When you checked the lifter did you press down on it? If you pressed down on them and they moved or felt spongey then the lifters are bad. If I were you I would go and spend 10 bucks get a mechanics thesiscope and listen to where the noise is coming from. I had the same problem with my car but It was near the #1 piston. I thought I was the lifter, then I thought it was the valves. Then I really came to find out that I had a rod knock. Then I had to change the whole engine. Where are you from Aaron?
I'll tell you exactly what my car sounded like here goes....
My car "ticked" slightly when it was on.
If I gave it gas it would get louder until about 2500 rpm then If I gave it more gas and kept it there the noise would seem to go away. But I think It was just being drowned out by engine noise.