My first 2 liter was built by the PO with a stock cam. What a complete piece of junk!!! Do NOT use a stock cam. You want an Engle W-120. That's a nice mild cam for all around street use.
Heads crack due to overheating. That is controled by your right foot. My recommendation is to get heads based on genuine VW 043 Mexican castings. They have the best exh port of any stock style head, more fin area than a CB 044, and are cast from the strongest alloy. Use 40x35 valves and have Darren port them with his 186cfm port, or slightly smaller.
Set the CR to 8.25:1 and use 87 octane gas.
Use stock 1.1:1 rockers cause that's what you use on a W-120.
Use aircooled.net Al pushrods and set the lash like stock.
Start the build and post your questions here. You got a digi camera, right?