Quote Originally Posted by Novacaine
One of the most common problems is that you simply have a header gasket blew out somewhere, our as previous stated a valve tick. First I would check the header gasket when you start the car and see if the ticking sounds like it's coming from there. If you have to get a new gasket I'd recommend the Aluminum gaskets. You can buy them from summit for around 40$ and they say on the package their reuseable but I havent got to test that out yet.
a header gasket could cause ticking? are you kidding me? a header gasket or exhaust manifold gasket as it is more appropriately called may cause exhaust leak, but not ticking. If you're talking about a HEAD gasket, that would not cause ticking either, it would cause higher running temperatures, smoke, and eventually engine failure. If you hear a ticking from the area where the block and head meet it's more than likely a ticking valve or several ticking valves. adjust the backlash and see what happens is the best advice I can give. If you've got some time and want to dissassemble the engine, easy valve measurement without the proper tools can be done with some silly putty smoothed on the dome of the piston. Reinstall the head and turn the crank BY HAND very slowly one full engine cycle. take the head off and check the putty. If it's gone way through the putty, adjust the valve or valves back. Again, these is a very elementary method, but could get you by until you can do it properly.