Went to store and got ready to leave and noticed a pronounced ticking coming from passenger side of the engine. The tic does not go away or get quieter when the engine warms up, it is constant even at idle. Tic increases with rpm and will completely go away when Rpm is between 1000k and 1100k but if it goes above or below that the tic returns. I changed both exhaust manifold gaskets with all new hardware, performed an oil change and inspected for metal glitter and pulled valve cover off to inspect rockers, rods and springs and changed the spark plugs. I have not found anything that seems out of norm. Nothing has changed tic is still there and seems to have gotten louder the longer I drive it. I put a stethoscope on the block, head, valve cover and the tic sounds the loudest on the valve cover above the second cylinder on the passenger side and on the head above the exhaust manifold. The truck seems to be slightly surging when accelerating and every ones in awhile the exhaust will make a flutter sound at the tail pipe. I’m not leaning towards a lifter as much as I am a valve. How screwed am I?
