My '84 (1.9L engine) has come down with an apparent case of tappet noise.
However, another list member has suggested that it might be connecting rod
noise.  I added 1 qt Rislone last night and have driven about 25 miles since
then.  The noise has not gone away.  The noise started last Thursday night
when I was out grocery shopping.  The noise gets louder when the engine is
under load.  Performance seems okay.  I suspect that the van has 150,000 +
miles on it although the odometer shows only 80,000.  The heads are not
leaking and compression this time last year was 125 psig in all cylinders.
I really don't want to have my mechanic do exploratory surgery unless
absolutely necessary.  If it is connecting rod noise, how long will engine
survive assuming better than average maintenance?

John Lauterbach
Macon, GA