The tapping noise is PROBABLY your lifters, they may need to be adjusted. If your motor is stock, it uses a Belt to drive the valve train. (FYI, On much later models they changed to using a chain with a tensioner to drive the valve train, and when the tensioner sticks or guides are badly worn, the chain has a tendency to break. On those with chain drive when the rattle doesn't go away quickly it is a warning to change the chain and tensioner. It is not so with belt driven valve trains.)
On your 96 model, the timing belt does need to be changed out around 60,000 miles. So if you do not know when/if the belt has been changed and mileage is over 60,000 miles it would be something to consider as needing to be done.