When you are done with the valve job let me know if some clatter remains or if you still have some.
I "thwached" my flex pipe and heard no noise. I got under the car and did my best to rattle things around and didn't find any evidence that the sound could be anything other then the valves.
I do see that the down pipe comes pretty close to the edge of my oil pan, but even with the engine running and or reving they didn't contact.

 

You could get a mechanic's stethoscope, like this:


and poke around to pinpoint the source of the noise.

If you want to go really low-tech and low cost, a piece of vacuum hose or a wooden dowel rod can also be used.

 

I swear Myszkewicz, you seriously seize to amaze me. You have been through it all and I've probably said this twice now in another thread lol.

Is there nothing you don't know about the RA

 

The guy that seemed to know what he was talking about at the shop said that they whould clatter during those rpm's because of the MIVEC raising the rockers.

About this stethascope.......would that do me any good? Since the sound only comes about when in said rpm range? Or do you think that I would hear evidence even at idle?

Sorry if I am kickin a dead horse here, I just don't want to let this go if it could be bad for my car in the long run.

 

MIVEC doesn't change the rockers until 3600rpm.

The stethoscope could help you pinpoint the source of the noise. You put the scope on your head, touch the probe to what you think might be the source, and blip the throttle. Repeat several times, moving the probe to other parts. Wherever you hear the noise the loudest, that's the source. If you can't have someone sit in the car and operate the gas pedal, just open the throttle sensor a bit by hand. It's easy to get to, right behind the right headlight.

EDIT: and as for this:
I had 6 DSMs before getting my RA. There's a reason they say, "Diamond Star Motors - turning ordinary people into mechanics since 1989."