Trying not to flood this forum... I can't afford to get the oil pan dropped so I am sorry if this is irritating. There is a full sweep video of my symptoms down below

Heres what I've one: Replaced Oil Sensor, Oil filter, oil.... idler tensioner and fan clutch. Exhaust Gasket (ONES STUD IS MISSING) but everything is nice and tight...

Just did the sea foam treatment... bottle in the crankcase... pressure fluctuated up and down.

Heres the weird thing... coolant was weeping from side of the hose that is below the rad. cap and something else was weeping, flung to the side of the battery by the fan? Car wasn't overheating and I have heat... hose leading to the engine looked like it was bulging...

The sound I am hearing sounds like it is coming from above... plastic hitting plastic... and if I revved the engine, the sound didn't fluctuate with the RPM's... it stayed constant... the rest of the engine sounded great... WTF?
Heres a video of the sound...
FULL SWEEP (Sorry long...)

Specific ticking

That sucks, man. Hopefully it is a clogged pick up screen. Drain out the synthetic and run the old oil with some motor flush. If it's a clog, that might clear it some.

ya, it was a gamble to pick up a truck with "engine problems"... i've talked to a few shops and most of them recommend sourcing an engine and swapping them out as opposed to any sort of bottom end rebuild etc... I appreciate they are trying to save some money on my end (it also sounds like a pain in the ass and they aren't too thrilled with that kind of work)

with nothing to lose, I am going to go for broke and see if some sea foam or engine restore can help a little bit.

I did strain the old oil and cut up the filter... no metal fillings but the filter looked like it was packed with mud... yikes.

Well, if the filter looked like that, the screen is most likely clogged. You've got nothing to lose. Throw some flush in there. I've used Motor Medic in the past, when I thought I had low pressure issues (it was just the sender). You can find it just about anywhere. In your case, I'd run it a little longer than the five minutes it calls for. https://www.amazon.com/Motor-Medic-G.../dp/B000AME4V4

a flush new oil and filter maybe even a second oil and filter change in two weeks use cheap oil and filters each time.

I think I suggested doing this in the beginning but who listens

Yeah, good used 4.7 is hard to find. Look for a reman.

well... threw some sea foam and rislone in there.... a bunch of muck came out as I was draining the oil... changed to cheap filter and conventional oil and started it up.

I'll try it a few times tomorrow... pressure doesn't want to stay consistent... I don't feel any loss of power and I hear more of a ticking sound... like super noisy injectors... or marbles... not a low knocking sound.

Anyone check out the videos? Your best bet?

would stuck lifters and timing chain tensioner failure effect oil pressure?

Could that be the clacking noise?

I don’t know if it would affect oil pressure but the weird noise could be timing chain.

If you have the time and knowledge popping the valve covers off and taking a look may be a good idea same the timing chain cover.

Why you have so much crud in the engine is very weird or total neglect?

It had been sitting for 6 months before I picked it up... maybe all the lash adjusters and chain tensioners bled out and are stuck closed... not sure... never seen an oil filter that clogged before...

I guess, if I have nothing to lose.. i'll crack open to the valve cover and timing chain cover... Do i need to drain the coolant for the latter?

If anyone is reading, could someone confirm if the chain tensioner adjusters can lead to oil pressure failure if they are not working correctly?