on them and work the actuator in and out with a set of pliars.

 

I pulled my entire intake on my previous NA last year.
The port sleeves were free, only the actuator rods were stuck.
If you can remove the actuator pistons (2 screws & 2 bolts each) and pull the rods, you’re better off than pulling the lower manifold.
(The lower manifold gasket is a bitch.)
My #1 rod was really stuck, but with penetrant and patience I pull it out, cleaned, lubed, back on the road.