Hi David,

I've seen all the industry general guide lines about storing
un-installed lifters in certain positions and pre-filling lifters by
pumping them in warm oil baths but I can't buy any of it.

I have an '86 Syncro that during a complete powertrain restoration,
I installed a VW factory exchange motor. I retorqued every fastener on
the engine prior to installation but I did not even check the valve
clearance other than making sure the adjuster locknuts were tight.
Additionally I checked the pre-start engine compression which was an
acceptable ~170PSI in all cylinders!

When I initially started the engine it sounded like a washing machine
full of roller skates & siamese cats! The sound was really SCARY!
However knowing there was adequate oil pressure I let the engine run,
accelerating to 2,000 RPM at times and you could (almost) hear the
lifters pumping up and reducing the valve clearance to zero, one by one.
After about 30 minutes; total silence.

The engine now has now logged 8,000 miles, starts right up, gets ~19 MPG
@ 70 MPH and has a smooth, stable, idle quality. I'm not a proponent of
VWoA but their exchange engines must be set up as the Bentley specifies
since VWoA gave Bentley the procedure. Why then is this basic Bentley
Hyd lifter set up judged unreliable ?

If Bob Donalds is on-line, I would like his spin on this.

Regards,         JP