jamfu

This might sound crazy but check your tension pulley. Meaning put a wrench on it and see if it is seized up. My truck had a weird tick like you are describing, and i found the problem when i replaced the belt. the pulley loosened the belt but would not spring back. Fords are pretty known for that especially in snowy salty environments. It'll cost about 130 for a new tension pulley and they are easy to replace. you're on your own with the oil, but it sounds like a head gasket.

SmokinBarrel

Jamfu,
I will give that a try. All I have to do is place a wrench on the pulley, and see if it is really loose? Or, if it is still hard to move and gives considerable resistance, right?



UPDATE, regarding Manifold gasket replacement:

Well, it has been almost 1 week since replacement. Actually, when I picked up the truck, the ticking sound was still there. Soooo, the manifold gasket replacement wasn't the problem. I suppose I should of took it back and asked why there is still a ticking sound, when I specifically told them that that is what I wanted fixed?

Anyway, when I listen to the engine again, it seems as if the ticking is coming from around the top of the engine, or around the air intake, spark plug wires - general area. Honestly, it sounds more prenounced than before, so I may of had a bad manifold gasket as well.

My solution:
Would it be okay to pull each yellow connector (one at a time) which connects to each spark plug coil and try to isolate the sound - if it is a specific spark plug, coil or possibly head? (2002 Ford F-150 5.4L)

2000MTZ

iTrader: (1)

The reason you can hear it better since your exhaust manifolds got fixed is that your exhaust is quieter, stick your head in the passenger side wheel well around where the manifold connects to another pipe, get somebody to lightly revv the engine and see if its comming from there. thats where it sounds like mines comming from