my 02 is equipped with the cali emissions, i;ve been doing some research and found if I remove the emissions air pump that i can use the same serp belt, but if I remove the air pump will it set off any codes or put engine into limp mode

I highly doubt it, but I may be wrong.

My 03 is cali equiped, and it codes if I just put a EGR blocker plate in,
But I don't know about limping it

You will get codes but no limp. At least that's what happened with mine. I didn't remove the pump, just blocked the vacuum line at the EGR.