Have you ever pulled the valvecovers to check the springs and rockers? It does sound like a lifter, but stranger things have happened.
Nah i havent pulled the valve covers off yet...i had a friend of mine take a look at it and he said its not a lifter...he checked under the car and it turns out its coming from there...right where the collector of the longtubes is...he said its an exhaust leak...i'm hoping that is what the problem is!!