Further update: After posting I checked 'AI' Claude in this case for Rover V8 tappet noise, it suggested that after running with no oil or standing idle for a period of time air in the 'lifters' could take a few minutes to be fully removed. So, just ran the engine again until hot and the tappet noise slowly disappeared! Phew! The oil pressure at tick over is just under 2 bar and around 3 bar at 2000 rpm. Not taken it for a run yet, that's tomorrows adventure!
Glad finally sorted Jeremy
. Reminds me of an episode in the 70's painstakingly stripping and checking every hydraulic tappet on a Chrysler 383. Despite re-assembling with oil the noise on starting was deafening. Discussed issue with a friend who simply (and a little unconvincingly) suggested leaving it to run a little over idle if oil pressure showing which it was. After what seemed like forever but probably only a minute or so I noticed noise slowly then quickly subsiding. The ticking noise from one of the tappets, being the reason for stripping all in the first place, had dissapeared as well
. Drove down the pub to celebrate. On return journey ticking noise re-appeared
ho hum...
