[mr0077]

Scufty, that looks like a pretty good installation, with the "banjo" style larger area over the carb allowing the air flow to slow down and the pressure at the carb to increase.
If that is 3" pipe between the hat and the K&N filter, the airflow (at 850 CFM flow into the engine) would theoretically be traveling just under 200 MPH...that sounds like a bit too fast for minimal restriction of the air flow. Maybe you could measure the pressure drop with a vacuum gage by installing a tubing fitting near the rubber coupling. At those air flow speeds there might be some additional pressure drop from a venturi effect.