[JD159]

Pretty much at my wits end with this S. I put in a bunch of new lifters around the area where I heard the noise previously. I know I changed the lifter that was making the "clacking". Car sat for a few months, I researched everything and learned how to take out the cams and do the whole procedure. Considering I got this car when I turned 17, and didn't know how to change a tire, now 23 and completely removed the cams, got it back together and had it run, I can't say its a waste.

Initially it seemed like my problems were gone. The car fired right up, idled nicely, no lifter noise. Got the car up to operating temperature, still no lifter noise, took it around the survey, still no lifter noise. Boy was I excited. I fixed it! So I called the insurance and got it back on the road. Drove really nice for a day or two, nice and hot, no lifter noise.

Then all of a sudden, I fired it up, took it for a drive, and THE EXACT NOISE CAME BACK! I know its lifter noise and not a rod or injector, it is a distinctive clack.

I thought I had the problem figured out, but I guess I was wrong. It's apparent that this engine has to come out.

Oil pressure is normal, tried all kinds of different weights, settled at 20w50, still noise. It seems to be coming from a particular area on the cylinder head. I have had some damage in the past, but it was all repaired by a reputable machine shop and the previous damage is not causing the issue. From the top end anyway, the damage may be causing the problem from down below. Which leads me to my next theory...

Could I have an oiling problem that is only affecting a small part of the cylinder head? I have read that on the 968's, if there is a slightly crack in the pickup tube, the variocam tensioner and/or lifters will make noise. Could my pickup tube either be blocked with material, or cracked, and it is causing a slight loss of pressure in a particular section of the head without disturbing the pressure sensor enough? i.e. still reading normal bar on the gauge? I was thinking that since I had the car sitting for a couple months, be jacked shifted and disturbed, maybe the material that was on the tube fell off, then after driving it for a bit, it sucked it up again and it is stuck to the tube causing lifter noise. Could the oil cooler be plugged and cause this issue without reading low oil pressure?

Car is parked, and I'm going to remove the engine at some point in the next few months. Just want to get some idea's as to what could be causing my problems.