tappets.......

when tappets go are they usually noisy on start up and then quieten down? my 83 1.8gti started making a noise like the tappets today… louder on start but the noise doesn't go completely at all. the noise happens when I go on the accelerator then stops when I lift off then back as I accelerate again.

Tappers can be louder on start up until a bit of oil gets pumped round

If they remain loud then it's worth checking the tolerance 

jellybelly said

Tappers can be louder on start up until a bit of oil gets pumped round

If they remain loud then it's worth checking the tolerance 

they don't remain loud but I can still hear them when I accelerate, pardon my ignorance but what is the tolerance?  

The tappets are a shim and bucket design

The buckets are al the shame but you get different shim thicknesses 

You meassure the clearance between the shim and the cam follower using feeler gauges

You then either replace the shim for a thicker one or thinner to te max/min require tolerances

 

jellybelly said

The tappets are a shim and bucket design

The buckets are al the shame but you get different shim thicknesses 

You meassure the clearance between the shim and the cam follower using feeler gauges

You then either replace the shim for a thicker one or thinner to te max/min require tolerances

 

ahhhh, cool. may as well get the cam belt changed at the same time then.  

Does anyone know where I can get the shims from? Gsf don't sell them and according to the most un helpful bloke in the world from Vw heritage they don't sell them either. 

AVS Car Parts - [The VW - Audi - Seat - Skoda Parts Specialist]

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/200991218702?roken=htUTzh

Is this the offending item? 

Yes depending on the correct thickness after measuring