Hope I get this posted correctly....
First off, my name is Jim. Although 'Inga' is an 1800, I'm posting on the 120-130 forum because this is where I've received the most valued and entertaining
information. I've been 'lurking' for close to two years, and have thought about piping in a few times, but hey, some of the depth of knowledege here is pretty intimidating, and I really didn't want to stick my foot in my mouth as a vintage newbie.

So, Inga has been on the road for a couple months now, and it's past time to give credit and thanks to all you folks out there that didin't have a clue what you were involved in. Too many names to try and list individually, and I'd miss several, but thank you all. Insight, solutions, shared values (frugal solutions,especially), all without any concourse, elitiest attitudes. And my better half thanks you also, for turning what she considered an eye sore into what she now calls my "Swedish mistress with the big headlights".

Okay, all that aside, on with the coveralls:
My B-20E (untold miles, speedo broke at 78,000 in 9/79 per O.O.), sounds as though it needs a valve adjustment. I've got a noisy one in the front of the engine. It's a 'tick' not a 'knock'. It's as loud standing in front of the car as it is standing on either side. Valves have been adjusted ( .017, with a wire guage). Checked, rechecked. Thinking I might have a valve train oiling problem, I disassembled the rocker arm assembly and checked rockers and shaft for unusual wear. Then adjusted, ran, rechecked gap...again.
I tried using a stethoscope to isolate the noise, but could only determine it came from the front, and what seemed to be high, in the engine. Held to the valve cover, the valve train rattle seemed consistent, front to back. Held to the timing cover gives a rewarding whirring sound, with no ticking.
I broke down and purchased and installed a cast aluminum valve cover to try and dampen the noise, which helped with the rocker rattles, but not this particular tick. Something isn't right, and it's loud enough to be embarrassing.

So, gurus, might this be the death rattle of the brass spacer behined the cam gear, or ???