Sorry, but you'll have to describe the noise to me in order for me to help.
Your lifters are hydraulic, and won't make any noise unless they have been starved for oil, or the oil passage inside one/more are clogged. Then the lifters internal cup could sieze in the bore and procuce a ticking sound.
If your's isn't a ticking sound, then it isn't lifters. But if it's coming from the top end of the motor, it could be your cam lobes are exessively worn and producing metalic noise as they push on the lifters/followers.
If you write back with a little more detail, I'll try to help you from there. But any noise coming from inside the engine will require a tear-down. Hopefully, not a complete tear-down.
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Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 AT 6:09 AM