Replacing Water Pump and Rebuilding Head - QUESTIONS!

I'm having the head rebuilt on my Tacoma soon, so I was going to do the water pump, thermostat, and front main seal (FMS is seeping a small amount). The truck is a 1996 4x4 with a 2.7L 3RZ with 220K.

My questions are this:

Should I buy all of the gaskets needed separately through Toyota or should I buy a full kit from Ebay/Amazon? (I'm buying OEM head gasket and OEM head bolts)

Should I buy the OEM water pump or are the off brands good? (I'm buying OEM thermostat)
I saw that OEM is around $125, whereas I can get AISIN for $46 (Isn't OEM AISIN brand?)

Does the machine shop usually adjust the valves for me when they rebuild the head? The whole reason I have to have it rebuilt is because I burnt an exhaust valve (220k and they were never adjusted) on 1, maybe 2 cylinders. I tested and got 175-75-150-170 compression, added oil to the lower compression cylinders and they didn't go up.

Are there any other items I should address while I pull the head? The goal is to pull the head on a weekend, drop it off at the machine shop on a Monday and hope they finish it by Friday so I can reinstall the head the following weekend.

I've replaced the head gasket on a few vehicles without an issue (always dropped the head off for machining), so I don't think I will run into any real issues.

 

How do you know that the headgasket isn't the cause of your low compression?

 

My questions are this:

Should I buy all of the gaskets needed separately through Toyota or should I buy a full kit from Ebay/Amazon? (I'm buying OEM head gasket and OEM head bolts)

If it is a quality brand like Fel-Pro, Victor-Renz......by the kit.

Should I buy the OEM water pump or are the off brands good? (I'm buying OEM thermostat)
I saw that OEM is around $125, whereas I can get AISIN for $46 (Isn't OEM AISIN brand?)

Yes AISIN is the OEM brand. Just make sure the stock one and the new one are the same animal.

Does the machine shop usually adjust the valves for me when they rebuild the head? The whole reason I have to have it rebuilt is because I burnt an exhaust valve (220k and they were never adjusted) on 1, maybe 2 cylinders. I tested and got 175-75-150-170 compression, added oil to the lower compression cylinders and they didn't go up.

Once your get the head off, Have a valve seat job done on the head and have them resurface the valves.
You adjust the valves on when the head is back on the engine.

Are there any other items I should address while I pull the head? The goal is to pull the head on a weekend, drop it off at the machine shop on a Monday and hope they finish it by Friday so I can reinstall the head the following weekend.

Have the shop check the head to see if is warped. Or you can do it with a straight edge.

 

My questions are this:

Should I buy all of the gaskets needed separately through Toyota or should I buy a full kit from Ebay/Amazon? (I'm buying OEM head gasket and OEM head bolts)

If it is a quality brand like Fel-Pro, Victor-Renz......by the kit.

Should I buy the OEM water pump or are the off brands good? (I'm buying OEM thermostat)
I saw that OEM is around $125, whereas I can get AISIN for $46 (Isn't OEM AISIN brand?)

Yes AISIN is the OEM brand. Just make sure the stock one and the new one are the same animal.

Does the machine shop usually adjust the valves for me when they rebuild the head? The whole reason I have to have it rebuilt is because I burnt an exhaust valve (220k and they were never adjusted) on 1, maybe 2 cylinders. I tested and got 175-75-150-170 compression, added oil to the lower compression cylinders and they didn't go up.

Once your get the head off, Have a valve seat job done on the head and have them resurface the valves.
You adjust the valves on when the head is back on the engine.

Are there any other items I should address while I pull the head? The goal is to pull the head on a weekend, drop it off at the machine shop on a Monday and hope they finish it by Friday so I can reinstall the head the following weekend.

Have the shop check the head to see if is warped. Or you can do it with a straight edge.

 

I figured that the valves have never been adjusted for the life of the truck (Or at least the last 150k miles) and it's a common issue with the 3RZ. Also I haven't added coolant to the truck in over a year, there's no coolant in my oil or vice versa, no overheating issues, no coolant system pressure issues, etc.

Thanks! I'm pretty bummed about having to adjust the valves...sounds like a royal pain in the ass.

 

What do you think about this kit:

http://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=1949182&cc=1278929&jsn=407

Then, as I said, buy OEM head gasket and OEM head bolts?

 

As long as the head gasket is a MLS Multi-layered-Steel you will be ok.
I would look at ARP bolts if they make them. If not available, then yeah go with OEM.