I just recently purchased a 96 Civic EK with a 00 SI motor swap.

Today my motor started acting funny its making like a light clanking sound right under the valve cover, hard to explain its like clink, clink clinking in .3-.5 second intervals. Also when im driving and its most noticible in 5th gear it feels like the engine makes weird sounds lasting a couple seconds and it happens all the time.

Could low oil be causing this, I just bought this car and hadn't done an oil change. I checked the dipstick it was a little higher but the engine was hot.

What do you all think? Is this the beginning of my motor going?

 

Get a shop manual and check your valve clearances. While you're at it, see if the cams have any play in their bearings.