Jeep Repair: timing chain noise?,, timing chain, valve cover

Question
'90 Wrangler, has a noise coming from the front of the engine, 6 cyl., 150,000 mi., that sounds like a lifter but when I put a stethoscope on it, it sounds like the lower front of the engine, not the valve cover area.  Can this be a timing chain hitting the cover?

Answer
its a very good possibility, you also have a chain slider in the timing chain cover, it also wears out.  Then the chain will slap the cover and make a noise.  The lifters could also be ticking or a noise in the bearings in the bottom of the engine.  Hope you get it fixed!