Valve spring retainer clip removal

[Hozer 88GTConv]

Okay,
The valve seals and guides look okay.
Is it unheard of for a cylinder to "suck" oil from the lower intake manifold gasket?

My symptoms are this:
1 quart of oil consumption per 200-ish miles.
no, and I mean no smoke whatsoever, ever.
no oil leaks at all, none.
number 5 cylinder plug "coated" with wet oil after a few days and becomes fouled quickly.
compression check dry and wet looks well within limits of other cylinders
valve seals and guides appear intact and properly seated

The latest brain trust theory is that I am consuming too much oil for it to be a valve seal/guide anyway. A good modified dirt track racer buddy thinks I am pulling oil in from the lower intake manifold through a burr or bad gasket. Says I am not seeing smoke because the plug is fouling right away and not burning, thus no smoke.

The motor is only 15k old after a very meticulous/competent rebuild.