Wow great info, and fast... I'll get a gasket first then...

The tick is definately in my engine. I bought a mechanics stethescope. Its loud in the driver's side exhaust, valve cover bolts, manifold, everything in that area. Its NOT loud on the oil pan though so that sort of ruled out anything on the bottom end. I have a few threads on this so I won't dump all the info here too...

Not sure what I'm looking for haha when I open the valve cover but ya never know....