Tap it up for advice

[Uncle_Badger]

I still need to get the tappets / hydraulic lifters replaced on my car. I put a question in about this in September 2024 but got no response. I haven't used the car much so I am not concerned about damage but it is still a bit annoying because of the unnecessary clatter at startup.

Has anyone ever successfully substituted the VW Corrado tappets instead which are ten times less expensive and seem to be made by the same manufacturer? Part number INA 420002210.

Weirdly the genuine Porsche replacement parts seem to be cheaper at the main dealer than non genuine parts from other suppliers. But they are still £55 each including VAT versus les than a tenner for the VW part.

I'd love to hear from anybody who has successfully used the VW part or just know once and for all it is an urban myth.

 

[dlknight]

Which car?

 

[Uncle_Badger]

Ah sorry chief it’s the 944 S2 Cabriolet

 

[dlknight]

Search is your friend (yes I know it is a bit clunky)

https://www.porscheclubgb.com/forum/threads/hydraulic-tappets-lifters-for-944s-and-944s2-possilbe-ford-cosworths-and-vw-vr6-an-alternative-to-use.214813/#post-1261113

VW hydraulic tappets in S2

Hi all! Hope everyone is well! One of my lockdown jobs has been to get my spare cylinder head rebuilt. Got it done for a reasonable price at my local place (Ivor Searle) which Oli and Tom both used a few years ago with success.Since my current head has the occasional stuck tappet and loud...

www.porscheclubgb.com

S2 Tappets

Quick question. My s2 has always been a wee bit tappety at idle. It goes away as soon as you apply any throttle. Today i was removing the head as part of a general fixing session ( I've got a pulled exhaust stud that makes a chuffing sound so i'm going to tap it and fit a new stud) anyway i...

www.porscheclubgb.com

 

[dlknight]

One of the original OEM suppliers was making tappets for the 8V, Kolbenschmidt, not sure if they make 16V ones.

 

[Uncle_Badger]

Thankyou @dlknight, the first article was the one that gave me the idea.

I’m really keen to hear from anyone who has done this swap for the Veedub parts and had long term success.

 

[blade7]

Think I've got a low mileage set of 4x4 Sierra Cosworth lifters in a box somewhere. Seem to recall reading a long time ago they are the same part...

 

[Uncle_Badger]

Thanks @blade7 , so the urban myth goes…

Anyone with long-term road testing out there?

 

[Uncle_Badger]

For background context It’s £144 vs £870 and I’m a tight wad

 

[blade7]

I think there's a procedure for bleeding the air out of 944 lifters?

 

[Uncle_Badger]

Having watched this amazing “ Ja, vorsichtig removen Der benzinelinen” video there is no way I’m going to attempt this myself, it is way off the charts for my level of skills.
There be monsters… and dropped metal bits in hard to reach places.

 

[blade7]

He is a clever fella, and one off the first places I check for advice. Though he does seem to assume people have a Porsche workshop manual sometimes. I wonder what his work background is.

 

[dlknight]

I think there's a procedure for bleeding the air out of 944 lifters?

I think the problem is when people don't change the oil regularly and the insides of the lifters get gunked up, also when removing them make sure they are numbered and stored upside down so the oil doesn't drain out. I didn't try cleaning mine when I rebuilt the engine, there was lots of for and against and I felt that I could only make matters worse. After first start-up, I've not heard any noise from them even when it has sat for a few months over the winter without being started.

There is a non-return valve in the head which is supposed to hold the oil and stop it draining back into the sump, if that gets clogged, I suppose it could make a car noisy on every start-up.

I suppose if you were handy you could make a tool to fit the tappet in so you could force brake cleaner and oil through it at high pressure to clean it out.

 

[blade7]

It was years ago that I saw the video. It involved submerging the lifter in a jar half filled with oil, and then applying vacuum to the jar. Somehow it pulled tiny air bubbles out of the lifter after a while.