Head problem, maybe valves??

[TSi90Awd]

I tore the engine apart and had a valve job done on the head and all of that stuff. Well everything's been back together for a few months, but I just put the exhaust back on. The car hasn't been driven, but the engine has been ran for about a total of 30-45 minutes. Last time I ran it last week it ran fine but i had to turn it off because the downpipe wasn't on. Now with the exhaust back on it runs but it sounds like something in the head is knocking. The closest thing I can relate to is it sounds like when a 350 engine floats a valve and the stem is too short. If anyone knows what it could be I'm open to all suggestions. Whatever it is I hope I don't have to take the head off, because that's a bi*** and I don't really feel like doing it again.

 

[92awddsm]

Was the noise there without the exhaust or could you not hear it over the missing exhaust? Did you replace the lifters with the updated parts or are they the stock lifters?

 

[TSi90Awd]

I'm pretty sure they're the stock valves and everything. Only thing new is one of the valves which was cracked due to messed up timing prior to tearing down the engine. I believe the lifters are the stock ones, because I didn't pay for new ones so.

 

[TSi90Awd]

Anyone have any idea??