"As said, I'd rebuild a B18 head, the budget for that is down to you. New valves, guides, and springs plus lead free exhaust inserts would be good for a long term engine"

I appreciate the link to the magnetic base. I've missed something because this is the first time anyone has suggested my just starting over with a conventional head. That's pretty much the same place I arrived at a few days ago. As I said I have one on the old motor that came out of the '62 and if using one from that old an engine is okay then I'll start there. I have an OD tranny for the wagon and was going to pull the motor to put it in, paint the block, plus on the new SUs with aircleaners I got from Old Kombi a while back, a 123 ignitionetc. So it would be a good time to pull off the head, check the cam and diameter of the cylinders etc.

A moot point but a research type stopper, tapered with a hole in the center might work to keep a puh rod in position to measuer the lift.

Thanks all who participated, I've learned a lot mostly I learned how much I don't know. But then that's why we're her or at least that's why I'm here.