(To David Schimpf, regarding Van not driven since "91, with noise at startup: I have 78 Westie. The clatter at startup are the hydraulic lifters, which will allow a lot of valve to Pushrod play until they are full of oil. Did you change the oil in this "not driven since 91" bus? The oil may be very thick, not allowing pumping up of the lifters until oil is thinner- Any time my bus stands over 3 days I get ther clatter, sometimes one lifter will not pump up for 6 miles! The noise climbing a hill is probably "pinging" due to the rather high compression (165??). Was this engine ever rebuilt (heads)? Like oversize cylinders or anything that would change the combustion volume? If not, I suspect there may be carbon or some sort of deposits in the top of the head or on the piston that is reducing the volume of the combustion chamber, thus raising compression. An inspection inside the chamber via the spark plug holes may help. In fact, don't buy it until you try to pull ALL the plugs, to make sure plug holes are not stripping from carbon deposits on end of plug, which happens if wrong length plugs were used. Stripped plug holes involve a head teardown and inserts put in, so check "em now! Memorize the angle of the plug wrench/extension, so you can rethread plugs, #2 is especially hard and easiest to do via the access port in rear of vehicle floor. Make sure you have locking extensions and rubber plug gripper in socket (SEARS); I've dropped the socket into the shrouding before getting locking ones... Mike Benthin in NJ
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