Wierd Grinding/Ticking In Front End

[NDRanger]

For several months now I've noticed a wierd grinding/ticking sound in the front end. The noise only occurs at certain RPM's, mostly between 2500 and 3000. It does it both in gear and in neutral. I've taken it to the Ford Dealer in town and they gave me the "We're not sure, so we're not going to do anything about it". It's a 2001 Ranger with only 23,000 miles on it. V6 4.0L Automatic.

If anybody has any idea, I'd appreciate it. A friend of mine suggested that it may be the alternator bearings.

[cougarman]

Is this noise sound like a piece of tin vibrating, if so could be your exhaust heat shields.