Hello...I have a problem..I moved to Lasvegas last year and trailered my 86 Olds 442 out there..It has 50,000 orig miles. So I had no luck out there for work and drove the 442 back to IL ...I made my first stop in New Mexico, I woke up to start with the second half of my trip. I started her up and I got lifter noise on the right side. Oil pressure was all good and temp was fine...I drove it home 1,500 miles with this tapping noise. What do you guys think it is? If it was serious it would have never made it this far.....Thanks

 

Sounds like a lifter, either partially collapsed, or not holding oil. Could also be a loose rocker..

 

The stock rocker bridges are known to fail. Pull the valve cover and check all of the rockers and bridges for wear and play. Make sure when checking for play the both lifters are on the heal of the cam otherwise you won't get an accurate feel for it.

 

Got another ? on my 86 OLDS 442.............My power antena is stuck up...When I connect it back up the motor runs. Is there any way to get the antena to go back down?

 

The antenna mast is pulled down by a plastic "gearstrip". They used to sell them, gear and mast, that you had to pull off the nut on the antenna and run it out, then put the new one in while someone shuts it off, making it go back in. Don't know if they sell them anymore or not.