a couple of things i could do with some advice ab

[LoneWolf]

since my engine rebuild with replacement head, my tappets have been as noisy as anything, and its getting really annoying now, they were quiet in my old head, and they've suddenly decided to make a whole load of noise.

 the second annoyance is the turbo oil feed line is leaking at both ends, turbo and filter housing, how do you stop them leaking when they're already Uber tight?

[vanbcguy]

Are you sure your head gasket went on the right way up?  If it's on upside down it'll block the oil supply to the head...

[the caveman]

You are almost definitely missing lubrication to the head.

[cyrus #1]

Yeah, get an oil pressure gauge on there right now.  Is it mechanical or hydraulic lifter?

[LoneWolf]

its a hydraulic head.

 the tappets were nice and quiet in my old head, but noisy in this new one :s

 the other thing im pondering is maybe my sump is dented right underneath the oil pickup pipe?

 it does quieten down alot when the engines up to temperature,

 also im using a 10/40 semi-synthetic oil, which im positive is the right oil for the job, and the oil was only changed less than 200miles ago.


 the gaskett is DEFINATELY on the right way round as well

[the caveman]

First fix the leak at your turbo feed lines. It's not helping the oil pressure problems. Secondly, if they are getting quiet once warm, then at least there is something getting to them. It's not impossible some crud got lodged in one of the oil feed holes and is stuck. Or a bit of silicone sealer [probably the worse case scenario as far as i'm concerned]. Once your oil pressure is up to snuff, it may clean out whatever is in the way. If you are feeling lucky and/or desperate you can pour out  some crank oil and dump in some kerosene and ATF and run it for half an hour. Then dump all the oil ,refill and see. We used to do that with foxes when the oil passages would get clogged from not enough oil changes, but i have seen at least one head go back onto a block and had garbage stuck somewhere .no oil pressure then all of a sudden-pop- everything's fine.

[LoneWolf]

im worried about the turbo feed unions, theyre damn tight as it is, and i dont want to destroy them by over tightening them

 i used an engine oil flush when i changed the oil, and i didnt get any sludge out of the oil,,which was weird because id just done a gaskett change  and i didnt drop the oil before i took the head off because i didnt want to leave the crank dry while i did the repairs.

[the caveman]

Did you use the same lifters that were on the old head, or are they new[ish]? If the head you put on was rebuilt the bores for the lifters may have cleaned up to the point where they are now out if spec. Never saw that alot on VW 's except on very high milage taxis

[LoneWolf]

i rebuilt the head with new seals, gasketts etc, and yes, i used the tappets from my old head, but i cant nderstand why everything is so noisey

 the tappets felt the same going into the head as they did coming out of the old one. i even used the same camshaft and valves tomake doubly sure that they were all matched properly

[rabbitman]

i didnt drop the oil before i took the head off because i didnt want to leave the crank dry while i did the repairs.

The crank doesn't sit IN the oil anyways though

[LoneWolf]

can still turn the bottom end over though

[the caveman]

You may have to try a new set of lifters. Did you try to do some measuring of your old ones  and the bores. Usually oil pressure is high when cold and goes down once warm and since they get quiet once the motor is hot, it's not an oil pressure issue. Have you tried to check the oil pressure at the head while cold/hot. I would start there next if possible, just to make sure.
As for the feed lines leaking, take them off, carefully sand the mating surfaces flat and use new copper seals

[LoneWolf]

copper seals on the feed lines? id never noticed there being any there :s

[smutts]

Air getting in the tappets during a swap can take 10 miles or so to work its way out. Sounds horrible when you have just put your engine together. Is there anywhere the oil pump could be picking up a little air? Low oil? Wrong dipstick? There's usually 20 years of bodging to get to the bottom of with these cars.
Wish me luck in changing my tappets for a fresh set, it is just getting too embarrassing.