oil COnsumption until 1 qt low

nm9, I'm a late comer to the thread, but reading thru this: It sounds like he's got the proper bore clearance for the pistons that were used? The OP doesn't have a windage tray in it. It's not leaking it, it's burning it. Maybe improper final bore finish for the rings that were used? Thus not seated properly? As it burns off the oil, the level in the pan gets lower thus not as much is being whipped up by the crank onto the bores so he sees a decrease in the burn? Just tossing out some brain farts here from reading thru this.