Slight hollow tapping noise from front valve cover

[Bruce M]

Hi All

1990 in presine shape. it has barlt 100K. Just bought the car and it was sitting for almost 2 years before i picked it up. Car was garaged all its life. Did a 60k service and tune up. run perfect, smooth and idles nice. During idle i can hear a slight hollow tapping noise emitting from front valve cover directly over the timing chain. this noise varies in tone ans it seems to come and go If you didn't have a trained ear you wouln't even hear it. Is this the timeing chain tensioner? Ypu can almost feel it with your hand. You can't hear it when you rev up the motor. Has anyone had this noise? I have heard of this but never had to deal with it. Can i let it go untill such time that I get to pulling the top of the engine off again. Is there danger here/

Any comments would be appreciated
thanks

 

[thecrew2999]

yeah chain tentioners arent a major issue a lot of people run with loose ones i mean it will hurt the tentioner rubber thingy i would imagine but you can hold out to replace it.
if its real loose then i dont recommend it of course.
my old 3.2 heads had that sound and turns out the tentioner got stuck just cleaned it up and was good again.
my 3.0 heads are good no noises.