340 lifter noise

I had the same problem with a noisey lifter in my 340 and one of my rocker arms was extremely sloppy with the push rod almost coming out of the rocker arm pocket.Once the engine warmed up the noise subsided then the unimaginable happened, a intake valve spring broke and this was for the same rocker arm and lifter that I just mentioned. I replaced the valve spring and now all is good, no more lifter noise and the pushrod is staying in the rocker arm pocket so I would check you springs before you do anything else and this may be your problem..