what does this sound like?
already tried swapping injectors.it's most audible on cold starts but slightly less audible when it gets hot

 

Maybe nothing to worry too much about? Cold start lifter noise? How about using that stethoscope to pinpoint?

What cams, springs & lifters are you running?

 

Its quite an annoying sound, I’ll try bleeding lifters again..
running stock fq360 cams, stock springs and stock lifters

 

Sounds like something is loose and engine vibration is causing it to hit something else.
But since your valve cover is already unbolted, with the engine off, press on each rocker to see if any budges. They should all be solid stiff.

 

My VI does the same on start up and once it’s up to normal running temperature, it goes away. So I’m also wondering the issue. I still have stock engine. I was also told it could possibly be lifters from a mechanic and shouldn’t be a problem. I’m sure someone here is more knowledgeable though

 

Sounds like a mild lifter tick but if goes away when gets hot you should be fine. mine does the same on a build longblock. Most if not all evos have some type of tick or noise in the head.

 

Sounds like a bad lifter. It’s a pretty easy job to swap them out if all else fails.

 

Maybe timing belt tensioner. On wife’s Odyssey it would clack at startup and go away, but sounded like lifters. When removed it was still sealed, but had play. Replaced and problem solved. Same issue on my EVO IX that I swore was a bad MIVEC gear as it also made a clacking sound. In this case the tensioner had oozed out the grease and had significant play. Any play in the tensioner will cause belt slap sounding like the lifter noise.

 

UPDATE: This issue turned out to be a cracked piston