when you had your valve covers cut where the cam gears are so that they are now exposed..did you start hearing a clicking/knocking noise where that area is at? and if you have aftermarket cam gears..is that knocking noise more noticeable where the area where it was cut at..the reason i ask is because im not sure if the noise im hearing is normal but i just never heard it until it was cut because my valve cover was on..i assume i hear the clicking noise now because its cut and so im asking..thanks

 

best bet is to double check if something went down there
I remember a guy that lost a bolt and chewed up the timming
belt and damaged his valves...
so in other words there should be no noise from that section....

 

i have moon cut valve cover and aftermarket JG gears... no noise... check to see if a nut/bolt fell down near the water pump gear.

 

No noise on mine, theres no reason removing the side of the valve cover would make an extra noise that wasn't there before.
Definately check you didn't drop something down there though, I did but I fished it out with a piece of chewing gum on the end of a coat hanger.