Cylinder head removal on a 1.8

[spudboy6]

I'm going to remove my cylinder head and rebuild it as the valve stem oil seals are shot and re-lap my valves as its off but the main reason for removal is

1-coolant leak from n/s/r of head
2- after sat for a few days smokes on start up

So what I would like to know is please 

When removing the head from the 1.8 8v (adz) will I need to take the inlet manifold off ? Or can I just disconnect my down pipe and take cam belt off ect and leave the inlet manifold on ?

Only reason I ask is I dont want to I get stuck in and find im held up as i havent allowed the extra time
I've removed the inlet manifold from it before and it was a cu*t and same for the exhaust manifold !

Whilst I'm in there I'm also having the head skimmed (i dont think its warped ) but just to be safe i want to do it properly

Also is it true a 2.0 8v cam shaft fits the 1.8 ? Read on another forum that by doing this you get 4.2' more duration or am I chatting waffle?

just curious to weather this cam A) fits B) will it run nicely or am i best not to bother ? C) which 8v cam is better i believe its either 2E or AGG

Now before all the hatters pop up sayin why bother its an 1.8 , I'm attached to the car and spent too much money on wheels and bodywork to back out now and I don't want to convert either , if I want to go fast ill ride my kawasaki

Thanks guys

[VW BUSH]

I'd undo the manifold and leave the exhaust alone.
Sure the cam fits for what one costs it's worth buying even if it doesn't.
They are good for holding down tarps anyway

[spudboy6]

I will have to undo the exhaust at the down pipe at least for removal ,

So inlet manifold off ,

Yea well there cheap as you mentioned to buy so I may have a gamble on It no harm in trying just want to have a little play with it , I know its not anything special but I love my little golf !

Will get some parts together and will get on with it , head skim will cost me £30 from a friends company to get it done , I know they will know but how much is safe to skim off the head ? I was thinking maybe going for some more compression 

[VW BUSH]

Leave the flexi and drop it at the cat as its only three bolts dont think I've had take it apart before though.
Skim only what needs to come off to get it flat, 0.2 normally covers this. I normally stick them up on the surface grinder on custom blocks and clock it even splitting the difference.

[Foreveryoungaus16v]

I will have to undo the exhaust at the down pipe at least for removal ,

So inlet manifold off ,

Yea well there cheap as you mentioned to buy so I may have a gamble on It no harm in trying just want to have a little play with it , I know its not anything special but I love my little golf !

Will get some parts together and will get on with it , head skim will cost me £30 from a friends company to get it done , I know they will know but how much is safe to skim off the head ? I was thinking maybe going for some more compression 

Leave skimming etc to professionals

[Ben@VWH]

Drop the downpipe off where it attaches to the exhaust manifold and leave both manifolds attached. Remove the wiring, coolant pipes, fuel pipes, acc cable, cambelt, rocker cover and head bolts and lift the head off, it's a very straightforward job on an 8v. Only get a professional machine shop to skim the head as you already suggested. Either 2e or agg cam will fit, i'm unsure of the difference in duration/lift but if you can get one for cheap then you may as well fit it while you've got it apart. Just double check the timing marks between the 2e/agg cam and your original, they'll probably be the same but just check so you don't ruin your freshly skimmed head!