Mark -------  Sorry to read abt your grief with head sealing problems.
Sounds like time to find a pallet and ship the SOB to Boston.  Can't speak
to your Vanagon specifically; but when I was rebuilding early Type 1 and 2
engines with the help of a great tutor, we always ground the cylinder jugs
into the heads prior to assembling.  Never got the whistling sound that some
VWs developed.  A little valve grinding compound, rotate the jug in the head
until you have a consistent-looking seating area.  Of course a thorough
cleanup afterward.  This procedure would be much more difficult with a
waterleaker...... but I would like to know what you and the List think.
Best of luck!

Glenn McComas, Queenstown, Maryland