Well after a few years of experimentation, I confirmed the problem. It is the Evap canister...its not defective, the design is. Disconnecting the canister hose from the valve cover completely eliminates any smoking on startup or, as originally stated, after about a mile of running. It also stabilizes the idle and makes it reliable, whether cold or hot. I do not remember a stable idle back in 1979 when I owned my first one.
As best I can tell, vapors from the tank contaminate the oil and cause it to behave differently, as well as cook out into the carbs at an unpredictable rate. They also promote condensation in the crankcase.
To eliminate the issue, a vented cap can be fitted and the cover nipple plugged, or if you don't care, the nipple can be left open. The problem is, as far as I know, is that it is a violation of EPA laws to do so.
A better solution would be a vacuum or electrically operated valve between the evap and breather system. to isolate the fumes when the engine is not running. I may look into this. I wonder how they handle this on modern vehicles?
Anyway, I thought I would post what I had found.
-Michael