Tapping Head and Noisy HVAC fan

Hello! I live in Langley and am working on buying a Fiero right now. I went and looked at it and liked what I saw. Compared favourably with other Fieros I have seen. Just a couple little issues: The top end sounded to my mechanic friend like it had some lifter clatter, but the owner said that his mechanic had told him it was just the injectors making the sound. I'm inclined to think it is probably the lifters. Do the injectors in fact make any noise? This is on a V6.

The tach reads a thousand or more high, just about all the time. I've heard this can be caused by the capacitors drying out. Would it be cheaper to repair or replace the tach? Is that a plausible explanation?

I turned the heater on, and it blew well but the fan was making a ton of noise. I figure the fan motor is just worn out. Is it pretty easy to swap?

Also, it is a 4 speed. If you push it into reverse, when you let go the shift knob moves to the right a centimeter or so, and the reverse lights turn off. It does NOT slip out of gear, though, it'll reverse fine, you just don't have reverse lights showing. If you hold it in position, they light up fine. My friend suggested that it could probably be fixed relatively easily by adjusting the linkage. I'm not familiar with 4 speed transmissions, does it usually move like that? Would it be relatively easy to get the reverse light switch adjusted to work properly if the transmission is behaving normally?

I am scheduling a professional inspection, and planning on getting the factory service manual if I buy the car. I've done oil changes and cleaned carbs before, but that's about it. Should I grab anything else to help me know the proper way to do work on the vehicle?

Thanks for any opinions and answers!

Fiero Zen wrote: I have an 86 GT and it has the same problem when I put it into reverse. Very common problem, yet easy to fix. I have just been lazy. When I pull away or excellerate, mine sounds a bit like the tappets are lose - its a leaky manifold. I don't notice any loss in power or speed. FieroZen

It's comforting to hear that it is common. I suppose even if the lifters are bad, it just means that I'll have to do the 1.6 roller rockers

What is involved in getting the reverse light issue fixed?

An easy fix (although not the correct way) for the backup lights, is to pop off the shifter surround and tape a penny to the contact plate where the shifter accuates the backup light switch.   I have seen people place screws and all manon of adjustment things.   The correct way of adjusting it is to remove the shifter, heat the metal bracket and bend it back into place.

You don't even really need to heat and bend anything (although that could work).

There's a bolt up front (it's hidden partially by the console) that holds these plate thingys together - there's actually a proper procedure to go through - anyhow, that's how it's done "by the book".

I'll see if I can find it in the manual, and maybe I can scan the pages.