92 cherokee 4.0l with 168k miles. So i just installed a 4.5in lift from zone. Took it out for its first test drive(also first drove since ive owned it) about 2 miles from my house on the way home, radiator cap blew off. It spewed about 1.5 gallons of coolant. Turned out it had the wrong cap on the radiator and it didnt secure completely. Got it home, it did get pretty hot in the process, but had no issues as far as nocking or seizing or anything crazy. Refilled the radiator and replaced the cap with the correct one. I then installed the transfercase spacers that came with the lift. When i started the engine i now have a tapping noise that seems to be coming from the valve cover area. The weird part is its intermittent, it will do it when the engine is cold and also when its hot, its random it will be tapping and then suddenly stop. Then it will randomly start back up. To me it seems like a rocker isnt getting oil intermittently, but im not sure how to diagnose this or what steps i would take to fix this. Before the test drive and radiator blowing the cap off it never had this problem, i started the jeep multiple times as i was fixing other issues and it never did it. Im not sure if it over heating caused some damage or if its the tcase spacers i installed causing and oiling issue. Ive searched google and the forums but havent found anything. Any help would be appreciated

 

Have you changed the oil and filter since owning it?

 

This might be a silly question, but is your fan now hitting the shroud with that transfer case drop?

 

Not a silly question at all!!!

Needs "noggin pokin"