Club 80-90 Forums

Hello to all, this is my first post. I have an 1982 Aircooled T3, with no engine ATM. I have been following the excellent Sarran videos I found on youtube to undertake my overhaul of my 2.0 CU engine, I am an electrician and have not overhauled an engine before so I am learning alot. 
I am at the stage of valve train, I have replaced the cam and I have new followers wrapped in greaseproof paper and covered in a protective gunk, which I cleaned off with brake cleaner. The book I have it states to hold  pressure against a submerged lifter for 30 sec cycles to remove air and fill with oil. (bubbles of air do emerge but the end result is, not solid, still squishy).
I dont understand the preload of 1.5 or 2 turns, (surely done when lifter is solid? with air bled?)

If I set rocker adjustment screws at (just touching on comp stroke) for static timing, is that ok with new/ dry lifters?
When then do I set preload adjustment when new cam requires 20min engine running to burnish lobes?
Oil Im using is morris Golden film SAE30.


Please help as I am struggling abit.

The lifter doesn’t need to be rock solid you just need to be gentle , start with 1 turn

Hello and thank you for your kind words on my little videos...

New hydraulic tappets.... if you can get some oil in before fitting, then all well and good. 
Here is a video on an initial start of a CT engine, also with hydraulic tappets, which shows initial settings.
The motor will clatter for 20 minutes, then you can set the pre-load , about 1 1/2 turns of the setting screw.
Don't try to do this several times, as the tappet may fill with oil and be over adjusted so there is no compression in that cylinder.
I hope this will help,
Cordialement,

Thanks very much
After leaning bodyweight on pushrod with lifter submersed in oil (3 cycles 30sec) there is still 3-4mm of squish on tappet?
I will then put them in block & set them to just touching and the continue with tins etc.

When it comes to startup (since I have new cam and lifters) Should 20min break in at 2000rpm be performed after the setup described in CT video?