Over the last week my 91 developed a loud ticking noise, I've heard from a few people (not certified mechanics though) that it could be either a stuck valve, exhaust leak, rod knock, bad lifter, cam phasers etc. so here I am trying to find some more opinions (hopefully better and more helpful) my 91 has less than 80k on the swapped 302. The guy who owned the truck before me used to drive it really hard and far distances, but besides the tick/knock it drives like a dream for a 91.

Whether the engine is cold or hot, I get this tick, in all gears but I don't get it while accelerating, it seems worst when I'm cruising between 15-35 without my foot on the peddle (low rpm) and in reverse as well. I can be stopped and you can't hear it until I put the tranny in park or reverse and it immediately starts up. It seems to get slower as my rpm lowers, although for the most part it is consistently the same tick whether I'm in park or coasting at 30mph. I haven't gotten any power loss (yet) and I'm hoping I don't. I changed my oil yesterday to see if it would help at all, and it actually seems to have gotten worse or at least more noticeable since.

I really appreciate any feedback and help!

 

Try putting some Lucas oil stabilizer in with the oil. I would say it's PROBABLY a lifter, valve, or pushrod. Pick up a mechanics stethoscope and listen to it while it's running in different places and you can see exactly where it's coming from. I have a valve in cylinder #1 making some noise in my truck.

 

+1 on the stethoscope. They're cheap and can lead you right to the source of any noise, just watch out for the drive belt.
It's not a cam phaser, they didn't come out with that till years later, and I seriously doubt its a stuck valve if you have no power loss. I'd bet on a lifter, pushrod, or rocker.

 

You can rule out cam phasers, you don't have them, If you can,SAFELY block the tailpipe for a few seconds, an exhaust leak will get louder toward its source or change in pitch.
Internal engine noises won't be affected, check your belts for frays I had a torn belt that made the strangest noises as it hit things.

 

I have one injector that ticks really loud

 

I had a very loud stuck lifter when I first bought my truck and Marvel Mystery Oil in place of a quart of oil removed that loud tap.