""""but I wonder if you are stretching the new o-ring beyond where it is
supposed to stretch in order to put it back on.""""

No, not at all... the O-rings, top and bottom, do stretch perfectly! on the
contrary, they come back at 100% to their oiginal shape... but!!!! Am using
 the "Victor Reinz" gasket kit, the other brand of gasket kit (forgot the
name) as cheaper O-Ring..still, they also come back to original shape, but
slowly.

Ken, if you take the time to oil or grease those, why don't you take the
time to change those one!!! i mean, you have seen how fast it is.... and you
are there anyway....

You guys are the guru... but i did 9 heads gasket job in the past 2 months,
so am getting there, learning new trick every day!!!

I also aply a small coat of 518...

Note: For the head gasket, the big one... am amaze by "The Right Stuff"
product from Permatex... i have a few pieces of old gasket join to 1 old
head in a bucket full of coolant, some other gaskets section have other
product, like Curil or Dirko...
Only "The Right Stuff" did old perfectly!!!!! they have been in the bucket
for 5 weeks...

Take care, Ben
ps.: Am not trying to be the badboy (or the Corruptor, he he he) here, but
just sharing my recent experiences with others...
http://www.benplace.com/vanagon_engine4.htm
http://www.benplace.com/vanagon_engine3.htm
http://www.benplace.com/vanagon_engine1.htm