Grinding, " diesel " noise under valve covers

I'm Paranoid... I do know this. And I forgot to mention earlier. The diesel sound was heard when she was cold, reflecting off the hood, so walking to the small shop I built, or in the house, it was louder than any other sound... could be acoustics... I dunno...it did seem quite after the idle, but there was still something there
Anybody that says that doesn't sound like piston slap has never heard it. It's the same as when you have full floating pins with a tic too much clearance. Does the same thing. In fact, that's an old racer's trick. To run a little more clearance in the wristpins. The theory was it helps "unload" the pistons and allows them to "rock" a little in the bores and reduces a little friction. True? I don't know but I can tell you this. Some of the most serious engines I've ever heard run made that noise. A real HP engine is noisy. Solid lifters or hydraulics with a real fast rate of lift. Both make similar valve train noises. Bottom ends with loose HP clearances. Floating wristpins with lots of clearance. You ever heard a REAL Ford FE 427 High riser with the two backwards mounted Holleys? I have. I REAL one ORIGINAL. You'd think it was fixin to sling a rod but that bad boy was one hellish beast. A lot of these guys have never heard anything like that, don't know what it is and it shows. Yes sir. A REAL honest to goodness HP engine is not quiet in the least. It's like Don Garlits always said "Run um loose with lots of oil pressure" lol