I will go ahead and say that I had trouble with my engine about a year and a half ago. I couldn't for the life of me figure the problem out, finally dropped a new engine in there.

It didn't fix the problem. Finally one day I happened to be taking the fuel rail off and the gas dripped out of it - blood red. All my problems were as simple and stupid as that, rust in the injectors - and cause I overreacted I got rid of a good engine and paid for a new one.

So again, breathe...

 

Converter maybe?

 

lifter. just a guess.

 

Well, it's a fast "ticking" sound that goes away when you increase rpm's, then it sounds like a lifter -- pretty unmistakeable. However the rattling that goes away with engine speed does sound like the chain. At 211,000 miles, it has to be worn out.