Horrible engine noise

[turbodsm18]

Ok, so heres the deal.

When I rev my car up in between 2k and 3k there is a god awful noise coming from the timing belt/head area. It sounds like lifter tick but on mega steroids. I know for a fact it is not the lifters cause I just put in revised big bore lifters.

I thought that it was maybe the ac compressor pulley or tensioner pulley had seized up but I was wrong. I took the belt off today and both pulleys spun fine and after starting the car the noise was still there.

Basically, the ideas I have now are, either the timing belt idler puller or tensioner pulley are bad. The thing is, I just replaced both of them when I rebuilt the motor 28,000 miles ago. It has been doing this for a for about 20,000 miles and never really affected the way the car drives, its just driving me crazy now.

It happens if im driving and if I am just sitting there reving. It will only happen in between 2k and 3k rpms though. Then it goes away.

Does anyone have any ideas of what it could be.

-Kevin-

 

[TwoLiterLaser]

Possibilities:

Valve cover baffle
Timing belt bearings
Rod bearing
Main bearing
Wrist pin
Worn out valve/rocker

I would start with the easiest ones to check and work my way from there. Good luck, noises can sometimes be difficult to find/fix.

 

[Defiant]

Rear balance shaft bearing.

 

[turbodsm18]

Motor has less than 30k on it. The b/s are removed. I think I have come to the conclusion that it is the hydraulic tensioner.