> That "rock hard" effect is exactly what you want.  The fact that the others
> are compressing indicates they haven't pumped up yet.  I once redid the
> heads on my Vanagon and it was probably a week before all the clacking went
> away.  Drive on.

Thanks for the reply Tom... I've been searching the archives on engine
noises and there was your reply!

But if what you say is true then why can't I get a .006 feeler gauge in
between the top of the valve and the screw on the rocker arm??  Is the valve
damaged??  One of your earlier emails had said that you can tell TDC by
looking for both valves being closed, meaning that when I look at the rocker
arms at TDC there should be flexibility there, no?  The pushrods should be
retracted somewhat, allowing the valve spring to expand up, away from the
cylinder, i.e valve closed, right?  This is not what I see at TDC for
cylinder #1 exhaust.  The pushrod seems extended a bit, enough that I can't
get a feeler gauge in there...  All of the other cylinders seem to be as I
would expect for the valves closed... rocker arm flexible and pushrod
retracted, thus I can get a feeler gauge in there.

Help!!

--
Dan Erlandson
Flemington, NJ
> danoer1@eclipse.net
91 VW Vanagon GL 170,000 mi
99 VW Passat 107,000 mi