Noisy tappets... Or are they?

Had a very tappety sounding car for almost a year now. It started when I changed the oil early last year and has stayed the same ever since.



The sound disappeared today when attempting to fit my stainless manifold and down pipe. I got as far as undoing the nuts on the manifold studs before realising I didn't have an extension bar long enough to reach the 6 studs between the manifold and downpipe. Woops.



My car only has 4 studs for the exhaust manifold for some reason so I must get another one. But since tightening the manifold back on, the tappety noise has completely gone.



Could a blowing exhaust between the manifold and head cause pressure issues in one of the cylinders causing piston slap or a noisy tappet? Either that or I have a self-healing car!

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