so ive just replaced the cylinder head on my 86 1.6 td as well as the timeing belt and injector nozzles. at idle while i was worming the engine up it sounds fine but once i put it under load i got a bad chattering in the top end!! im thinking it might have something to do with the hydraulic lifters but im not familiar with these motors at all. im not sure what my oil pressure is but i do know that the oil pump is working????? any advice would help thanks

 

im new to the vw engines but, from what you said i wouldnt point so much to the pump. if you had low pressure or none your engine would be toast. you could of not tightened down a lifter or maybe a push rod put back wrong. as for the lifters they fill with oil to compensate for a difference and once full they should stay that way. so im thinking a push rod got mis placed or something isnt tight..