I have a 98 chevy pick up with 112k, on oil leaks. It taps off and on whether it is cold or not. One week it will tap for 5 mins. after it has been started, then the next, no tapping at all. Do you think it could be the lifters. If it was, would’nt it do it all the time?
Is it a regular rhythm or irregular. If the latter, try Morse code. Maybe it is asking, ?Why is a Fordguy driving a Chevy??
Sorry, I have no idea about the noise, but at least your post will get a bump.