OK all, I am back at it!
Searched for the source of the tick, including listening as best I could for an exhaust leak, but it just sounded like it was coming from the passenger side valve cover (using my stethoscope).
Sounded like a bit of a rattle along with the tick around number 4 cylinder.
Warmed up the motor, and pulled the passenger valve cover off, and went through the proper zero lash torque procedure for number 4, and it seems good till I hand rotate the motor, and with one cycle, the number 4 intake feels very loose and I can depress the lifter. All other lifters are rock solid. I did it three times...
These are all brand new Ford motorsports lifters. Guess I could have gotten a bad one? I randomly pulled out the old lifters and tried to decompress them, and all but one was rock solid after a month of sitting on the bench.
Not really sure I want to pull the intake off again.
Now, if the cam lobe was bad, then I could not achieve zero lash and the proper torque between 1/4 and 3/4 turns, right?
Can I just drive it another 25k till I hit 400k? I really like driving it, most everything still works, and it drives real well.
This is the procedure I used, from the corral (Michael Yount):
"To install pedestal mount rockers:
1) For each pair (int/exh) be sure you rotate the engine so the lifters are on the base circle of the cam - this is very important. When you install the rockers, both valves must remain closed. Neither lifter can be on any part of the cam lobe - they MUST be on the base circle.
2) Install the rocker and bolt it down to zero lash. Zero lash is reached just when you eliminate the gap between the pushrod and the rocker and the valve stem and the rocker. Tighten with one hand and 'rock' the rocker with the other hand. Just when you reach the point that you can't rock the rocker anymore you're at zero lash.
3) Now - put your
torque wrench on it and tighten to 18-20 ft-lbs. while counting the number of turns it takes to reach that torque. It should occur between 1/4 turns and 1 turn. If it takes more than one turn, use a shim to raise the rocker. For each .030" shim you use, you'll reduce the number of turns to torque by about 1/4. If it takes less than 1/4 turn, or you have trouble reaching zero lash even with the bolt torqued all the way to 18-20, then you need longer pushrods.
4) If all goes well on the install, crank it up. If some make noise let the car warm up completely. Then (unfortunately) go back through the install procedure with the components warm. That will usually quiet them down.