Paul, yes I'm having the work done here in Michigan. Whunter from the forums here is one of the techs at the shop. Since I don't have all my tools, plus no place to work on the car, I knew I would have to farm the job out and I contacted whunter to see if he could recommend a shop.

I knew I needed stem seals due to the oil use on the drive up from California, then the ticking started. The tick was definitely valve train related and I started preparing for the worst. A couple weeks ago I pulled the passenger side valve cover and found one of the lobes for #2 to be worn rough (can't recall if intake or exhaust right now, but looking back at my mental image I believe it is the intake lobe). Don't know yet if the cam wear is a cause or an effect of the tick.

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.