Originally Posted by Classic Boy (Post 1633770)

You are getting lost in semantics, they could be called cam covers because the cams live in there too, but they can be called rocker covers because these cams still use rockers to activate the the valves they are not direct acting on the valve cams. Also I can assure you they do have hydraulic lifters under the rocker arm pivots, and because the 4.7V8 has a lot of lift when the lifters go bad they clatter like an old kerosene powered chaff cutter.

In older technology pushrod engines used flat tappets and this limited rocker ratio and hence valve lift and so when one of their lifters went bad they usually made a loud ticking noise but most modern engines with roller cams and rockers have big lift numbers that really make noise when a lifter goes flat.

But if your not convinced to try some new lifters then take it to a workshop to fix it, but take your own lube because its gonna hurt.