Your bent pushrod was probably due to the bad lifter.  Yes, you can get to
the lifters without pulling the head.  You need to remove the metal shield
that protects the pushrods, which is bolted onto the crankcase and the lower
exhaust studs.  Then remove the rockers and pushrods.  You then must destroy
the pushrod tubes by yanking them out.  Using a pick or stiff wire, the
lifters can be pulled out of the crankcase and replaced with new ones.  You
need to get a couple of those spring loaded replacement pushrod tubes to
replace the originals, and probably is wise to use some sealant on the
sealing surfaces too (Normally you don't use sealant on the pushrod tubes,
but I'd use some on the spring loaded ones).  Then reinstall the pushrods
and rockers.

Good Luck,
Bill Knight

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of Kurtis Thomas
Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 1999 10:38 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: how do i remove lifters w/o removing the (L)head?

In my 87 vanagon (waterboxer) I think my (L) head lifters are going bad 2 of
the 4 sink when I push on the pushrod. Is this normal? The other 2 are
stiff.
 I just removed the rockers the other day to replace a bent pushrod. I think
I made a mistake when I put everything back together, because it ticks and I
took the cover off and that's when I found the sinking lifter. I have a
Bentley book and I need help.

Kurt