In reassemblying my '73 2.0 I realized after I had it almost together I forgot to put in lower sheet metal that goes under the cylinders and push rod tubes.
In order to put them in I'll have to loosen the heads to get the tubes out etc etc etc.

Got to thinking- how necessary are they? This car will spend its life in AZ with no heaters or exchangers and no cold weather. With the fan blowing air from the top will it run cooler or warmer without these in place?

What would happen if I didn't put these back in ??

You will warp the cylinders due to uneven cooling. They would not have been there if they weren't needed. Do it now for cheap or do it later for a lot!

You don't need to loosen the heads. Pull the rockers/puchrods and pop the pushrods tubes out. Install the tin and reassemble the tubes/pushrods/rockers. Not a big deal.

Gotta have it. VW/Porsche didn't produce parts just to drive up the cost of the cars.

Thanks Mark- yeah guess I don't need to loosen heads. Haven't rebuilt an engine since the late 70's so I've forgotten a little...

Oh well...