That is good news You will probably still be getting the occasional rattle, especially in warm weather but it will surely be less pronounced and much shorter. The filter definitely helps for the most part. What also helps a lot, as odd as it may sound, is keeping oil leakages in check.

Yes, interestingly, I did have quite a leak from bank 1 cam cover after the chain guide marathon despite it being a new gasket and torqued correctly. Some 10mm Stainless washers on the cap nuts cured that leak but not the rattle, but it is pretty dry now bar a very small weep where the cam cover gaskets meet the timing chain cover gaskets on each bank but it is barely a weep. And having replaced the thermostat for an 89 degree stat last year, and subsequently fixing all of my coolant leaks, it is quite a joy to lift the bonnet now. These beasts demand our attention but are a joy once they are right. Thanks again.

I'm glad you've been able to get things sorted for the most part at least. I do have a slight weep from the cam cover gaskets myself but I'll be dealing with thay on my own time and terms. Since I had the water pump replaced properly, I hardly open the bonnet any more. It's getting dusty in there, last time I checked, filling the washer bottle.