Robert:

I used to have this problem with a '65 Corvair I owned ( a similar motor to
yours in many ways except horsepower -140 <g>) .  This will sound crazy, but
a mechanic friend suggested that I try the following and it worked for
*that* car:

I drained the engine oil, changed the filter, and refilled half with 10w-30
and half with ATF (Dexron, I think).  Ran the car around for a day like
that, then drained it, changed the filter again, and filled it back up with
10w-30.  The problem became noticeably better afterwards, but still didn't
go away completely.  My friend said it was due to an accumulation of crud in
the lifters that was blocking the orifice(s).  The blocked orifices caused
them to "pump up" more slowly.  Evidently ATF is very high in detergents,
and it helped clean out the crud.

I also had this problem in a '69 Jeep CJ-5 with 225 V-6.  The problem only
started up after I completely rebuilt the engine (top and bottom, new
pistons, etc.).  I now believe it was because I put in a new oil pump (more
of a gear on a spindle that rests in a tight housing) without replacing the
housing.  (I recall that the housing was an integral part of the block).
The excessive clearance between the gear and the housing caused a slight
(about 10 seconds when cold) lag of oil pressure, during which the lifters
would clatter a bit until they pumped up.  At first it really worried me,
but I drove it that way for about another 5 years...  :-)

Brent Christensen

----- Original Message -----
From: Robert Capra <rcapra@SILCON.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, April 08, 1999 4:52 PM
Subject: Hydraulic valve lifter noise on '85 GL