I've determined the problem is a headgasket. Question now is what all should I have done while the headgasket. Should I get new valves? That makes the machine shop cost more too but my vavles are kinda loud esp on start up.

Timing belt
waterpump
headgasket
all seals in between
both belts and the pulleys

 

Why would you replace the pulleys?


Timing belt
water pump
head gasket
new auto tensioner or switch to a manual tensioner (if you have an H series motor)
valve adjustment
visually check the valves to see if any are bent
cam seals
crank seal
balance shaft seal
distributor O ring

Make sure your crank bolt is tight, sometimes they come loose.

if you want to do the alternator and power steering belts, go for it.

if you want to remove the transmission... do the rear main seal. But as far as everything on the timing belt side and in the head - that's it.

 

I meant the tensioner and idler pulley or w-e, sorry. My valves are loud, but I don't think they are loud or anything. Should I spend the extra 2-300 to replace the valves? I'm worried that if I do all that, the compression increase from going back to stock ranges in the head might cause a problem in the lower end?

 

Just send the head out to a machine shop to have it cleaned and checked, why blindly replace stuff that may not need to be?

 

Valve guide seals