Howard: I haven't given much thought to the wipers as I don't intend to drive the car in the rain, and they're currently not functional. I was considering going with manifold only and getting the unit rebuilt, but now I'm debating switching to electric. I figure I can take my time debating and reading up on it on the forum.

I'm glad I did the conversion and my mechanic reports back a 15lbs higher pressure than previously recorded. Were this not a tried and true repair I'd wonder how that impacts the rest of the engine. But enough worrying! I need to get at least a month more driving before anymore worrying.

Alright, so we got the oil pump kit from Jack and a few questions from my mechanic answered by Jack, big thanks for that by the way. The hose for the auxiliary vacuum pump from the old oil pump confused him since - as we all know - the new one doesn't have that. I forgot to warn him ahead of time. But long story short (too late) it worked! No more ticking, clicking or clacking.

My mechanic snapped the (very blurry) picture below of the original oil pump filled with sludge. Not pretty. But the good news is he dropped the oil pan (thanks to Kanter for expediting that gasket btw) and said it was clean.

Fingers crossed I may finally have the car back today or tomorrow after a 6 week absence...if this rain holds off. Since he's had the car he's been doing a few other odds and ends which I'll detail out later.

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Latest update: oil pump conversion kit & oil pan gasket on their way (or maybe already delivered) to my mechanic. Hopefully this silences the valves and I'll be back on the road at the end of the week.

Added benefit - the cost for changing the pump is (estimated) to be less than the cost of the valves, so if that estimate holds it's a win win!

I agree, Craig. I wasn't putting 2 and 2 together. I mistakenly believed that aeration would only be present after sustained high speed. I've sent a PM to Jack already and will reach out to my mechanic in the morning.

Funny that using a mechanical gauge was mentioned because my mechanic just texted me saying it was consistently between 35 and 45 from an auxiliary gauge. Thank goodness he's happy to put up with my back and forth text questions.

From what I've read people were experiencing pressures well below that when they did the Jack Vines conversion. I think I read 5-10psi.

Not trying to get out of doing the conversion I just want to make sure I'm understanding and exploring this properly.

Ok, an extra quart of oil - over the specified amount - was added and no improvement. Still ticking away. So...move ahead with replacement of the lifters?

Oil level is good but I'll add the extra quart and report back.

Sure thing. Initially the lifter noise was a single lifter that would come and go after the engine warmed up, the speed did not seem to matter. It would occasionally show up while driving 25-30mph or 50mph. I don't go over 50 and usually prefer 40-45, but that's a story for a different time.

But it would come and go while driving. Sometimes it wouldn't even show up while driving, so I thought it was getting better.

Right before it went to the mechanic:

We had been out to Princeton, about a 30 mile round trip all on back roads in early May. Not a peep out of the lifter on our way there and most of the way back.

Then about 1/2 a mile from home it started again. I wasn't worried because we were close to home. But the noise got more pronounced, which in retrospect must have been the addition of 1 or 2 more lifters ticking. Again I wasn't worried because it usually stopped. I parked the car and didn't really think anything of it.

I didn't touch the car for a week or two because we had that awful heat and I like air conditioning.

Then one cool evening I went out to start the car. Not sure if this is an important thing to note or not: but the car takes a significant number of cranks to start when cold - not a concern when it's warm. Anyways, I got the car started and the ticking was almost what I what I would have called a knock. Oil pressure indicated good. I killed the engine right away.

My mechanic received the car on the 1st and he started it up and said it was still the lifter noise only now it was constant instead of intermittent.

So back on the topic of my car, a quick update as to what's what.

My mechanic has had the car for 3 weeks right now, no biggie as I knew he wouldn't be able to get to it for a bit and it has been hot as hell here - not any kind of weather I'd want to be driving around in.

So 1 sticking lifter lead to 2 which lead to 3 - it was a constant clattering cacophony. Oil pressure was good and my guy says it doesn't appear to be an oiling issue - I was sure to ask. But he says it looks good in that area.

He recommended changing out all of the lifters at once instead of just the ones that are sticking - being the risk averse, project manager that I am, I agreed.

A week for the parts to arrive and probably another week before I have my car back. No complaints, but I guess some of that work I was planning for winter 2017 is going to have to move to winter 2018!

As a side note, I'm selling my 1985 Benz 380SE if anyone is interested...three cars for one person just seems a little much.

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Located in NJ:

https://cnj.craigslist.org/cto/6175394938.html

I previously looked at this one but I passed after looking at it. The paint is very chalky - unsure if it could be saved - , the interior was redone in incorrect material and it has a Clipper engine instead of a Packard engine. BUT this could be the Packard that's perfect for someone, it just wasn't for me.