Mark,

Check out the article on hydraulic lifters on www.bostonengine.com  You CAN get
a collapsed lifter to pump up again if it's OK.

Also check the Vanagon list archives for a posting from me about my experiences
getting the lifters on my '82 aircooled to quiet down. Should've been within
the last six months or so. Also an article in the archives about the Mark
Stephens procedure for purging air from lifters.

Changing out a lifter is pretty simple. All that needs to come out is the
rocker arms and shaft for the cylinder involved, the pushrod, and pushrod tube
for the lifter involved, and then the lifter can be removed/replaced. The
lifter will come out easily with one of those magnets on a stick you'll find at
your FLAPS.

Hope this helps.

Ken Korn
74 914 2.0
75 914 1.8
82 Westy 2.0 aircooled
Austin, TX

>Date:    Mon, 7 Jun 1999 08:42:48 -0700
>From:    Mark Kazman <mark_kazman@RADIXTEK.COM>
>Subject: Tapping sound
>
>Thanks to all on mail list for their input on my stuck lifter problem.
>This week-end I tried the advice of some members to drive it around for
>10 miles of so to see if it loosens up. It didn't, so since I am not
>completely sure if its the lifter or not I immediately dropped it off at
>a local VW mechanic.  It ran fine, no decrease in performance since
>before the tapping sound, but I am still not sure if its the lifter or
>not.