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. 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.
lolol, noisy lifters can be a direct result of an exhaust leak Way more common on pushrod V8's then our high compresison inline 4's.

A couple loose nuts on one of my old Land Rover headers did the same thing...sounded like a skeleton masterbating in a metal filing cabinet. Tightened them up and it cleared it right up.