Now my lifters are tapping... not all the time but once it's nice and warm.

 

So, after all of that work, I noticed by your photo, that you are running what appears to be an old set of factory plug wires, that probably near lifeless. Next project, put on a new set of 8 mm Magnacor wires and really make it happy.

 

The plug wires are only 6 months old. They probably look bad because of all the oil and smoke I've been dealing with.
Any ideas on the lifter tapping issue? It doesn't do it until it's been running for about 10 minutes.

 

What motor oil are you using?

James

 

Magnacor 7mm will do just as well as the 8 mm or 8.5 mm unless he is a racer. The insulation and spark is as the same until you get to very high rpm applications..and the Disco doesn't rev near that.

James

 

I've got 10w-30 in it. I had the engine flushed and the oil changed after i did the work just to be safe. The plug wires are only about 6 months old but I don't remember what I put on it.

 

It sounds like it is time to go get your oil pressure tested both at idle and at 2000 RPM's and when cold as well as at operating temp.

 

I think I'm going to go ahead and replace the oil pump.
I know the timing cover is part of this whole deal so my next question is how hard is it to replace these parts?

 

How many miles on your truck, have you done a oil pressure test yet? I would wait on replacing the pump and front cover till you know for sure what is going on, may save alot of unnecessary parts.

 

150k
no it's doa in my driveway now. i can't drive it at all. it starts, but i hear the lifters and it died immediately. i don't want to start it again.