In a message dated 8/20/00 3:23:51 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

<< loud clacking fm engine! >>
    Dan, sounds like a dry lifter.  The waterboxer engine is famous for this.
 The design of the engine allows the lifters to drain dry while sitting for
extended periods of time.  If the lifer pumps back up, noise goes away, after
a short driving period then there is no permanent problem.  If the sound will
not go away then the lifer is defective and should be replaced ASAP to
prevent valve and valve seat damage.

Cheers

Frank Condelli
'87 Westy & Lionel Trains
Vanagon List, LIMBO & IWCCC member
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service for the Ottawa Valley
STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust Systems
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
<A HREF="http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html">Frank Condelli &
Associates</A> or http://frankcondelli.com