I'm trying to decide whether or not to repair and re-register my TP wagon. I did some front end damage to it in a minor accident. It needs new headlights, front bumper, grille and front panel that the grille mounts in. The bonnet has a slight kink, so I'd probably replace that too. The radiator and fans are ok. Front shock absorbers are very tired, so would need to be replaced for a roadworthy.

The engine and auto gearbox are totally reliable. I replaced the valve stem seals a while back so, despite having done about 280,000k, it does not smoke and always starts at first touch of the key. The wagon was realy useful, so I am thinking of buying a cheap, clapped out or damaged TP with good front end and swapping the bits over. I could swap them from my TP sedan but it is too good a car to ruin.

So now for the questiion. Can someone describe the difference in sound between timing chain rattle and tappet noise? The engine in the wagon has a clearly audible tick, tick, tick noise when it is running. The sedan only does that for a few seconds after a cold start. The wagon engine still ticks even when it is hot.

if you use youtube
the link about noisy tappets
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtDUvRdH5U4

one on engine chain noise on an astron its more noticable closest example i could find

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9huwAibdBo

you use a long handled screwdriver place it on the rocker cover the other end to your ear

then the same onto the timing cover without touching the drive belts

Thanks, Magna Buff. Those sound like buckets of bolts. Mine is not nearly that bad. I'd say from those that mine is the tappets, which is what I thought. I will try the screwdriver stethoscope trick in the morning.

One more question. I rang a wrecker at Tamworth for a price on a TP front bumper. He said he had TN but not TP and that the bumper mounting arrangements are different between the two models. Does that sound right to you? If so, it will make my search for a donor car more difficult as it will have to be a TP.

Incidentally, I know you have an SE wagon. I go shopping in Tamworth every few weeks and often see a lovely TN or TP SE wagon in the disabled parking area of the Coles/Kmart shopping complex. It is a light irridescent green metalic colour and looks like new. I might hang around and ask if he wants to sell it. Other times I go in the opposite direction to Scone and usually see a very nice gold metalic TP sedan opposite the Coles car park. It is almost identical to mine but even better condition. It is getting harder to find good 1st gens these days.

the TN and TP bumpers on the front are the same
for wagon and sedan
even the reo bar behind the plastic bumper part interchange
headlights and indicators for TN and TP are the same

only the front nose panel and grill are different between the TN and TP

just make sure the plastic parts of the bumper at the mudguards
(the bits that have screws ) are intact they often break

get a pic of the first gens

Thanks, Magna Buff, that is good info. I'll take my pocket camera next time and try to get pics.

as per magna buff..

if its your tappets making a noise it will sound like a constant ticking.

if its your chains it will sound just that, a chain being loosely dragged around lol.. delightful to hear ricketting away when ur at the lights..

as per magna buff..

if its your tappets making a noise it will sound like a constant ticking.

if its your chains it will sound just that, a chain being loosely dragged around lol.. delightful to hear ricketting away when ur at the lights..

Thanks. I think that confirms it. It is just a constant ticking, not very noticeable until I open the bonnet.

When did you change the oil last? sometimes a good oil change will quiet things down, every car I have owned tappets get noisy when the oil has thinned out. (Falcons, Magna's -Even a Daishitzu Applause)

It wont be tappets because the TP Magna doesn't have them on the Astron engine the
valve are operated by rockers that work directly off the cam lobes from memory.
The tick tick noise you describe sounds more like this than timing chain. You could try
adjusting the valve rockers if you know how to do this if it annoys you. Maybe the ends of the
rockers maybe damaged from valves. These can be smoothed off by with a sanding stone & some oil
used for sharpening chisels etc then adjust rockers with to the correct clearances with a feeler gauge.

Hi Coldamus By the way thanks for your post about the fuel pump as it helped me fix my sons car.
I never would have guessed the charcoal canister would let charocal into the carby. The makers should have put a gauze filter in that tube. My sons original carby had a small amount of it like about 4 to 6 pieces but the replacement one I bought had a ton of it as
shown on my profile in my album. Cheers, Barry