What should an engine sound like?

solid lifters? Yes, they are going to be a bit noisier than hydraulics......

Nope hydraulic lifter, sound kinda like solid lifters though. I mean you can't hear it while you are around the car, you can only hear it when you really listen. I don't know what else it could be besides valve train noise. It's not a knock, not a ticking sound, just kinda like consistent sewing machine noise...it's hard to explain what it sounds like.

Anybody else have comp xe cams? I have a xe268