Long story.
I have always had that tapping sound with start ups. Let it idle and it goes away.. mostly if not completly.
The other day I was idling and the engine was at operating temps. All of a sudden the truck (engine) begins to shake a little and I hear what sounds like a push rod tapping the right side valve cover. I have around 240,000 miles so I figure something let loose in there. I should have opened it up..
I found a shop that is around 100 miles from me that has an "unbelieveable" price on a rebuils with instalation.
Copy and pasted..
"The 4.7L Engine Fit on this Model 2000-2008
1.Dakota 2000-2007
2.Durango-2000-2002
3.Ram series Trucks 2002-2008
4. Jeep Grand Cherokee 2002-2006
5.Commander -2006

We are selling Rebuilt Long Block for a Dodge 4.7L 2002-2008 model . We Can rebuilt your engine for $2,000 and Install it also. If your Block is **Crack** meaning we cant use It to rebuilt the most you pay is $2,500 installed.The Block Core is $500.00 Hi, my name is Francisco H and I'm the owner of El Pino Head Shop & Engine Rebuild. I'm able to give you a really good price to rebuild your engine since we have all of the equipment needed in-house. This means we Don't have to send it out to anyone else like some of the other shops do (which winds up costing you more. . I back up our work with a 12 month WARRANTY on all of the engines we install. I do this to prove to my customer that I do a good job the first time around. We have been in business for five (5) years and we haven't had any issues with engines coming back due to our rebuilding or installation. Here are the parts we replace on the engine everything is new . Your always welcome to come to the shop to see how we rebuilt the engines i try to be very honest with my Customers. I don't sell The engine unless we install it due to the fact that we make sure that if you have a over heating issues or oil issues. We make sure its took en care of so it wont happen again . The most common problem with this engine are the Fan clutch stop blowing air ,antifreeze tank breaks or the Radiator Cracks. Many shop just replace the engine and never fix the issues the caused it from the being. So feel free come by my shop so you can see this is real. I keep all the parts in stock in my shop so you can see that all the parts are new and will be Installed .. It takes us one week to rebuilt/Install your engine we make sure it won't happen again .

Feel free to call around to other shop and you will see I have the best price . Also There are many shop that won't replace the timing chain kit or the lifters because they cost to much. But for the engine to last a long time they have to be replace. All this parts I listed, I Keep them in stock at the shop . So I would be Happy to show you all the new parts that are replace in the engine. I learn being honest and standing behind my work is the best way to get more Customers...


Parts that we Replace on Engine :

1.Engine Water Pump

2.Engine Oil Pump

3.Engine Connecting Rod Bearing Set

4.Engine Crankshaft Thrust Washer Set

5.Engine Crankshaft Main Bearing Set

6.Engine Piston Ring Set

7.Engine Piston Set

8.Engine Cylinder Head Gasket Set

9.Engine Timing Cover Seal

10.Engine Crankshaft Seal

11.Engine Oil Pan Gasket Set

12.Engine Conversion Gasket Set

13.Engine Timing kit

14.spark plugs

15.5 Qt oil & filter

16. antifreeze

17.Thermostat and seal

18. New Radiator

19. Fan Clutch

20. Antifreeze Tank

Feel free to call me for a quote at cell (214) 646-5515 shop (214) 703-5190
Francisco H. (214)646-5515

2733 South Garland Ave Suite A
Garland, TX 75041 "

My truck has NEVER overheated. I have had several leaks that I fixed and NEVER used "green" antifreeze.
I am being told that I lost a valve seat when it "overheated" and it ruined my "headS (that's both)" so it's $2500 plus the heater hoses I asked them to change while they were in there. I was supposed to get a report as to what they found before they worked on it and never heard from them. They claim that the work is done and they are running the engine to make sure it is right.. I think I am a victim of a scam..

 

240 K on a gas motor is a lot of miles. I say you got your service life out of that engine even if no one else will. Sometimes problems arise out those high mileage motors. I have a 05 with a 4.7 with 70,375 miles with what sounds like a little man inside the motor tapping on the inside of the valve cover. We have replaced the lash adjusters thinking a stuck plunger was the problem all along!!!!!!!! Wrong. The hard part for us is we had extended warrenty up to 7-70....... The noise started at 70.062....... Yep so get your wallet out or get your wrenchs out but I would say you got some good mileage out of your 4.7..... Gary

 

Well I had it rebuilt. They showed me how cyl #2 dropped a valve seat. The piston looks like it had been tapped a few times. Were not sure if there had been some tapping before the failure. What I found alarming was that they had several motors/heads that had the exact same problem. This guy was telling me that it happens when it overheats. He would not believe me when I told him my engine has never overheated since I got it new. I feel there is a different hidden problem with these engines. I almost want to think that the block is not flat to a leval plane by just a fraction. I didn't pay attention if it was the exhaust valve or intake valve. But it was the valve on the end towards the front..
As of this time I do not have any tapping noise. I have about 130 miles on the rebuilt engine.

 

I'm dealing with the exact same problem you had, verbatim. Cylinder number 1. I also noticed a rocker had come off cylinder number 2.

 

So just went through the dropped valve seat hell. 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 101,000 miles on it.
I overheated @ 80K and blew a head gasket had the heads done at that time, 20K later I get a misfire on #6 cylinder. After several attempts to fix the problem from the top new valve lifter, new rocker arm and a few other tricks I paid a mechanic $150 to stick a camera down the cylinder to confirm dropped valve seat...yep. In calling several head resurfacing companies it was apparent this is a common problem with these aluminum heads and the way the steel valve seats are pressed in. I did some research and saw that there were several after market "NEW" not remanufactured heads that are redesigned so that the valve seats don't drop. II talked to a couple of these and found a company within driving distance where I could buy these with the gaskets and new head bolts for @ $1700 out the door with a 36K 3 year warranty. Done...The shop Charged me under $1500 to R&R with all the extra little parts he needed.. Runs like a new engine, far superior / quieter to how it ran after the heads were redone at 80K.

Feeling like I can get another 199k out of it easy...Started looking at trying to buy something newer and I can't believe what trucks with mileage as low as mine are selling for....$3200 investment well spent.

The company I purchased the heads through is called ADV auto pro in Northridge California...impressive shop

 

Yeah, prices of used vehicles has gone thru the roof. Reminds me of car shopping a year or three after cash for clunkers had come and gone. 200,000 miles trucks, more rust than sheet metal, and they STILL wanted north of 10 grand for 'em.... I really don't think so.

 

Royal Gates, My 04 4.7L dropped the #2 valve seat at 220+ can't remember. I have a thread currently in process about codes displaying. Ended up being the valve seat. I had heads rebuilt and am in the process of re-assembly. name of thread is 04 4.7L P0068 and P0300 Codes. Anyway dodge has issues with these motors and their smaller CI brother. My motor has never over heated because when the engine shop tested my heads they were as true as can be it's just a manufacturing defect. I chose to just do the top end and replace piton. Good luck!!!