thanks all for the advice and encouragement.

in a somewhat cathartic experience, the heads are now off...  and one
cylinder.  i thought i would try moving the pistons, and, well, the stuck
one slid right past the end of the sleeve, so, well, sod that, what is done
is done.  the cylinder was still pretty difficult to remove even when
removed, but a bit of rubber hammer therapy and bar and it came off.  it
looks like one of the piston rings is broken - perhaps from my bashing.
 all said, it is good to have it off.

from jim arnott's words, it sounds like i'm luck to have it be a front
cylinder.  i was eyeing the hose clamps at the the hardware store and they
have some fine large ones.  that is, unless you meant front as in front of
engine/rear of van, in which case, argh.  i saw some of these other
compressors, but i can't image getting something like this into the
wasserbox
http://www.wonderbart.com/images/09/april/piston_ring_compressor_03618.jpg

now to start cleaning and reassembling.

tom