Abrupt new clicking noise

"I have a 98 cavalier 2.2 engine. I was driving it one day and out of the blue i started hearing a very loud click, not a knock but a clicking, louder when i give it more gas but always there even when idling. Dont wanna buy a new engine if thats not what it is. some people have said torque converter and other the alternator is clicking, I know hardly anything about cars, but do know where most parts are. Please anyone with an answer I would greatly appreciate any help. Thanks, Tyler"

it may be the alt you wil have to pop the hood and listen close to alternator, watch for moving belts and pulleys or it could be a lifter in the engine,try to isolate where the click is coming from
I have seen old timers use along metal core screw driver as a stethescope like a doctor would ,place one end on the valve cover other end to your ear and listen for the noise ,move it down the length of the cover. sounds goofy but giver a shot. watch out for moving parts tho....LOL

it could also be a lifter...

Yeah lifter could have went bad,could be alt, could be anything. At least open the hood and pinpoint an area, that will help us out a lot :)

A very easy way to check to see if it is the alternator is to: 1 start the car, 2 remove the positive cable from the battery.
if the alt is bad, the car should(98 out of 100 times) stall out @ idiling speed

it doesnt sound like the alternator.. if it gets louder the more the engine revs, sounds more like a lifter or rocker arm needs to be tightened. tho it wouldnt be that noticible in the car unless it was very serious.