I feel so damned discouraged, and I get what Jake Raby says about Vanagon AC
engines. I've done all the work on my vehicles without much problem all of
my life, and it's never been so much hassle as redoing this 2.0 AC. And when
I get it all together, no go. Won't fire at all. Sounds weird turning over.
It was late and so I did a quick 'n; dirty compression test by stuffing a
finger in #1 cylinder and almost nothing. Put my hand over the exhaust
output of right heater box and it sucks as much as blows. Check lifter
preload and the lifters aren't holding valves open. I am saving $$ for new
heads, and decided to slap in these "good" used ones, and this particular
head has recently been rebuilt. Yet the symptoms seem like the valves aren't
sealing, although there's no dropped seats. I've spent I don't know how many
hours on this sucker and it looks like it has to come out again. Any other
possible suggestions? I know the valve timing can't be off.

Can the heads be pulled without pulling the engine?