Will bent rocker cause tapping?
that chain from the earlier post is the timing chain. you are not going to beable to see that with out disassembling the the front of the engine and pulling the front cover off.
The first thing I would check is your exhaust manifold gaskets. Then go on to the valve train (lifters/rockers/pushrods/springs/etc.). I went to a good shop in town, popped my hood and said, "what is that?"
Long story short, everyone said it was the valve train, but it was my driver's side header gasket. It was a ticking/tapping so loud you could hear it over my dual cut-outs. If you've never heard dual cut-outs or open headers, they blow away true duals.
Good luck, man!
Where can I pick up stock gaskets? (Autozone?)
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Vicinity, yeah, just go to AZ. Since the only way I know to "check" them is to remove them and look at them, buy a set and change them. All you do is unbolt the manis, slip them out, slip in the new ones. Make sure to put a little anti-seize back on the bolts and don't get them cross-threaded going back in as your heads are aluminum. Getting them back in is much easier with one person to hold the gasket. Twenty minuets a side to do, not counting beer drinking, cigarette smoking, BS shooting time.
No, I don't know what size bolt they are.
Good luck!

