FBinNY - it appears the frame is still under warranty so I stripped it down and left it with the LBS. The mechanic said it'd take a few weeks but Bianchi will send me a new frame to replace it. Between the new frame & the new drive-train I've specd out, that should eliminate the chainsuck and other 'ghost issues' (my terminology for stuff I cannot pin down). For this new frame (I'm still holding my breath...) I will do exactly as you've suggested. Thanks for that.