noise from inside valve cover or timing cover?
 

i have a 96 grand am, and there is a clunking noise from inside of the engine. i was going to just take off the valve covers to take a look, but i looked at the shop manual, and to take off the valve covers, i need to remove the timing chain and housing and drain the coolant and remove the power steering pump and all kinds of rediculous work. has anybody had this sort of problem before? the noise kind of sounds like the plastic cog from the timing tensioner has come loose and is just bouncing around on top of the valves. i'm really out of ideas unless someone has some advise for me. thanks