Your's is actually hooked up like factory. Mine is backwards but the configuration I am using worked better with the connections on the air cleaner I am using.. I am running the PCV on the Passenger side ... see the yellow arrow for the hose. Yes ... the charcoal canister is hooked up and functional ....
Idea: Gut the canister and put your nitrous solenoids in there. Run the nitrous lines into the air cleaner housing. Hidden!
Nitrous...fed through the charcoal canister...I like that!!! Stock look, plus 50-150 extra HP Wish I wouldnt have tossed mine out, now!
Update on the Rubber Strip. This was called the "Deflector Assembly" in the Assembly manual I have. The manual indicates it was only installed on 302 V8 cars that had A/C or 250 I6 cars with Automatic Transmission. Since a 3-speed was not an option on the 250 I6 until 1974 I would assume all 70-73 250/I6 cars should have had them from the factory.