Wanted to report back on my recent findings.
On a hunch, mainly from the ticking when first started, I had been off and on checking for exaust smoke at the rear of the engine but could never spot anything. I read somewhere about holding a tissue around the suspected area, I at first I didn't notice anything, until I lowered it far enough to reach the bottom of the exhaust manifold and sure enough the end of the tissue started moving with the RPMs. This, I assume, would explain the 30*+ IAT readings over ambient with the stock airbox. New exhaust manifold and gaskets are on there way. I don't know for sure right now if the gasket is bad, or if there is a crack inthe manifold, but I only want to do this once. This hopefully is the root of all my problems, but if not, it is at least the root of some of them.
