Samuel Scott wrote:

>  I am getting a pretty hefty tapping
> sound these days, although it does sometimes disappear.
>
> I'll take a few suggestions, if you have any.

Sam, you probably are suffering the "Wrong oil/ Wrong oil filter" syndrome.
If you are using anything but a Mann filter, the internal spring pressure of
relief valve in the filter will allow the oil pressure to leak down in the
oil galleries in the engine, and your valves will clatter until warms
thoroughly and they have a chance to pump back up. Common problem. The other
problem is oil viscosity. One of the official weight oils listed for the
engine is a 20W/50 wt oil. That is the one to use, anything else can
contribute to your clattering problem.

Our list vendors carry the Mann filters. Also, when you change the oil, be
sure you replace the crush gasket  at the drain plug, also available from
the list vendors. Changing the gasket will one day save you a lot of grief
when some greasy oil changer trys to reef on the plug to seal the last drip
and strips the threads, or when because of over tightening at the last oil
change, the threads tear out when the next oil change takes place.

Good luck.

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver