Off my rockers?

The push rods are connected to the vlaves by a series of rockers that effectivly reverse the direction of the thrust. On the real VW, it's important that the gap between rocker and valve is correct, and setting it is a bit of a baptism of fire that looks complicated, but I don't think should be that bad once you get the hang of it. 

If you look at the left hand side (in the photos) of each rocker, there is a bolt in the end that can be screwed in and out. A lock nut stops it moving. The principle, as I recall, involves rotating the engine so the valve is open, undoing the locknut, adjusting the bolt with the aid of a screwdriver and feeler gauge, and then doing the locknut up again. The engine must be absolutely cold when this is carried out. 

All this is theory, and I never had the bottle to give it a go. It's a job I'd want someone talking me through in person for the first time I think. The principles are simple enough, but you must have the engine correctly rotated for it to work. Later engines had hydraulic lifters, so you were spared all this. 

On the model it's a bit of a fiddle to slide all the rockers on the metal shaft, get them in position and then put th shaft into the supports. Still nicer than crawling around on the floor adjusting oily bits though.