u/GREENIEx55

My 87 (22RE) failed CA emissions last week for NOx, so have been working on cleaning the EGR system. The valve has been cleaned and actuates when vacuum is applied. The problem is that the passage that feeds exhaust gas to the EGR valve is blocked. I tried blowing air through it and holds pressure when I suspect it should flow freely. I also tried the FSM test of manually applying vacuum to the valve expecting rough idle/stall, but seeing no change. This confirms (to me) that exhaust gas isn’t getting to the EGR. Two questions

1. Does anyone have an idea for a fix? I tried snaking the EGR passage but it seems pretty clean. Next steps would be removing the exhaust manifold and cleaning smaller EGR passages I guess but that might be outside my wheelhouse
2. A long shot, but does anyone know a reliable shop for older Toyotas in the Bay Area (CA) that could take a look at this

Note: the truck runs fine but I need to be able to pass CA slog u fortunately. EGR delete is not an option.