She’s lived a long and adventurous life

[Barrymcockiner]

The gold is just a coloring of the light - looks like just a spot of clean piston dome area to me.

Needs valve seals most likely and a good valve job.
If you haven't replaced the O2 sensors, they are way overdue IMO.

Catch can will cut down on oil going through the intake BUT you do need to remember to empty it every 1-2000 miles or so - if you forget to then you will send a slug of oil through the intake instead of the constant mist.

What is picture

90509FA6-27B5-44AE-8FEC-3D2BAE48F227.jpeg of????​

That is throttle body side of intake manifold. And that is sand from west Texas from 3 years ago lol. Pulling the trigger on a catch can tomorrow! O2 sensors too. Kind of thought the same. Labor costs to replace the seals are identical to replacing the valves.

 

[gofishn]

Buy a new long block, from Mopar.
Pull that engine, tear it down, get it worked on and have fun building your next engine.

Forget teh plastic intake, go with the 6.4 intake and never worry about cracks again.

 

[pacofortacos]

That is throttle body side of intake manifold. And that is sand from west Texas from 3 years ago lol. Pulling the trigger on a catch can tomorrow! O2 sensors too. Kind of thought the same. Labor costs to replace the seals are identical to replacing the valves.

Haha no wonder it didn't look familiar.
You can do the seals while the heads are on the motor on most motors, but if the heads are off it is just crazy to not do the valve job (usually can reuse the original valves if they are in good shape) or remanufactured heads.