Thanks Tim for the feedback.
Your videos motivated me to start learning how to work on the 4runner in the first place.
I pulled the bottom timing cover off and the tensioner roller.
There is some bearing noise on this tensioner roller bearing. (or whatever the proper name is for this guy)
I added yet another video incase someone has the time to check it out.
4Runner Noise Folder

I did reach out to aircabinman and he responded promptly but differed the automotive questions to professionals.
I may just grab this tensioner roller and throw it all back together.

After giving this some more thought, I’m going to follow Tim’s advice and go ahead and grab a water pump and both idlers.

If anyone else has any other thoughts, please let me know.

Thanks guys!

I just watched the videos in your Google Drive; is it me or does the passenger side camshaft pulley looks like it's wobbling a bit compared to the driver side?

Yeah that bearing doesn't sound to healthy. Do the idler tensioner roller and w/p and see what happens. Before you put everything back together run it to confirm noise has gone away.

I have little expertise but excellent ears, and my ears keep pointing to the water pump. Even before I saw the picture of those scrapes I thought it sounded like those clinky water pump blades.

I could be way off though.

Hey guys,
The new water pump and both idler pulleys are in.
I should have ran it before putting everything back on but I got excited and put everything back together.
Sadly, the noise is still there.
We are going on a 600 mile trip in a few weeks and I cant use the company truck for this one. I wanted to have the 4runner put together and ready to go.

I will likely just be driving with this noise. Not sure where to go from here.
I went ahead and added another video to my google drive.

4Runner Noise Folder

Sounds like a rattle maybe? I cant figure the thing out.
Im going to ask a few friends to check it out and see if anyone has ideas.
Thanks!

Oh snap! Damn was hoping it would have solved the noise. Sorry the noise is still there.

I don't know if you have done this or not yet, but have you ran the 4runner without the accessory belts, ps pump, ac, and alternator?

Silly question, was there any rub marks on the t/b cover?

If you have a looooong screw driver you can use that as a stethoscope. Listen to the alternator, ps pump and ac clutch and it's tensioner.

I did run the engine without the accessory belts and timing cover off before replacing the WP and tensioners. (There is likely a video or two of this on the Google drive link I shared if anyone is interested in hearing it)
I bought a cheapy mechanic stethoscope and then used a big steal rod as a stethoscope to try and track down the noise.
It seemed like the sound was from either the WP or one of the tensioners.

There were not any rub marks on the timing covers.

I should have ran it again without the accessory belts and the timing cover off after I installed the new parts but I got excited and just wanted it back together.

I replaced leaky valve cover gaskets and checked valve lash back a few years ago after purchasing it with leaky valve cover gaskets.
Its likely I didn't get things installed correctly but the 4runner runs and drives great with 20 mpg highway.
(I remember the plastic clip broke on one of the fuel injectors electrical connections but I rigged it up with 2 zip ties making an X around the rail holding it in place)
Maybe I didn't get something torqued down properly and its causing the noise?

I changed the oil in March (just been using the Castrol GTX ultraclean 5w30)
I'll probably change it again this week even though it's got less than 1k miles since then.

I guess ill pull some things apart after our upcoming trip and see if I can find anything working my way down from the top end.

Thanks again for chiming in on this.