2.5L ('98-'01) 2.5 engine knocking

[Jmw629]

1998 2.5 Ranger Splash
Hiway driving home 65 mph
Heard a ticking noise
Only 10 from home
So gotta get it home ...pulled into driveway,started knocking..never lost compression..oil pressure good....
No power loss.
Only sounds like it's in top end.
Have not tore down yet
Any suggestions what it could be.
I did find that the camshaft ventilation hose that runs from beside oil cap had a big hole in the bottom of it. I didn't see. Maybe dirt got sucked into top end. Caused damage. I live in gravel dirt road.
Any help appreciated.

 

[scotts90ranger]

In the top end there's only a couple possibilities and neither is too hard, either going to be a failed lash adjuster or a broken valve spring...

I can elaborate on the steps needed if you need, only special tool needed would be if a valve spring broke, only special tool would be a compression tester with the same fitting as an air compressor, take the valve core out of the cylinder end so air can flow out and you can pressurize the cylinder. The rockers can be taken out with a couple big screwdrivers or screwdriver type prybars compressing the valves.