Re-torqued the head (warm engine) and replaced intake valve seals. The whole operation took 6 hours, and that was pretty much non-stop. I took off each valve spring in order to replace the intake seal and check the exhaust seal (I gave them some love-taps to make absolutely sure they were seated properly). I had to remove the throttle body (but not the plenum) to get to #2 and 3 cylinders' valve springs. I had the gasket for it left over from the head gasket set so that was breezy.

The rubber intake seals came off real easy, adding to my suspicion that they were inadequate and causing some of the cold start-up-smoking, but I'm sure I have a couple worn valve guides, too. I remain confident the smoking will be minimised, at any rate.

Agonised with the damn timing belt, but finally got it as perfect as humanly possible. You can look through the radiator to see the timing marks on the cam gear and cylinder head. It WAS likely off by a tooth, and the oil pump mark had once again drifted, so all of it got set to factory, then after warming the engine up to operating temperature, electronic timing was set.

That's about all I can do to insure the engine is as good as I can make it. I do want to ask if taking the negative battery terminal off for a while then reconnecting it is necessary, so that the ecu can re-calibrate.

Drove it to town and filled up the tank. According to my simple math, it IS getting around 25 MPG.