lifter noise?

[chubcobear]

My '90 3sfe base is fine in every way (156K), except.....after a long trip, approximately 35 or more miles, there is the "tap/tap/tap" of what sounds like hydraulic lifter noise. Sounds like a collapsed lifter. Except the 3sfe does not have hydraulic lifters that will collapse. With my mechanic's steth, it sounds to be coming from cylinders one or two area. Only when really warm......it never gets hot (above halfway temp gauge). Any ideas? T.C. Bear

[toyomoho]

It is easy to remove the valve cover and check the clearances. The AutoZone website should have the proceedure to check this.

Make sure noise is from under the valve cover and not down in the block where bearings are.