If you didn't notice a power loss, it's probably not a loose pushrod.
I've had loud noises from the engine bay turn out to be a loose nut that
fell off and into the tin - makes a heck of a racket.

Karl Wolz

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
Behalf Of
> Craig Oda
> Sent: Tuesday, July 27, 2004 9:43 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Loud clanking sound from exhaust - pushrod unseated?
>
> I'm trying to plan out my weekend and upcoming camping trips and am
> trying to get a feel for how much time I'll have to spend to get my
> van back on the road.
>
> I have a loud clanking sound from my engine.  It's not the tick from
> lifters.  It is considerably louder.  There definitely seems like
> metal is rattling around.  It appeared to sound  like a nut was
> rattling in the exhaust.  (I don't think there is one, but it sounded
> like this).
>
> The problem occurred 30 miles from home last weeknd and I drove home
> on the freeway with the loud rattling sound.  No power loss and no
> drivability problems.  However, the sound is really loud.
>
> Joel Walker was kind enough to suggest that one of the pushrods might
> have come unseated from the lifter.  This situation is possible since
> I just changed two lifters about a month ago and had the pushrods out.
>  Also, I adjusted the exhaust valve on cylinder 3 considerably.  I had
> a problem with air in the lifter and the valve was about 5 turns too
> tight.  So, I loosened it up so that it was barely touching, then
> tightened it down about 1 1/2 turns.  I wonder if air was still in the
> lifter and somehow the pushrod became unseated.
>
> I may not have time to take out the pushrods until the weekend.  If a
> pushrod is unseated, what else should I inspect for damage.
>
> Also, do other people suspect a pushrod?  The problem began while I
> was driving on the freeway.  I continued driving for another 30 miles,
> so I don't think it's a valve clanking around in the exhaust.  I took
> off the u-pipe for the exhaust and there's no metal in there.
>
> My friend wants to drive up to Lake Shasta in a couple of weeks and
> I'm planning the trip, assuming I'll be able to go.  However, I
> obviously won't go unless I resolve this engine problem this weekend.