valve ticking??

[Dark Horse]

ok,i was changing some radiator hose on my 340 cuda. finished the job, started car to check for leaks. While i was waiting i noticed a ticking noise inside the valve cover on the drivers side. Any suggestions here?? i wanna take it to my engine builder bro when i get a chance for his opinion too. This is my daily Driver, so its gotta run good and be dependable. Any clues here, I know its kinda of hard to troubleshoot a sound without actually hearing it for yourselfs.    thanks bro's

[Chryco Psycho]

 The small blocks have a tendancy to bend pushrods you may want to check them

[69ChargerRT]

i guess ill dispense with the obvious and check if its a solid lift cam?  i had some ticking, but thats only cause the valve lash on my solid lift needed to be adjusted.

[Black71Chall]

How many miles does it have on it? i have beat and beat
smallblock mopars and never had a bent pushrod in one but it is never out of the question I have a 170,000
mile 318 in my 83 Dodge ramcharger 4x4  and it run's like a top and im not easy on it either. but would check your pushrods first like Chryco said it would be easiest to do then if all looks good there would replace lifters
and they aren't that expensive. And a piece of cake to do!

[Dark Horse]

im estimating 122300 mile's. Weird thing i didnt hear the ticking today maybe i just didnt listen for it.

[Chryco Psycho]

 In the small block the lifters are on a different angle than the pushrods & I have seen them bend often  

[heminut]

Another thing it could be is an exhaust leak. I've had a leak at the header flange before that sounded just like a lifter ticking!

[The Cuda Guy]

Or it could be one of those freak things that you will NEVER hear again???  

Semper Fi
The Cuda Guy