They most certainly are Pre-torqued to specific manufacturers requirements and then two phases of 60 degree turns with angle gauge. One of the mechanics did it for me in his lunch break (kind chap ) just to be certain!
Nice one mate. They will probably have put it into a wash bath with degreasing solution (some are like big dishwashers - I just use the dishwasher with swarfega in it!)
If you look at the head you will note the dark section where the head sits against an open section in the gasket which is open to a water channel or something. That still remains so it was probably 1 or 2 thou they took off it, enough to clean it up and give you a nice clean face to work with.
Yeah it looks like they've barely cut anything away (well they haven't really). I'd really really suggest, to anyone who is contemplating doing the conversion themselves, to get hold of a TDi and just do it. The whole "it just keeps getting better" that a lot of people kept repeating really is a valid statement. What an absolute pleasure it is to drive. I cruised down to Ipswich between 60 and 65mph, as opposed to 85 that I'd usually have done in the Golf and I loved every second of it. The power is spot on, the torque is off the scale and it pretty much laughs in the face of hills Superb. I might ask Santa for various oils and seals so that I can give it a good service. Timing belt is the next job but that's only really a smallish job.
The acceleration is still fine, sitting on the motorway at 60 then engine will be doing far less revs and there is room for more without screaming it's head off.
This will convince him: It will make your engine last longer, not reving so hard.