I dunno that I'd be driving that without doing the simple/cheap stuff first-
like pulling the valve cover. Noise is one thing, a concurrent loss of power
and rough running with the noise is a whole 'nother thing.
If you're very careful you can probably get the gasket off intact but I
wouldn't count on it. Any rate a gasket is a lot cheaper than whatever
damage is possibly being done. File it under 'better safe than sorry'.

Good luck,
Robert

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jens Jakob Andersen" <jayjay@ZORCK.DK>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, July 12, 2006 9:59 AM
Subject: Re: Loud metallic knock from engine??????

> Hi John
>
> Sound like I'll try to take it for a spin.
>
> The sound didnt go away after 5 minutes of idle, and the engine
> sputters a bit, like it has lost some power.
>
> I can replace the hy-lifter without pulling more than the pushrod
> tube,      valve train,  pop new hy-lifter in, put incollapsible
> pushrodtube,  replace valvetrain?
>
> Sounds good.
>
> I could pull the rockecover, but I havent got a new gasket - willthe
> old one break when I pull the valvecover?
>
> /JJ
> At 18:54 12-07-2006, John Lane wrote:
>>Well, mine sounded pretty loud.....louder than what I thought a
>>lifter should....if it's coming from the head, I would think it's in
>>the valve train. You can easily pop the cover to see if a spring has
>>broken. As a precaution I replaced my lifter, easy enough job....got
>>all I needed at Bus Depot. The collapsible push rid tube worked
>>wonders and no leaks. What I found is if I don't run her every other
>>day, she can make the noise and sometimes takes a while to go away.
>>The Restore works wonders. Even with a broken spring there would be
>>no 'tension' on the valve train and it might not make any noise at
>>all. I would pop the cover, wiggle the rocker arms...pushing in on
>>the valve...if it pushes in....it's the lifter. There should be no
>>play except for the tolerance between the rocker and the push rod. I
>>replaced my lifter and the problem came back only once. My guess is
>>the hydraulic lock is lost, but after running for a bit...the lifter
>>refills and all is well again.
>>
>>----- Original Message ----
>>From: Jens Jakob Andersen <jayjay@ZORCK.DK>
>>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>Sent: Wednesday, July 12, 2006 11:44:14 AM
>>Subject: Re: Loud metallic knock from engine??????
>>
>>Hi John
>>
>>It doesnt sound like the normal valve-clatter.
>>
>>It sounds likesomeone tapping onthe head with a spanner.
>>
>>I listened with the extensionset from the socketkeys, and it comes
>>from the rear exhaustvalvearea, righthandside.
>>
>>Either it is a valve that hangs (broken valvespring?) I guess, or a
>>lifter.
>>
>>Any ideas on diagnose?
>>
>>/JJ
>>At 18:22 12-07-2006, John Lane wrote:
>> >Both mine and a friends Westy had a 'knock'...if it sounds like a
>> >lifter, change the oil filter to a VW one and pour a can of Restore
>> >in....works for us.
>> >
>> >----- Original Message ----
>> >From: Jens Jakob Andersen <jayjay@ZORCK.DK>
>> >To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> >Sent: Wednesday, July 12, 2006 11:09:19 AM
>> >Subject: Loud metallic knock from engine??????
>> >
>> >Hi,
>> >
>> >Now I got the van started.
>> >
>> >And I have a loud metallic knock fromthe engine, righthand side.
>> >
>> >Sound to me like a stuck hydraulic lifter, or a stuck
>> >valve..............
>> >
>> >Any good suggestions on     a quick diagnosis and fix?
>> >
>> >It is not just the normal valve clatter when cold - it is a
>> >distingtive metallic KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.
>> >
>> >SIGH!!!!!!!!!!
>> >
>> >Jens Jakob