Never noticed it until they pointed it out, but it also sounds kinda like a lifter problem too, dont know for sure. but what are my options on a budget? Need it to be reliable since its my only car (will be getting a motorcycle here for daily driving until I move across the country with the jeep) and I'll be driving it 2000 miles or so straight in about a year and a half or two years. Thinking about either buying a short block, and getting the head machined and fixed up so it isn't a whole lot that I have to deal with, Probably could knock it out in a couple days by myself, or if there is something cheaper I can do? Its always had great oil pressure and the oil has been coming out clean with no metal shavings coming off of the oil plug (magnetic) But I will check again (it was 3 quarts low last time because it was 5k miles, yes I'm a fucking idiot)

I do want to keep the jeep since its been with me since I started driving 7 years ago, so any advice, be it maintenance work on the head to check clearances, replace lifters, or getting a shortblock and machining the head would be appreciated from someone who knows what they're doing.

I've been on at least 5 800 mile road trips i think since I've had this noise going on so I'm not sure what could be happening now after they said what they said