V6 ticking noise

The Dauntless in my '69 CJ5 is ticking and I'm not sure what it is. I've read many posts concerning various noises but before performing exploratory surgery I wanted to get some more input from those out there that have experienced the same things.
She was ticking last summer and I put a new set of lifters in which seemed to remedy the problem at the time. This spring she's ticking again and after checking her out and noticing wear in the rockers replaced the rocker arm assemblies which seemed to help but not totally.
Now she's ticking pretty good again. When cold the ticking is very subtle to nonexistent. Once she's warmed up tick, tick, tick. It's more evident at idle and very hard to notice at 1500 rpm and above. Even at idle it's more pronounced at some times than others.
I've probed around with a yard stick up to my ear trying to isolate the location of the noise but it was inconclusive. I've pulled plug wires, one at a time and noticed no change. I've run it with that fan belt off and fuel pump out to eliminate the fuel pump and belt driven components. Oil pressure at idle, warmed up, is 25 to 30. I'd like to think that it's not lifter related since they were new last summer but know it's possible.
I have read accounts of timing chain noises and wonder if that's where my problem may lie. Like I said, tick, tick, tick, at idle. Rev it up and seems to go away but...(a lot of other engine noises). Back down to idle and a very subtle what I would describe as a clatter before settling into the tick, tick, tick.
At this point I almost feel to close to the trees to see the forest. I would like to get some feed back from some of you about similar experiences. Detailed descriptions of similar noises and remedies so I can compare to my situation before I open her up would be appreciated.

 

You might check for an exhaust leak (especially if you have headers). Between the flange and the head. That sounds like what it might be to me....

 

I'm gonna have to give another vote to the exhaust leak. I was going to say maybe you needed to run better gas in it because it might be just spark ping, but that is usually more when you are driving, rather than idle. Sounds like exhaust to me, especially if you have headers, and if you have manifolds one might also be cracked. Just my .02

 

Yep, I vote for the exhaust leak also. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt to prove it!

The reason you can't isolate the noise with the yard stick against your ear is that the noise isn't coming from inside the engine, it's that little puff through the exhaust manifold gasket.

 

My ticking noise was the timing chain.

Your description doesn't quite sound like that but it's hard to describe with words what your ears hear. . . .

 

Spend the few bucks and get a real engine stethoscope. They work immeasurably better than a yardstick or long socket extension. Also, try to see if the tick tick is at the same timing of one cylinder, or each stroke of an exhaust port. I am guessing it will be timed with one cylinder, and that cylinder has a bit of rod slap. It is simply annoying, not a big deal, but my buddy simply couldn't stand it anymore, and now we just finished his engine swap for a rebuilt version.

 

Can you record the sound? I still have a ticking in mine... However, unlike yours its gets worse as the rpms go up. I think its something more serious than a sticking lifter...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8R840QGC7k

 

Another stethoscope trick is to use a peice of vacuum hose to listen for leaks. One end to your ear, the other around the manifolds. They are quite clear. Cost me a bit to learn that one. Try it, it's much cheaper than guess and replace.

 

What I use

 

DAMHIK Don't Ask Me How I Know

Ok, I had to look it up.