I've got an ally head from an Astra GTE that needs to be skimmed before refitting - do I need to take all the cams and valves out or could the engineering crowd work around them and not leave bits of aluminum everywhere?
I'd take cams and followers out but leave the valves in place. Generally after skimming any good shop will chuck the head in the BUPI to clean it up for you, so the swarf shouldn't be a problem.
It should be less than £40 for the skim and clean. Valves only need removing if the stand clear of the head aka Golf 16V exhaust valves. If you are removing the valves remember to put new stem oil seals in. For less than a pound a pop they make a big difference to oil consumption.
Surely it's worth more weighed in for scrap? 
