Intake and lifter issues

Got a loud tick in my new project. I've plowed right in and assumed it is a lifter gone bad. Didn't do any of the checks I should have done before tearing into it. Just figured it would be obvious, I guess. Thought it was #3 cylinder that was causing it, but the lifters in #1 look suspicious.

I get three questions for a quarter, right?

1. In the pics, the exhaust lifter on the left is dished; can't feel it, haven't tried to measure it, but it looks bad I guess. The intake has a pattern more rectangular. Cam looks fine; rest of the left bank lifters look good. Will check right side before going to town.
2. What is the opening jeft left of #1 intake? Looks carboned up; haven't poked at it much yet. Is this crankcase ventilation of some sort?
3. How to best clean up the gasket surfaces without getting a bunch of boogers in my valley? Yeah, carefully, I know.

 

Thats your EGR passage, it looks pretty plugged up. As for the lifters those patterns aren't that bad if ther not dished bad. Lifters are suppose to rotate while they work, your intake right one doesn't look like its been doing that.
Shop vac and a scraper or putty knife.
Oh Stu do you need any electrical parts for the prestolite, I found a good cap, rotor, points and condenser in the garage. Yours just send me your addy. I owe ya one for the transfercase cover.

 

Well, Mike, in the first place, you don't owe me doodly! I couldn't be doing what I do without this you and the others on this site! As for the parts, if they're commonly available I'll be fine. Today's the first day I've really gotten into digging at this new rig, so I don't know what all I'll find. Geez, it runs great, just sounds bad. Really anxious to put it on the trail. Gonna be awhile, though. Looks like I'll be posting more than driving for the time being.......... Speaking of which, here comes another one!

 

what are the symptoms of the ticking or knock you hear when the motor runs? does it do it under a load? is there a loss in oil pressure? any idea how long it has been making the noise? is it louder now than when you first noticed it? if its not from the valve train, my best 2 guesses are either a rod knock due to a bad bearing, or a piston wrist pin.

 

Owee! Oweeee! Oweee! Well, the rig is new to me, and here goes: Tick is there all the time. I think it is louder under load, but I was extremely paranoid getting it ten miles to home. Most likley, yes, it is louder. If the lifter patterns aren't the cause, (and I'm seeing that they probably aren't) I may be hosed for a simple cure, eh? Crud. Double crud.

Really wanted to get this one out soon. Dang. Thinking, here......

Oil pressure is good, assuming his aftermarket gauge is reading well, and I think it does. Crud. Now what? I'll do what has to be done, but I'm gonna whine. A lot. How to tell about a rod or bearing prob? Tear down?