Rattling Sound From Engine

[93 SHO Tuner]

When my car is idling there is a slight rattling sound, not from the accessories area, but from the top front and rear of the engine.

Does this sound like worn valves or valve stems?

 

[sperold]

There are some chains running your cams in the area you are describing. They have tensioners that may wear and allow the chain to make a noise.
Use a homemade stethoscope to see if you can pinpoint the noise.
I don't know if you can buy new tensioners (kind of like nylon flat stock that the chains run on), you may have to live with it, or buy them used on this forum.

 

[sperold]

If you want to see a picture of the area in question, you can see the chains and the little tension devices here (in the second picture especially):
http://www.shoforum.com/showthread.php?t=112784

 

[rubydist]

rattling in that area seems to commonly be from chain tensioners that are gummed up and don't hold the chain tight.