**Is this normal?? 318 intake residue**

IMO, you should start the teardown procedure, but whatever you do, please do not use carburetor cleaner, or any other flammable spray to test for vacuum leaks. Use a squirt bottle full of water instead. The engine runs on FIRE. The last thing you want is a freak backfire and ignition from the carburetor cleaner. I've seen it happen and it wasn't pretty. Your engine isn't my cup of tea with all the bling, but it's nice. It would suck to turn it into a bunch of melted aluminum.