Valve clatter then skipping
 

I have a 1991 4runner with a 3.0 w/111,000 miles on the odo. The other night it ran fine on the drive home, the next morning I start it and I hear lifter rattle for about a second, then most of it clears up. One lifter gets louder and louder, then the truck starts skipping on the #1 cyl.I pulled the valve cover and everything is where it should be, shims, buckets, lobes etc., I rotate the engine by hand and watch the cam open and close the valves like it should. If this was a chevy V8, I would say I had a collapsed lifter, but that isn't possible with buckets. Any ideas?

Allright, I think I've figured it out. I think I have a valve sticking, allowing it to close slowly. This would allow for a good compression test, but skip at idle. I think if I flood the cylinder with the exhaust valve open and the plug in, with sea foam, let it sit for an hour or so, pull the plug, pump it out, recoat cylinder with oil, and start the engine, it should work.