I've got most of my stoof worked out. I still have what sounds like a knock around 1500 - 2000 RPM but maybe it's piston slap. Still working on that. I do want to know about Sluggishness. This becomes more apparent when I have my AEM intake in. Sometimes, when climbing hills, I press the gas but I don't floor it to climb. The RPMs get around 3000 and the engine honestly feels like I am pressing the brake while trying to climb. Literally like I'm pressing the brake but it doesn't happen all the time. The car coasts perfectly so i know my brakes aren't locked from seized calipers. Is this the way these F23s should sound / act? I can make a youtube vid of whats happening if it helps.

In general, the car is feeling better that it did when I pulled it off the lot about 7 years ago. Just gotta keep going to make it perfect! The H22 head swap looks interesting and I still have my old block... Hmmm.