Russell, Just as a sanity check, before doing anything drastic, check your pitot static system for restrictions. If that looks good, swap in an ASI known to be good. You could just be having instrument failure. It's hard to imagine even the B.U.C. killing off 40 kts. or more.

Rick Girard 

Good thought, but I looked at the GPS a couple times today, and it was always in the ballpark of the ASI.  Also, the cross-check is my dismal climb rate.  My friend's 160 HP RV-3 climbs at 100 kts, and 2100 fpm.  I have 200+ HP available, and can't even get to 100 kts in climb.  Best climb rate I've seen was 1500 fpm, and I didn't see more than 1000 fpm today.  I should be looking at about 160 kts without wheel pants and gear leg fairings, and I'm seeing only 113 kts or so.  Very depressing...

The only other variable is the prop.  I'm using a 3 blade Warp Drive prop, and I'm starting to question how well it may be working.  It's certainly absorbing the power, but is it effectively turning that power into thrust?  How can I know?  Anyone else running a Warp Drive on a fast plane?

I do agree that it's time to step back and make some well reasoned observations, rather than taking a chainsaw to anything yet.  For sure, the cowl has to go eventually, but I really didn't want to have to do that now.  I've thought about replacing the radiator, and modifying the cowl into yet another temporary shape, but that's a lot of work for another temporary cowl.  

Thanks,

Rusty