Quote Originally Posted by Ltdnismorace
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.
Well generally in pushrod motors as I have the most experiance with, the gaskets that go in between the heads and headers be whatever you want to call them when blown out create an exaust leak that produces a ticking noise constantly. If this is not the case with these engines I'm sorry for trying to help the guy.