Fit the intake and make sure it sits where it needs to be aa well as the rest of the engine parts that connect to it before powder coating. This lessens the chance of modification to a freshly down intake. No mucking up the powder coating.
I get what you are saying and normally I would do just that but I don't plan on pulling the Victor for a while and it the TF is getting bolted onto TF heads so it better fit.
Shipping to John and back to me only to send out to LeAnna just doesn't make sense in my opinion. That would be twice as many cross-country trips. Fingers crossed that once I get it back, it will fit as it should.... lol