Placed an order with Dru@JHM for a complete cam timing overhaul. Chain, tensioner, adjuster, vacuum pump, and associated gaskets. I purchased a polydrive socket and the cam lock direct from the VW snap on portal (https://vw.snapon.com/Home.aspx if anyone is curious). Really looking forward to this, especially because Dru was able to beat everyones prices on the stuff, and I mean EVERYONE. Awesome service as always. All of this should take care of most of my issues so I can drive it worry free through the winter.
Sounds like you have a ton of fun new parts to play with soon. Its always great to see that the JHM guys really work to actually make an impact on the platform both in development and price support
Good luck with the adjuster. I probably would have bought a new exhaust cam myself, but I guess you aren’t out anything to try removing that bolt. I have a cam removal/install DIY of sorts in my build thread here.
Your build thread would serve as a great step by step if it gets to that point. I expressed my concerns to my dealership mechanic multiple times and he reassured me that the polydrive seems to be blown out of proportion online. I would love to hear what Jimmybones could tell us about his experience at the dealership as I’m sure he has ran into it at least once or twice in his term there. I purchased a brand new poly drive and a quality breaker bar in hopes of being able to get the best seat in the bolt and use smooth, progressive torque on the fastener to give me the best chance of being able to remove it. You’re very right though, stripping the bolt isn’t a huge deal as I am replacing everything. I would only need the cam and sealant really.
Could anyone give me the torque values for the cam chain tensioner? I know that the cam adjuster is 20nm+45 degrees, but the place I got the adjuster value from doesn’t detail the torque for the tensioner.
See if this has it. I didn’t check
http://audirevolution.net/forum/index.php?topic=3528.msg102274#msg102274
I think this post would detail it?
http://audirevolution.net/forum/index.php?topic=3528.msg102277#msg102277
5nm+90 degrees?
Thats about what I set the ones I do to.
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/08/12/ba43051e5ae87ea90d0b194b05d04912.jpg
Got my parts in today from JHM. Will update when it is all back together.
Put everything back together without a hitch, the polydrive didn’t put up a fight with me. Still have an odd noise at idle. Not sure where I need to look next for tracking this one down 
Give it a few days and see if it dosent go away. I found that after replacement of a lot of those parts it takes a few days for the ticks to go away.
Post a video of the sound and maybe someone will have some insight.
Well after a lot of thought and careful consideration, I have come to the conclusion that the avant will not be the ideal car for me going forward. I’m looking to get into an '06-'08 Forester XT. I will be parting out the car and then selling it. If anyone would be interested in either the parts feel free to PM me. I really enjoyed my time here, made some good friends and learned a lot of solid information. Thank you guys, the community here is really great.