Valve noise and gasket leaks.

[tylerthe3]

So, I've got a 2003 3.0 edge. After the PO switched to synthetic, all the gaskets started weeping. Not full on dripping that leaves puddles when you park, just enough to make the engine bay filthy and burry stuff in layers of greasy dirt.

Since the timing chain gasket is leaking a little coolant down the front of the block I'm nervously planning on doing it and the water pump (which is whining when cold, and had coolant come out the bleed hole). Is there anything else I should look for when doing this job?

Also, since I will have the coolant drained, and the whole engine damn near apart, I'm going to clean it up and do the intake manifold gasket too. For the last couple months I've had tons of valve noise while cold, that settles down when warm, but recently one or two of the valves keeps ticking. Its not the hard knock of a fully collapsed lifter, just a tapping. Since the engine is apart, should I replace all the lifters, or just the noisy one? What's their lifespan? And should I go after anything else, camshaft, headgaskets, rockers? I have some money to throw at it right now, and would love to not have to pull it apart again.

I've done a lot of engine work, but don't know much about my little 3.0. Advice of all types is appreciated. It has about 137k on it now.