I've been looking around at tools and shims so I can adjust my diesel
westy's valves myself. I've done hundreds of valve adjustments of the
rocker arm variety, never the bucket-and-shim variety.

Any advice on depressors, pliers, and discs? I'm familiar with what
vwdiesel.com has, but not other sources or do-it-yourself tools.

Also, will such tools work on other types of bucket-and-shim
adjustments, such a my daughter's 91 honda civic?

Also, I'd like to know about head rebuilding. I have a really good
head I bought cheap on ebay, all in pieces. I haven't measured
anything, but there are NO cracks and it is a German head. The one
that's in there now is a GEX, and I could see it had problems. Valve
seals not so good, for one thing. I got it cheap too, but don't
expect it to last a whole lot longer.

I'd like to get the head I've got in good shape and put it on the
block, press in new guides and seals, etc. What reamer do I use?
Anything else to look out for?

Thanks,

Jim