help!!!!92 3.1 chatters /knocks can't figure out.

the car was on a short trip when it started this.wife drove home 60mi .will start but really clatters.like the lifters are loose.please help.thanks

Just a couple of thoughts on this. How is the oil? Normal, unusual color / smell? Maybe gas getting into oil, coolant? Any coolant leaks? Check radiator. Can you tell if oil is getting to top end of motor? Any check engine codes present? If high miles on motor, maybe a timing chain issue rather than lifters? Hard to tell for sure what this is. There are a lot of other things that can make weird noises such as water pump, belt tensioner, timing chain assy., even small exhaust leaks. heck, I had a PCV valve on my 93 Blazer sound like an air compressor a while back. Does this make a lot of noise at idle or just when driving? Does this noise come and go with engine speed?