Help with engine noise???

Last October while driving my Duster I noticed a noise coming from the engine (340). Not a deep knock but more of a higher pitched "rattle" coming from deep in the engine.. I immediately pulled over and killed it and summoned a trailer to get it home and it's been sitting ignored in my shop ever since. I finally got the nerve to take a look at it this week. I pulled the valve covers and all the push rods seemed to be fine so I then drained the oil through a screen and looked closely at the filter and didn't notice any metal. I then pulled the oil pan and I don't see anything wrong just by looking with my eyes. Where do I go from here??? Engine was rebuilt about eight years ago but has only a few thousand miles on rebuild..

1:automatic/stick(any converter change, bolts backing out? Possible cracked flexplate ,bolts backing out?)
2 : timing chain swap?( sometimes things loosen up, a fuel pump eccentric/ timing chainoulubrication tang)
3: something loose , on the exhaust( loose clamp somewhere, my choice).
Sounds like , light metal on light metal ringing. I would roll undercar, look for loose fasteners..