Hi,all. I wanted to pass on some info that may be of help to others. This 1986 245 that I have had for almost a year was full of annoying rattles and buzzes from engine vibration. Replacing a broken tailgate hinge, properly tensioning the jack in the spare tire compartment, and replacing the rear muffler whose baffles had rusted loose inside took care of the rear rattles. Tightening up the gearshift **** with 2 cable tie plastic shims and slightly enlarging the hole for the OD button to peek through took care of that one.
But one most annoying buzz remained. A buzzing coming from the lower part of the dash corresponding to cylinder firings that occured only at around 2700-3000 RPM's remained. I had a flash of brilliance one day and opened the ash tray to remove the change that was in there, thinking that was the problem. Well, that wasn't it. But I noticed a small piece of sheet metal on the left side of the ashtray in the shape of a shallow cradle; I guess to hold one's cigarrette in place. When I touched it, the rattle went away! This little piece was just loose enough to get the engine's vibrations, and the cavity of the ashtray served to amplify the noise, like the body of a guitar. So I lifted out the offending little piece and VOILA! Beautiful silence. So, check it out.......and chuck it.