Yes it is the heat riser is operating, it will be blocked soon as im switching to a Summit 224/234 cam (which will ease the issues for sure) and swapping the intake and blocking the heat riser. It runs at 185 on the nose and does not change.

The carb is an OOTB Holley 770, I haven't played with that yet because I figured I'd be wasting my time since that cam will be changed within a month. I've heard these run lean on the secondaries but My plugs are slightly carboned with a golden brown underneath and a little bit of oil around the outside (not on the groundstrap). It could just be that it runs on the primaries and idles so often and that those are setup a little on the rich side. It does burn some oil, about a quart in 1000 miles.

I have 225/70/15s and a 3.55 sure grip is in the waiting to swap in, but im waiting as im converting to 11 in brakes and want to do it at the same time since I have to pull the axles for both. I have to buy the drums still.