231 Odd Fire Ticking Noise

Guys,
Please move to appropriate forum if this is not the right one.
Have a M38 with a 231 OF in it. Points ignition (came that way) I guess its been making this ticking noise since I got it only now its starting to bug me more.
Idles smooth, 10# oil pressure at idle, set to 40# going down road.
When i put a piece of garden hose to my ear and over the valve covers I dont hear the ticking much. when I place the hose on the distributor cap I can hear it the loudest, especially when you open the door.
Rotor shaft doesnt have play in it, no gouges in cap from the rotor.
When the throttle is opened, the ticking goes away.
The ticking is loudest at low idle (500 rpm) and gets quiter when you idle it up to 650-700.
Heres a link to it idling

Thoughts?

 

Flyweights in the distributor? Didn't they have small bushings in the pivots. I had one years ago like that. Replaced the bushings and added a small amount of lube and done. I think I also had to replace the flyweights because the pivot holes were oval. Easy to look and see.

 

I had the same exact noise with an engine that sat for a decade and I say a lifter. Listening to advice from people here I pulled the valve covers and that gave me allot of clues so I would start there. I'm not sure if the lifters will leak down over time but if they do you should feel a spring loaded action when you push on the push rods. If not they are probably frozen and I would pull the intake and check everything out. Very easy job to pull the valve covers and take a peek.

 

That sounds like a lifter. Mine does it occasionally when I first start it in cold weather, but it usually clears up after a few minutes. I run 10w-40 which is what the FSM calls for.

 

One thing I forgot to mention is that when first started it’s not as apparent but within a few minutes it becomes more noticeable. its not 'loud' but noticeable.

 

IMO, it sounds loud in the video and something is not correct. If you have a frozen lifter it will run but everything from the lobe to the rocker face will wear quicker.

 

Sounds like a sticky lifter, when the engine warms up, the oil thins a little and the noise gets worse. The old cure for this was to add a quart of ATF to the engine oil, a day or two before the next oil change, drive as usual and change oil. This will remove any varnish which causes the lifter to "stick". May take more than one repetition. Good luck!