thesals, I really don't think it's the intake. It was new when installed. It was hand ported and polished prior to assembly. There isn't any chrome on my motor, just polishing. My engine temp runs at the bottom end of the temp spectrum at all times (160 degrees). I'm running a Griffin aluminum radiator with two 9" pusher fans and a SPAL 16" puller all on a thermostat and Edelbrock high volume water pump. Temp has never been an issue for me.

Incidentally, the saga continues. I removed the PCV valve and did some pretty hard cruising over the weekend. After the ride, I was still further down on the dipstick than I should have been. I also replaced the plugs while marked the old ones for my engine builder to analyze. Though they look good at the electrodes, there is a fair amount of black gunk down in the grooves at the base. A couple of them are particularly gunky compared to the others. I know I'm running a bit rich on my 750 DP Mighty Demon carb, so that could be a contributor. I jacked the car up and spent a couple of hours underneath with shop rags and a can of degreaser. I had significant build up from a leaky rear main seal in my last engine. I got everything shiny and re-inspected it after the test run. No oil leaks anywhere on the engine. After I had a few hundred miles on the engine, I replaced the 20W50, but accidentally purchased the Valvoline Max Life as opposed to the racing formula I normally use. I've wondered ever since if there is anything like a Slick50 additive in Max Life that could have left a low-friction surface on my cylinder walls therefore prohibiting break in. Since I'm running a remote oil filter adapter and external oil cooler, I never get all of the oil out of the system when I replace it. I feel like it's got to be due to the rings not seating.