Hi Dan.
The new chain should be straight forward as the masterlink goes; I don't think you have to crimp anything? When I installed my recon. heads, I left the cam sprokets off and fed the chain through the hole. Used a bungee cord on both sides so the chain would not fall through the assembled front engine cover. That way, you wont have to turn the engine and wrap the chain. Assuming you got the tools to torque the heads properly and you followed the intsructions the rest of assem. should be ok. I never adj my valves because prior to diassem., the engine was quiet. However, mercedesosurce.com has this procedure in a handy book and easy to follow direcs. Basically, the thrust pieces are the hockey pucks that give the valve train its geometry located on top the spring under the rocker arm. les