My car has 75k miles on it. It just recently started making a lot more noise from one valve. The pushrods are straight and a valve adjust did not cure it. I've heard cars with worn lifters before that cause a little more ticking. My car at 3k rpm sounds far looser than anything I've heard before, a metallic warbling. Can a bad lifter cause that much slack? Before I pull the intake is there anything else I should look for? Thanks.

 

A bad Lifterr would be more noticeable at higher RPM. Chances are your stock Lifters are worn, as mine were when i was at your mileage.

A good indication of bad Lifters is Vacuum pressure. If VP is all over the place and inconsistant, chances are u have a bad Lifter or Lifters