Knocking or ticking in the engine, under the valve cover ticking under valve cover in 94 cavalier i think it is the rocker arms

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Torque for Rocker Arm Nuts: I Have a 1989 Chevy Cavalier ...

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Dec 30, 2006 - For the 2.0L engine: Rocker Arm Stud 33-40 ft. Lb Rocker Nut 11-18 ft. Lb For the 2.8L engine: WITH NON-ADJUSTABLE ROCKER STUDS Torque ...

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Valve Lash

https://www.google.com/search?q=1986+cavalier+2.0+valve+lash+adjustment

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Takes about 1 1/2 hours to figure it out. I can remove both valve covers in about an hour. 15 to 20 minutes to see which one is bad, if one of them are bad. Lifters and rockers arms usually make a ticking sound. Knocking is usually the piston rod. could be bearings at the crank or the wrist pin at the top of the rod. I've seen valve springs broken and only cause a ticking noise.

Ticking sound is typical of slack in the valve train. Try using a wood dowell "stethescope" and touch it to the rocker arm cover over each cylinder. If a rocker arm adjustment is too slack, you'll hear a clicking sound rather than a muted murmur. If you find the noisy lifter you will need to remove the rocker arm cover and adjust it. CAUTION NOTE - It is possible that a hydraulic lifter may have some grit in the internal valve. That would stop the lifter from functioning properly.

the ticking , if you hear it on the top of the motor, will be a rocker arm,, it could be plugged and not getting oil, if its coming from lower down in the motor, it is possibly a stuck valve,, or a rod bearing , if its a ticking noise its more than likely the rocker assembly,, if its more of a knocking noise its lower in the motor

A worn valve lifter or a loose rocker arm is causing that noise.To find out which one it is, the valve covers have to come off and check each one. If the rocker arms are snug, then it's a lifter, in which case the whole top part of the engine has to come off to get at the lifters.

lifters tick and noise is upper end of engine if lifters are making noise could be from a bad valve,bad lifter ,push rod ,oil pressure,rocker arm - need to take do compression test find out if valve problem and which cylinder is problem also take off valve cover and check for proper oiling of valve head and look to see if and are damaged or loose-------a knocking sound usually comes from lower end of engine,rod knock etc.and thats usually rebuild of engine

sounds like a valve out of adjustment im not completly sure what type of valve system this car has, most of the time if you have a ticking or knocking noise from the top side its in the rocker arm being too loose and its knocking around as it pumpes back and forth...
i would need a little more info from you such as what car, year and engine ...

If it's a ticking noise that speeds up with the speed of the engine, it's a worn valve lifter.
You can try tightening it down by taking the valve cover off and tightening the bolt on the rocker arm, but don't tighten it too much, you will end up with other problems.

I think the engine is most likely defective, the used one is the best bet, try and find one with low miles, you can do a nation wide search here.
http://www.everdrive.com/?gclid=CLvWheWo55kCFQ9JagodE3OySQ

This car has hydraulic lifters( tappets} therefore should not adjustment, you probably have a bad or weak lifter. But, in any case you have to remove the valve covers to make the adjustment. You will see the adjustable bolt on the rocker arm. rotate the engine until the valve is all the way to the top, [no tension on the valve spring] then place a feeler Gage in between the rocker arm and the valve stem, adjust the rocker arm until the feeler Gage is snug but not tight. Do this with each valve. Check the book for the correct Gage to use but I think it is a .018.