Callin the Cap'n or other engine Yodas, Manifold vacuum gauge readings Options

[ThePaintedMan]

I took the advice of a few folks on here and finally got around to buying a quality vacuum gauge. As a primer, I've had all kinds of issues, from carb synching, timing, etc. But I think I've finally got it running fairly well. The car is a '73 with a 1.7, dual Weber 40 IDFs.

Anyhow, I did a compression test the *right* way this time with the throttle open and after the engine was warm and got 110 across the board. Not great, but not awful. Next I moved onto checking the vacuum on each manifold port at the base of the carbs. I get wildly, but consistently fluctuating numbers on each cylinder. By that I mean, at idle, each cylinder displays the same thing - the needle bounces from 5-17 mm Hg instead of a steady number. I've been reading up on this at:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=476817

and the great animations at:

http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/S...VacuumLeaks.htm

Is it then possible that I have FOUR burned exhaust valves? I had been suspecting I had at least one for awhile, due to seemingly high CHTs on #3, "sucking" coming from the tailpipe and the fact that #3 doesn't suck nearly as much air from the velocity stack as the others. But now I'm suspecting a larger issue. Is it possible that both heads are loose? I see some oil leaking from the cylinder-case junction, but don't see anything from the head-cylinder junction. Would it be worth taking the in off and trying to retorque all the head studs, if nothing else, for piece of mind?

-George