Based on your detailed description, my first thoughts are that i'd be looking for the vacuum leak around the throttle body. It could be a worn or misaligned throttle body gasket at the intake manifold, or the air intake tube wasn't properly seated on the throttle body, or PCV hose improperly fitted on the throttle body, or PCV hose improperly fitted to the valve cover. That's where i'd be looking first. I have found a water sprayer bottle as a handy help for locating vacuum leaks. When the water spray hits the source of the vacuum leak, you'll notice a change in idle.
Deano