I checked out a couple of my options today for fixing my engine, which
will need new heads, pistons and cylinders, and I came up with a couple of
new questions I hope you guys can help me with.

First, some of the mail order companies in Hot VWs advertise "new" heads
for the Vanagon.  Who makes these, and are they any good?  $250 sounds too
cheap to be any good.

Also, there is an outfit in town that will recondition my existing heads
for $189.  I told him that there is a piece missing from the head around the
exhaust valve seat, and he said that that would not be a problem as they 
could arc weld a piece in.  This sounds *really* fishy to me.  Even if it
would hold, I would immagine it would have terrible thermal contact with the
rest of the head and get quite hot.  What say?

Thanks for all of you who already sent advice.  I still may opt for a 
rebuilt engine with a warantee.

--More later,  Albrecht