A word of thanks to all those who responded to my pleas for help during the
week it took me to do the head job on my 91 GL, and especially during the
past few days as I struggled with the valves.  My valves are still clicking
away and the exhaust valve on the #1 cylinder was hung up and not seating
correctly, but with that now past me I've taken her out on the road and she
runs fine.  No weird sounds, just smells from  a few new exhaust parts.
So... a word of thanks to all those who told me to just drive the Van!!!
You were right.  I'll keep an eye on the valves and check them for play this
weekend (my wife will be driving the van to work tomorrow).   Still have to
set the timing and deal with a bolt on the intake manifold that doesn't seem
to have torqued up correctly (stripped on the head side??), and then I can
start thinking about changing out the front calipers and do a little
preventative (!) maintenance on the CV joints that have 173 k on them.

--
Dan Erlandson
Flemington, NJ
> danoer1@eclipse.net
91 VW Vanagon GL 173,000 mi
99 VW Passat 107,000 mi