Ticking when cold, that goes away as the engine heats up, is most often warped exhaust manifolds or broken or loose exhaust manifold studs/nuts.

 

Your best bet is to post a video of the noise.

 

I'll take a look at the manifold today but only thing that makes me think that isn't it is that it went totally away once I changed the plugs. It just started to come back. Checked the torque and that was fine. I'll try and get a video up.

 

i had the exact same symptoms and it was indeed a loose spark plug, in fact two loose ones. However now it's back not as loud as before. I need to check the plugs again.

 

Ya I checked all the plugs and changed the cop boots and still has a slight tick but goes away after it warms up. Doesn't have an exhaust leak so my educated guess is the lash adjusters or whatever they're called.

 

Probably not a lifter if it goes away when hot.